A litvak's thoughts

A litvak once came into shul looking dejected. His friend questioned him about the long face, and he said that he’s very confused because he had a very perplexing dream, and he doesn’t know it’s meaning.

Upon questioning from his friend, he finally elaborated that he dreamt about ‘thekavayochol’, - the Alm-ighty. His friend attempted to placate him: “You know, Chazal teach us that dreams are a reflection of one’s thoughts during the day, perhaps this was merely a result of your thinking about Him by daytime?”

“Impossible”, was his vehement denial. “You know my schedule, I get up early and learn a shiur, then I daven, and my entire day is occupied with either learning or davening. When do I ever have time to think about ‘the kavayochol’?”

A wagon driver's olam habo

There is a story about three tzaddikim who were once travelling in a wagon. By and by, the wagon-driver became drunk, and fell asleep. The horses began running freely, and all the passengers were in great danger. Their very lives were in jeopardy.

Just then another simple wagon-driver passed by, and, realizing the danger, risked his own life to jump onto the errant wagon and regain control of the horses. His efforts were successful, and the tzaddikim owed him their very lives.

Years passed, and the 3 tzaddikim were once sitting together, and they decided to use their ruach hakodesh to ascertain what happened with their benefactor. They determined that he had passed away from the world some time ago. Upon his arrival in the Heavenly Court, his defending angels recounted the story of his saving three Jewish lives. Anyone who saves even a single life is considered to have saved an entire world; - how much more so in the case of this simpleton who saved the lives of three tzaddikim, who would eventually influence hundreds of thousands of Yidden.

This act stood in his merit, and it was decided to award him olam habo. However, olam habo consists of enjoying G-dliness, something which is dependent on the vessels that we created through Torah and mitzvos. 
This simpleton had no means of appreciating or benefitting from olam habo. Thus it was decided that his only possible reward would be to place him in olam hadimyon: He was given the illusion that he was driving the most magnificent wagon, being pulled by 4 large and powerful horses, on a road that was straight and devoid of any obstacles or potholes. And this went on endlessly, because this was the extent of what this simpleton was able to enjoy.

(When the tzaddikim who were his beneficiaries saw the state that he was in, they found a way to do a favour to his neshomo, and elevate it to a level of gan eden)

Freud and the Baal Shem Tov

There was a person in yechidus by the Rebbe, and the Rebbe was speaking with him about Freud. [Freud was a scientist, a doctor and a groundbreaking thinker (known as the father of psychoanalysis). He stood out, in particular, for his very critical and negative analysis of all of a human beings actions and behaviours].

During the yechidus, the Rebbe remarked to him: “Freud dug deep into a person’s character, and uncovered all of the negative forces therein that determine his behaviour, the unflattering reality that resides there within.

But the Baal Shem Tov dug even deeper, and revealed the otzros, - the treasures!

Yom Tov with the Rebbe

Rabbi Alefsky, a Gerrer chosid, was in an airport late one night, and was surprised to notice an obviously Jewish family that were spread out on the floor. When he inquired as to what they were doing on the floor of the airport, he was informed that they were en-route from Paris to New York, and that they had somehow missed a flight, or it had been cancelled or something, and they were awaiting the next flight which would be the following morning.

‘Why don’t you find a place to stay overnight?’, asked Rabbi Alefsky, surprised that a family with young children would choose to bed down in the midst of such a public place. The family explained that they were penniless, and any cost for accommodations would be beyond their means.

Rabbi Alefsky made a quick calculation; ‘Listen’, he informed them, ‘I don’t live in a big house, but I can’t leave you here on the floor. I have a 2 bedroom apartment, so I’ll move my family into one bedroom, and make the other one available for all of you.’

The family gratefully accepted his offer, and happily joined him on his trip home. On the way they conversed some more, and Rabbi Alefsky learned that they lived in France, and were on their way to Crown Heights, to spend the upcoming Yomim Tovim with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Rabbi Alefsky was himself a chosid, who appreciated the importance of spending Tishrei with his Rebbe, yet he found the lengths to which this family was going to achieve this; - making the overseas trip despite having no money – to be rather extreme.

