Chabad’s false messiah Schneerson 'helped me defeat the KGB and leave Russia’: rabbi Yitzhak Kogan
May 29, 2019
In 1980, my friends approached the Rebbe and asked for blessings for me so that I could leave the Soviet Union. As it seemed to them, the Rebbe ignored the request and said: "I give him a blessing so that he succeeds in everything he does." However, when six years later Daniel Branover asked Rebe to bless me on the new moon of Tamuz in 1986, the Rebbe gave a shocking answer: "I'll see you soon."
A few days later, 12 Tamuza, I was called to the main department of the OVIR. The pressure on us from the state was in full swing then. I had nothing left as soon as I came at the appointed time. I was very worried. At that time, there was always a car outside in front of my house.
At that time, we learned that KGB investigators began to use a certain type of gas that affects a person's psyche and makes him behave more pliable and often give up his rights during interrogation. They used this substance to obtain consent of various kinds. For additional security, Alexander Sheinin came with me: if they try to drug me, he will be able to testify if necessary that I was under the influence of gas.
When I entered the office, the employee told me to sit on the side and wait for them to call me. I sat down and began to read the Psalms; when I finished chapter 130 with the words: "And He will redeem Israel from all its sins," I was told to enter the inner office. When I entered the office, my heart sank to the heels. About fifteen OVIR employees were sitting at the table, dressed in ceremonial uniforms, with medals and shoulder straps.
"Citizen Kogan," the senior officer in the room began, "you haven't renounced your request to leave Russia yet?" I answered negatively. There was silence for a moment, and then he said the long-awaited words: "We think you can repatriate this time." I immediately asked: "With my parents?" "No, only you," he replied. "If so, since I've been waiting for so many years, I'll wait a little longer," I said. - I'm not protesting, but I'll stay here. My father has a heart disease, he had an operation, and I won't leave him here alone."
It took a long time for them to consult among themselves. "Citizen Kogan, if you want them to leave the country, fill out the appropriate forms and wait for their confirmation."
I knew very well what it meant. I've been waiting for twelve years, and who knows what will happen to my parents. I immediately replied that I would not write anything and that I decided to stay in Russia until my parents were released.
"But you applied twelve years ago, and they only applied two years ago." I didn't agree. "Citizen Kogan, it's for your own good!" I refused again: "I won't leave here without my parents!"
Since it was very unusual, they allowed me to immediately submit a request regarding my parents, and on the same day I went to the OVIR building, where one of the high-ranking employees was already waiting for me outside. As soon as I got out of the car, he told me: "Yitzhak Abramovich, don't be angry, everything is arranged. You have already made a permit for the whole family. Just fill out this form, and here is your document for freedom."
I submitted my first application for leaving the USSR in 1974, and twelve years later, in 1986, I was allowed to leave. I couldn't believe it was really happening.
During my first audience with Rebe, Rebe asked me what exactly happened then in OVIR.
Over the next four months, I arranged everything so that all the processes continued and everything worked after my departure. From the moment I received permission to leave the country, we held Hasidic feasts every Saturday, and during the week I gradually assigned my responsibilities to others. I taught everyone what to do and what approach to a particular case is better to choose.
During the next, after those first four months, I went to various institutions, for bureaucratic reasons. And I came everywhere in a coat.
The official farewell took place in our house on the eve of departure. During the evening, hundreds of people came to say goodbye, not only from Leningrad. Some came out, the next ones came in, and everyone has their own story. There was no room left to sit down.
The KGB also came and even circled around my house. They watched and recorded who came to say goodbye. Despite what, people were not afraid to see me off, and all the way to the airport, where tears and joy mixed together. They sang emotionally and many cried. That week in the Torah they read the chapter "Get away from your land", and I considered it an open hint...
The headline of Kfar-Chabad magazine that week described my departure from Russia in several measured but sharp words: "A rare historical sight at the Soviet airport in Leningrad: hundreds of Hasidim said goodbye to Rabbi Yitzhak Kogan with a song, dances and tears before he boarded the plane with his family; the rabbi was wearing a coat and a belt."
