following the sixth rebbe's passing in 1950, rabbi raichik was among the lubavitcher chassidim who pleaded with the rebbe's son-in-law, rabbi menachem m. schneerson, to become the movement's new leader. the new rebbe, whose suggestion it was that the raichiks be sent to los angeles, wrote to raichik that his position was not to be limited to one synagogue, but "his net should be spread on the entire city and its surrounding areas."