The next day, after he had returned them to the airport and they thanked him for his kindness, he expressed his wonder: ‘I know that going to the Rebbe is important, but does it really warrant such self-sacrifice as you are displaying?’

In response, the father called over his youngest daughter, and pointed her out to Rabbi Alefsky. “Do you see this girl”, he asked him, “well let me tell you her story.

“When she was about 3 years old she became ill, and lost the function of her feet. We ran from doctor to doctor, but to no avail; she was unable to take even a single step!

“Heartbroken, we came to the Rebbe for Yechidus, and begged for his brocho that her health should be restored. The Rebbe looked at her, and commanded: ‘Go, and kiss the mezuzah!’ We were flabbergasted, and began to explain the Rebbe again that this was impossible for her, because of the condition of her feet. But the Rebbe disregarded our words, and repeated to her: ‘Go, and kiss the mezuzah!’

“To our astonishment, she got up, and hesitatingly took a step. While it was only one step, it became a first step – literally as well as figuratively – until gradually her ability to walk was fully restored.

“Now do you understand?”, the man concluded his amazing tale, “having being the personal recipients of such a wondrous miracle by the Rebbe, can we even consider not spending Yom tov with him, regardless of the hardships involved?!”

A Misnagdisher Hergesh

During the nesius of the Frierdige Rebbe, there was a chosid who had an illness in his kidneys, and the doctors recommended surgery to have his kidney removed. They asked the Frierdige Rebbe, who responded that they should not go ahead with the operation.

There was a non-Lubavitcher Rov who was involved at the time, and he strongly objected to their following the advice of the Rebbe. “He is not present” that Rov protested, “he did not see the ill person, and cannot have a proper understanding of the severity of the disease. This is a very serious situation, and it is plain wrong to follow the opinion of someone who is offering it from afar”.

Needless to say, the chosid heeded the advice of the Frierdige Rebbe, to the consternation of the Rov.

22 years later, the above-mentioned Rov met the chosid who had been unwell. “So”, asked the Rov, “did you ever remove your kidney in the end?”

The chosid responded that 2 years ago he finally had the operation.

“You see”, retorted the Rov, “I was right”!

The Rebbe listened to the story, and remarked: “That is a misnagdisher hergesh”!

Zionism

A prominent Rosh Yeshiva of a Mizrachi Yeshiva was once in Yechidus, and he said to the Rebbe: ‘I heard something in the name of the Satmar Rov that will shock you”. When the Rebbe asked him what it was, he said: ‘I heard that following your visit to the Satmar Rov to be menachem oveil him, he remarked: ‘I see now that he is as much against Zionism as we are; it is merely expressed differently’.

The Rebbe reacted with equanimity. ‘He is correct’, the Rebbe said, ‘they are against the people, while I am opposed to the ideology’.

Unconditional Surrender

In the year 5712, there was a gathering during which the Rebbe met with the Rashag (his brother in law) and the donors of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva. This was during the week of Parshas VaYetzei, and they were discussing the upcoming dinner that would benefit the Yeshiva. During the course of the discussion, they repeatedly asked the Rebbe to participate in the dinner, but the Rebbe did not consent.

One of the philanthropists there promised $5,000 to the Yeshiva (in those days!), and added that if the Rebbe would attend the dinner he would increase it to $10,000. A number of the other attendees as well, when stating their pledges, promised a significant increase if the Rebbe would attend the dinner.

After a while, the Rebbe remarked smilingly: “It is now 10 years since “Pearl Harbor”, which resulted, after a few years [due to America entering the war], to the new concept of an “unconditional surrender”.

“Why must you make conditions?” the Rebbe asked them. In the spirit of an “unconditional surrender”, you should commit to the increased donations without any strings attached!” 

הריון ולידה קלה

There was a young teenage girl who went to the Rebbe for a dollar. When she passed by, as the Rebbe handed her the dollar he said "הריון ולידה קלה".

Now, if there are any of you who don’t know what that means, I’ll let you in on a secret: The girl didn’t either know what the words meant. In fact, she was surprised that the Rebbe had spoken to her in Hebrew, when all she understood was English (this was because she didn’t understand what the words meant; - had she any idea what they meant, she would have had something to be much much more surprised about than the Rebbe’s choice of language!)