Do you know where I got this coat from? A few years before my departure, the river Zalman Levertov came to Leningrad and was my guest. Once he asked me why I don't wear a coat on Saturday. I said it was very simple; because I don't have it! He immediately said, "I'll leave you my coat, and when I get back to the USA, I'll buy myself a new one."
It was twice as big as me, but the coat somehow suited me... it was the only coat in Leningrad. I wore a coat and a tales on the street every Saturday...
"Even at the last moment, the authorities tried to make our lives difficult," R. recalls bitterly. Yitzhak. My father was sick after a heart attack, and at the last minute they told my parents that they would not allow them to leave, and offered me to go alone. There was a great aggravation of the situation, and because of this, the plane was delayed for a quarter of an hour until everything was arranged.
On Sunday, at nine o'clock in the morning, an Aeroflot plane took off to Vienna, flying over the heads of tyrants and torturers who have been poisoning our lives for twelve years.
During the entire flight to Vienna, I stood for two hours and couldn't speak. Although I tried, I just couldn't say a word. Only at the end of the flight I managed to pray.
Representatives of KHABAD, who helped Russian Jews, were waiting for us at the airport in Vienna, among them were r. Dovber (Berel) Levi, r. Moshe Levertov, r. Bezalel Schif, r. Nathan Barkan, local Ebbe's messenger and others. There were also significant representatives of the community and rabbis who visited our house in Leningrad over the past years.
When I entered the terminal, someone lifted me on my shoulders, and everyone joined the Hasidic dance, while dozens of journalists and reporters covered this event. Rabbis and representatives of the Viennese community, as well as many emigrants from Russia, held a festive reception.
Immediately after that, we boarded an El-Al flight, which was heading to the Holy Land, accompanied by Hasidim representatives from the Holy Land, who came to greet us. A few hours later, we landed in the Holy Land.
PERSONAL MEETING WITH REBE
Three weeks later we went to the Rebbe. The words "Rebbe SHLITA" were for us from the category of magic, longing and dreams.
I first saw the Rebbe of King Moshiach on the morning of 9 Kislev 1987. I waited intensely at the entrance to the small hall for the Rebbe to come out to read the Torah. I felt my heart pounding, and then suddenly the door opened and Rebe came out, and I stood staring at him. The Rebbe turned to look at me.
It is impossible to describe this meeting in human words. It was the realization of all our dreams. Although it seemed so distant and unreal, I always dreamed and prayed that I would be able to see Rebe at least once.
There was silence. I loudly said the blessing "Who let me live to this time" and the Rebbe replied: "Amen". While reading the Torah, Rebe kept looking at me. I didn't know what to do with myself.
A few hours later, I was suddenly called to an audience with Reba. It was a complete surprise for me. I didn't have time to prepare spiritually for the meeting. The audience lasted two hours and ten minutes. Rebbe wanted to get a detailed report on what was happening in Leningrad, about people and places, and what happened after I left. Several times Rebe used a lofty expression: "I have reliable information that something will happen soon." The Rebbe paid great attention to details. I'll give you an example. He asked me how the mikvah works in Leningrad, who takes care of it, whether it has a separate entrance, and much more.
As I said, when I left Russia, I was completely broken. I felt that the Jewish community needed me, and I didn't know what would happen after I left. At the very beginning, I asked Rebbe if I should leave, because I knew they needed me. But Rebe instructed me to leave immediately. Despite this, I was very broken. I was afraid that because of me the KGB would torture those who stayed, I had a bad feeling inside.
Rebbe felt how upset I was and told me with pressure and confidence: "Don't worry. They will all leave very soon!" I accepted it, although in those days it seemed like something hopelessly fantastic. The audience at Rebe's strengthened me a lot and restored my strength. After that, I felt all this huge pain come down from me...