5739 – 1979, on Friday morning, the Rebbe was informed of the passing of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Hecht, who had been sent by the Previous Rebbe to serve as a rabbi in Chicago. Although the family initially planned to hold the funeral in New York after Shabbat, the Rebbe urged them to expedite the arrangements and hold it that same day, before Shabbat began. The funeral was held accordingly, though there was not enough time for the procession to pass by 770, as was customary. Instead, the casket was brought directly from the airport to the cemetery in Queens. In an extraordinary gesture, the Rebbe went to the cemetery to participate in the funeral there and also sent a message encouraging community members to attend. He returned to Crown Heights shortly before the onset of Shabbat.
24 Av