She went over to Rabbi Leibel Groner, and asked him what the Rebbe had said to her. But he was, understandably, uncomfortable about sharing with her precisely what the Rebbe had told her, so he merely informed her that the Rebbe had given her a brocho.

Years, in fact many years, passed. The girl grew up, got married, and started growing a fine Chassidishe family. One day her husband decided to get her a gift: he would purchase for her all of the videos of her with the Rebbe. He contacted JEM, and made the necessary arrangements.

After awhile, he contacted them again to finalize the deal. “We have all of the videos that you requested, except for one”, they informed him. “Why except for one?”, the yungerman asked. “There is one video that we can’t release, the Rebbe discusses sensitive, personal matters, and it is confidential”, he was told.

But the husband was adamant: he must have all of the videos of his wife. He did whatever was necessary (probably got her involvement or consent), and got the video released. Now, after all these years, the woman was finally able to watch the video and understand what the Rebbe was saying to her.

At around that time, this woman was, in fact, expecting, and there were complications. The doctors instructed her to abort, in order to save her life. But she decided that the video, the words that the Rebbe had spoken to her that she’d finally understood, were the Rebbe’s directive to her. And she continued the pregnancy.

And it turned out (how could it be otherwise!) that it ended up being (from there on) a הריון ולידה קלה, exactly as the Rebbe had said!

3 Dollars

One day, a man walked in to the home of the shliach, the de facto Chabad House of S. Thomas, and handed the shliach 3 dollar bills. By way of explanation, he told him the following:

This story was removed to to claims of inaccuracies.

An accurate version of the story  in the comments would be greatly appreciated.

Ki Korov

A bochur was seeking a shiduch (as bochurim are wont to do, sooner or later), and decided to ask the Rebbe for a brocho. He came on Sunday, while the Rebbe was distributing dollars, and when his turn came to pass in front of the Rebbe, he requested a brocho for a shiduch.

The Rebbe gave the bochur a brocho. In fact, the Rebbe gave him an unusual and remarkable brocho! The Rebbe said to the bochur – with regards to his anticipated shiduch – כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד, indicating that his shiduch was not only forthcoming, but would happen (apparently) very imminently.

Amazed but delighted, the bochur left the Rebbe with a spring in his step and a gleam in his eyes.

But, strangely, days, weeks and then months passed by, with no sign of his long-awaited salvation. The bochur continued to do his part in trying to move things forward, but, despite his best efforts, nothing was materializing.

Finally, after a very long wait and much worry and heartache, the bochur’s prayers were finally answered; - he found his bashert, and they were engaged. They had their l’chayim, and, in an auspicious time, their chasuna, everyone was overjoyed and they lived happily ever after.

But there was a troubling thought niggling in the mind of this bochur (who was, of course, no longer a bochur). What did in fact happen to the Rebbe’s amazing brocho?! The Rebbe had, after all, not just given him a brocho for a shiduch, but had stated quite unequivocally that it was very near, and would take place very speedily. Was all that time that he spent waiting and wishing and working on it and worrying to be considered “very speedily”?! What was he to make of it?

Years passed, and the bochur-turned-yungerman had the opportunity to acquire and view the video in which he had requested the brocho from the Rebbe, when the Rebbe had responded in such an unusual manner.

And there and then, while watching (after all these years had elapsed), he suddenly discovered something extraordinary: He had been, on that fateful day, at the very back of the “men’s line” for dollars. Behind him was the beginning of the woman’s line, and that line was headed by (although they didn’t know each other yet at the time at all)  . . . none other than his ultimate kallah and wife!!

Indeed, כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד! In the most literal and simple sense – although in a way that, at the time, none of them would have imagined – his shiduch, his kalah was as near to him as can be. She was physically near, - she was right behind him!

Snuff Box

The Alter Rebbe once received, as a gift from a baal teshuva, a silver snuff box. Upon receiving it, the Alter Rebbe remarked: “There is one limb in the person (the nose) that is not by its nature such a glutton for worldly pleasures, and they want to create means for it to indulge as well?!” And the Alter Rebbe broke off the top to use as a mirror for his teffilin.

When the Tzemach Tzedek heard the story, he remarked: “The zeide (the Alter Rebbe) was involved in building not in breaking, and it is inconceivable that he broke the snuff box. Surely what actually took place was that the two parts were held together by a screw, and the Alter Rebbe removed the screw and detached them”

Zollen zei vissen ver iz di balebus

When R’ Reuven was in NY, he spent as much time as possible with the Rebbe, and grabbed every opportunity possible to see the Rebbe again and again. On those nights that there was yechidus, meaning that the Rebbe would be spending most (or all) of the night receiving people for yechidus. R’ Reuven would spend the night at 770, waiting for the Rebbe to leave – at the end of yechidus – to go home, so that he could see the Rebbe leaving 770.

One particular night of yechidus, in the middle of the night, police cars suddenly appeared, and sealed off any access to the entire block of Eastern Parkway. This was followed by a helicopter materializing and hovering just above 770. On a few rooftops he was able to spot snipers that seemed to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. And then some security personnel arrived, and were obviously scrutinizing the steps and approach to 770 for any signs of suspicion.

Then 3 Rolls Royce’s drove up, and a few men emerged and walked directly into the Rebbe’s room. They spent some time there, and then came out and were driven away.

R’ Reuven’s curiosity was piqued. He had a special privilege of enjoying an “open door” policy, i.e., he had permission to come into the Rebbe whenever he wished, and he took advantage of that privilege at this time. He walked into the Rebbe, and asked “Who were those men?”

The Rebbe enlightened him: “They are scientists who work for the government in the field of atomic energy. They encountered a difficulty that they couldn’t resolve, and they came to ask for my assistance”.

“And did the Rebbe help them?” asked R’ Reuven, intrigued.

“Yes”, he was told.

Shocked, he could not contain himself, and blurted out: “Why did the Rebbe help them, atomic bombs are so dangerous and cause so much damage and devastation?!”

The Rebbe gave him 3 reasons: “Firstly, their research is for peaceful uses”.

“Secondly, America is a malchus shel chesed, a government that has a history of doing so much to support and assist Torah and mitzvos in so many ways, and I felt it’s only right to help them where possible”.

“And thirdly”, the Rebbe concluded, “zollen zei vissen ver iz di balebus!” [- let them know who is in charge!]  

Worth Being Embarrassed

R’ Hillel Paritcher, who was one of the renowned Chassidim of the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach tzedek, used to travel around from place to place as a “shadar” (a shliach of the Rebbeim) to influence and inspire Chassidim.

One of the main subjects that R’ Hillel would address with his listeners was the subject of avodas hatefila. One of the focal points of chassidus (as is known, - the reason the Alter Rebbe chose to go to Mezeritch as opposed to Vilna was in order to learn about avodas hatefila), R’ Hillel would encourage and exhort the Chassidim to place more effort and attention into concentrating on their davening.

In one of the cities that he would visit, he came to them once, and they complained to him: ‘We’re working and working on our davening as you instructed us, ober ess geit nisht” [but it’s not going].

R’ Hillel listened to their concerns, and responded: “At least now you have what to be embarrassed about”!

Directed by the Rebbe

It was a few days before Pesach, and a chossid from Arizona was passing by the Rebbe. The Rebbe, unexpectedly, stopped the chossid and remarked: “You are going to ____ (here the Rebbe named a small city in Texas), I would like you to bring these 2 pounds of Matzos to ____ (here the Rebbe named a person living in that city).

The chosid made a quick calculation. The small city in Texas that the Rebbe had named did not have direct flights, neither from NY nor to Arizona. To travel there in person would mean to lose 2 complete days, which would result in him arriving home Erev Pesach. He didn’t think that he could manage that. He did, however, attach great importance to the personal shlichus that was given to him by the Rebbe, so he decided that as soon as he would arrive home, he would go straight to the post office and ship the package to the desired destination.

(as if the Rebbe couldn’t have had it shipped without that chossid)

This chossid duly boarded his flight with the precious package, and began his journey to his own hometown. However, en route they encountered an unexpected difficulty: The plane suddenly developed engine trouble, and the captain instructed everyone to fasten their seat belts, because they would need to make an emergency landing. As the passengers complied, the captain got onto the loudspeaker again, and informed them where they would be making their unscheduled stopover for repairs. And – you guessed it – it was none other than in the small municipal airport in the small city in Texas to which the Rebbe had originally sent the chossid!

Now, we can think that, under these circumstances, the chossid would get the message to stop fighting his destiny, and to resolve, instead, to obey his instructions. But our chossid had other ideas: Now he was losing even more time, and a detour was even less feasible (even though he was already in the right locality). He still retained his initial plan, to send the package by post.

While he was in the airport with his fellow passengers, waiting for their aircraft to be declared sky-worthy, he was approached by a local Jew. “Are you Rabbi ___”, he was asked. “Do you have a package for me?”

That’s right, that person was his intended recipient, who came to the chossid to pick up his matzos!

Excuses

Rabbi Berel Zaltzman was born and raised in the former Soviet Union and was very active in the religious underground network there, even hosting a Yeshiva in his home for a number of years. He emigrated from Russia to Israel with his wife and 6 children in 1971, and has been involved in the various shlichuyos of the Rebbe since. In addition to being a respected chassidisher Yid, Rabbi Zaltzman is renowned as a talented and inspiring Chazan

When R’ Berel came to New York the first time, he had the zechus to have a yechidus with the Rebbe. During the yechidus, the Rebbe instructed him to hold concerts, and also to produce a record. R’ Berel set to work immediately carrying out the directives of the Rebbe.

Now, you should know that producing a record is not as easy as it sounds. There is much work that has to go into it, as well as considerable financial investment.

About a year later, R’ Berel was by the Rebbe again for Tishrei, and, during his yechidus, was able to report on having carried out the Rebbe’s directives. The Rebbe then told him to produce a 2^nd record. Rabbi Zaltzman at that time was still in debt from the first record, and, in addition, his own business was not doing very well, and he was struggling with his own livelihood. Thus, the new directive of the Rebbe sounded rather overwhelming.

When he returned to Eretz Yisroel (where he was living at the time), he discussed the matter with a number of his mashpi’im and some of the Eltere Chassidim. All of them, without exception, told him very emphatically that it was very obvious that the Rebbe did not mean for him to work on another record now, in his current situation, when it would be an unreasonable undertaking for him, and his material circumstances did not allow for it. At some later stage, he would be able to return to it. He followed their sage advice, and postponed the new project indefinitely.

The following Tishrei, he once again joined other Chassidim in their trip to the Rebbe, and had the great zechus of a yechidus with the Rebbe. At the beginning of the yechidus (Oh NO) the Rebbe asked him about the new record. When R’ Berel didn’t answer, the Rebbe exclaimed: “You didn’t make it? Why not?!” R’ Berel continued to stand silently, and the Rebbe said to him “Ohn a farvos?!” [You won’t even give some reason/excuse]

Rabbi Zaltzman saw that the Rebbe wanted an explanation, so he told the Rebbe about his difficult financial situation, as well as the debts that remained from the first record, that precluded him working on a new one at this point. 

The Rebbe listened to his explanations, and exclaimed in wonder: “Mit Stalin hostu zich gekent an eitzah geben, un du kenst zich nit geben kein eitzah mit a por toizent doller??!!” [Against Stalin you managed to hold your own, and you couldn’t deal with a challenge of a few thousand dollars].

[Needless to say, immediately following that yechidus he put together the necessary resources and, in a short time, took care of the second record].

The Horse

Once there was a Jew, we’ll call him Yossel, who made his living as a horse-thief. He would travel from town to town, and wherever there was a horse that was not well enough guarded, he would find his way to it and take possession of it, after which he would sell it for a handsome profit.

One day, Yossel heard that Yankel, a farmer in one village, had 4 horses, and that he was careless with their protection. That night, Yossel made his way stealthily into Yankel’s barn, and located the horses. Sure enough, the stalls were all unlocked, and Yossel picked one of the horses. With the help of an apple and some sugar, Yossel ensured full cooperation of the horse, and in no time he had relocated the horse to his own barn.

Encouraged by the ease with which his operation succeeded, Yossel decided to return for a second horse. However, here he met with resistance. The horse became alarmed, being approached by someone he didn’t recognize, and started raising a ruckus. The noise woke Yankel, who ran to the barn to see what the commotion was all about. To his amazement, he saw a man standing there, and a horse missing.

“Who are you?” asked the startled Yankel, “and . . where is my horse?!”

The quick-witted horse thief looked at him, and replied quietly: “I am your horse.”

“Wha . . what are you talking about?” exclaimed the confused farmer.

“Listen to me, and I’ll tell you my story. I once committed a grave sin, and it was decreed that I come down to the earth in the form of a horse in order to atone for my sin through my suffering. What you believed was your horse, was in fact me getting my atonement. Boruch Hashem today my sin is cleansed, and I was able to return to my original form”.

The gullible farmer swallowed the tall tale trustingly, and became at once devastated. “Oy, I feel terrible”, he cried, all these years that I beat you and whipped you, I had no idea that your really a person. I feel terrible about it”. Yossel tried to calm him, explaining that this was all Hashem’s decree, but the farmer remained mortified, and insisted on trying to make it up to him at least somewhat. So Yossel was invited into his house, and served a sumptuous meal, and then pressed to accept some money as a token of Yankel’s remorse.

When Yossel finally left, he decided that it was not a bad night of business after all; - he came away with a good meal and a nice sum of money. In addition he still had the 1^st horse, which he proceeded to sell the next day to a horse dealer.

In the meantime, Yankel was still short a horse, and at the first opportunity he visited the horse dealer to get it replaced. He starts to look around, and, imagine his shock to find there none other than his own original horse!

At first he was flabbergasted, but when he got back his voice, he walked over to the horse, patted it on the back, and exclaimed: “Ferd Ferd, ein tog bizt du geven a mentch, un du bizt shoin gevoren tzurik a ferd??!!!” [Horse horse, for one day you were a mentch, and already you went back to being a horse!].

Go out into the street and shout that you need help!

In the early years of the nesius of the Rebbe, there was a family in Crown Heights that was struggling. Their financial situation was tight, and this resulted in their being unable to hire help in their home. It was a household that was blessed with many children BH, and the house was a constant scene of chaos. Needless to say, the frazzled mother was very harried.

The family were not Lubavitcher Chassidim (like the majority of the families in Crown Heights at the time), but they had heard of the “new” Lubavitcher Rebbe, and some acquaintances were encouraging them to seek his advice and brocho. The husband was against the idea, not believing that any benefit would come from it, but his wife was at her wits end, and, desperate for some solution, she decided to try it.

When she came into yechidus, she told the Rebbe about her problem, expressing the fact that she was desperately in need of help. The Rebbe turned to her and said: “You need help? Then go out into the street and shout that you need help!”

The woman left the yechidus rather puzzled, and called her husband to relate what happened. Her husband laughed at her. “You see”, he said, “I told you that there’s no point in going to the Lubavitcher Rebbe; if you wanted to do something crazy you could have done so on your own”.

The woman, however, had more emunas tzaddikim than her husband (or perhaps she was just more desperate), and she decided to carry out the Rebbe’s instructions. She went out into the street, and began to scream that she needs help.

Suddenly a black man came over to her and asked her what she needs. She told him that her house was in complete turmoil, that she wasn’t coping, and that she was in desperate need of help. “I can probably help you”, he told the startled woman, “let me just check with my Mum”. Sure enough, the next day, bright and early, their newly hired black worker was putting the house in order.

The things he did in the house were - for the woman - a lifesaver. But she was still very nervous; - who knows how much he’ll charge at the end of the week, and they, after all, could not afford to pay (which was the reason they hadn’t hired help until then).

At the end of the first week, the woman (with no small measure of trepidation) approached her shvartze and asked him how much she has to pay him. “Just buy me a bottle of whiskey” was his reply. The woman was delighted. She had had housework for a week practically for nothing.

However, as he began working the second week, she began to worry again. ‘This week he’ll surely demand pay’, she thought to herself, ‘and I’ll have nothing to give him’. But her fears were again completely unfounded. At the end of the week, the worker once again informed his grateful employer that all she owed him was a bottle of booze.

This went on for about 30 years! At the end of that period, the woman passed away. Shortly thereafter, the black worker passed on as well. [Some Chassidim remarked, regarding this story: The Maharal created a golem that couldn’t speak, but the Rebbe created one that could speak].

Gifting the Rebbe

R’ Avremel Zaltzman was a yungerman about 5 years after his chasunah, and, sadly, there were no children. They had been to physicians, but to no avail. One top doctor examined them and stated unequivocally “When hair grows on my palm, then you may have children”.

It was Ellul (before Tishrei of 5686 or 5687), and Avremel was filled with a great Chassidic longing to travel to Leningrad, and to spend Tishrei with the Rebbe. He approached his young wife and shared his thoughts with her, and she was fully supportive, encouraging him to indeed follow his heart, and spend the Yomim Tovim with the Rebbe.

But Avremel still looked downcast. ‘How can I go to the Rebbe empty-handed’ he asked her, ‘I must bring something to the Rebbe’,

But, while she emphasized with him, she did not see any practical solution, living as they did in abject poverty. “You can take anything from our house and pawn it to have something to bring the Rebbe. I don’t mind. But you know as well as I that our house is completely bare”.

But as she was talking to him, she noticed that he was eyeing her gold wedding band. She easily divined his thoughts, and happily removed her ring and handed it to him, telling him to get what he could for it, and bring it to the Rebbe.

Avremel was, needless to say, very embarrassed and uncomfortable about taking back his wife’s wedding ring (and becoming an “Indian giver”), but, seeing no other alternative, he accepted it. The ring was worth about 30-40 rubles, but R’ Avrohom, not being a man of business and therefore not knowing exactly how to go about getting the best price for it, decided to take it with him to Leningrad and sell it to one of the Chassidim there who deal in jewelry.

Sure enough, he made the trip, and when he arrived, he approached a fellow chosid and offered to sell him the ring. The chosid inquired as to where he had acquired it, and Avremel, put him off with meaningless platitudes.

But Chassidim, after all, are wise, and the chosid immediately ‘put two and two together’ and realized that this yungerman must be selling his wife’s wedding band in order to have something to bring to the Rebbe. The chosid, therefore, called together a few of his colleagues that evening and shared the story with them. He then places the ring on the table, and told them:

‘We will now auction off this ring. However, this will not be a standard auction; - instead, although the ring will go to the highest bidder, no-one else will get back their money. Everyone will place the amount of their bid – in cash – onto the table, and the entire accumulated sum will be handed over to the yungerman to give to the Rebbe’ (Chinese auction?)

They all complied, and when they were done, they had one thousand ruble to present to Avremel Zaltzman. The chosid who had organized the auction approached Avrohom the next day, and handed him the envelope, saying ‘the ring was sold, here is the money’. Avremel looked into the envelope, and almost fainted! A thousand ruble! ‘This is much too much’, he protested, ‘the ring was not worth more than 30 or 40 ruble’.

‘What concern is that of yours’, the chosid reprimanded him, ‘the ring was sold, now take your money’. But Avrohom was adamant; he refused to accept the money. Finally the chosid looked him in the eye, and said: “Listen, I know exactly what you did. Either you take the envelope and bring the money yourself to the Rebbe, or I will inform the entire city that you sold your wife’s wedding ring to have money to bring the Rebbe!’

The threat was effective, and Avremel took the envelope. When he entered the Rebbe’s room for yechidus, he handed over the money to the Rebbe, and then he burst into tears, and asked for a brocho for children. The Rebbe looked at him, and said “you will have children”. The Rebbe then repeated the statement, verbatim, a second time. And then a third time.

The Zaltzman’s ultimately bore 3 children, from whom are descended numerous Chassidim and shluchim today.

[After the third child, Mrs. Zaltzman wanted more children, and visited the same original physician to try to get help. The doctor looked at her and exclaimed ‘What are you doing here, I already told you that it’s impossible for you to have children?’ So she explained to him that since then she had indeed borne children, and she was visiting him because she wanted more.

The doctor was stunned to hear that, and he re-examined her. When he completed the examination he exclaimed: ‘Go to whoever gave you the last children and ask for more children, as far as I’m concerned it’s impossible for you to have children’].

Showing Kiruvim to the Rebbe

Rabbi Nachman Bernhard was the Rabbi of the largest shul in South Africa for about 5 decades. Before making the decision to move there, he visited the Rebbe, who encouraged him strongly to accept the position. He related the following about that yechidus: ‘It was after 1 a.m. when I entered the Rebbe's office and saw the Rebbe for the first time in my life. The yechidus lasted for over an hour. I felt as if the whole world around us had disappeared and it was only the Rebbe and I. In the yechidus, the Rebbe told me that Jewish life today is being devastated, as if by a fire, and whoever can extinguish the fire, must do so. The Rebbe pointed his finger at me: "You have no right to sit and become a talmid chacham." 

‘I still resisted. I said to the Rebbe: "I have already left an important position for the sake of my children's education. What will happen to them in South Africa?" By then, I had three daughters.

‘The Rebbe answered that the children of every Jew who devotes himself to communal work receive Divine protection. The Rebbe didn't exactly tell me "go," but he calmed my fears about going to South Africa.

‘When I went out of the Rebbe's room I said to myself, "I may not yet be a Lubavitcher Chasid, but from now on I am the Rebbe's Chasid!"

In 1974, after 10 years in South Africa, he made plans to move to Israel. He wanted to see the Rebbe to ask him to recommend someone to replace him. He relates the following about his yechidus at that time:

‘I flew to New York and went into yechidus, which lasted an hour and a half. The Rebbe told me how much I could accomplish in South Africa. Everyone can accomplish best in his own milieu, the Rebbe said, but it is much harder to have an effect in an alien environment. The Rebbe suggested that I remain in South Africa.

‘I let out a big sigh (having had my mind set on the move to Israel). The Rebbe suggested that I visit Israel frequently. I objected that these trips were very costly. The Rebbe smiled and said that he would pay for my ticket, and continued to encourage me to stay in South Africa.

‘Again I sighed, and again the Rebbe asked me, "Why are you sighing? You are fulfilling a Heavenly mission! The hundred thousand Jews that you can affect will bring G-d so much satisfaction!"

‘The Rebbe also spoke about himself. "Don't you think that I also want to be in Israel, near the holiness, but we have responsibilities”.

‘By now I knew that I would return to South Africa. I, however, wished to discuss it further, and I asked if I could have another yechidus on Sunday, to which the Rebbe acquiesced.

That Shabbos the Rebbe gave me extraordinary kiruvim, - extra measures of attention and encouragement. I appreciated this very much, and the first thing I said when I went into his room on Sunday was a word of thanks for the kiruvim.

"Kiruvim are a two-way street,” the Rebbe replied.

"Must I too show kiruvim to the Rebbe?!” I asked in wonder.

"Yes!” 

“What does the Rebbe mean? I have already agreed to accept the Rebbe's advice. I am staying in South Africa”. I asked.

"Yes”, said the Rebbe, “but your decision should not be made with the resignation of one who has reluctantly accepted a decree. Rather, it should come happily and good-heartedly!”

Speak to yourself

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb related the following story

I didn't consider myself a Lubavitcher, but I lived in Crown Heights for a short time after I got married. I would attend the Rebbe’s farbrengens from time to time, but my relationship was always from a distance.

I mention this because of what happened later on.

Three years after we married, my wife and I moved away to Silver Spring, Maryland, where I attended the University of Maryland. I received a PhD in psychology and began working as a psychologist in the local school system. Besides this, I used to give classes in Talmud – one on Shabbos afternoon for the general public, and one on Tuesday night for a smaller group who wanted to learn on a deeper level.

I was in my early thirties, so I suppose I was too young for a midlife crisis – or maybe I arrived at a midlife crisis earlier than most people – but around this time, I was torn with a number of very pressing questions:

Should I stay in Torah learning, or should I continue in psychology? And if so, how should I further my career? Should I move into private psychotherapy work or accept an offer from one of the county social service organizations in the area? Also, I wasn't sure what was best for my children in terms of educational options in Silver Spring.

In addition to all these dilemmas, like everybody else I guess, I had my own questions of faith and trust in God, as well as some philosophical questions. I was in a state of uncertainty.

All these questions had me depressed, and I was unsure what to do or where to go. I spoke to various close friends, and one of them – a Chabad chosid – suggested that I visit the Rebbe.

And so it was that in February of 1971 I called the Rebbe.

The Rebbe’s secretary answered the phone in English, with a simple, “Hello, who’s this?”

Now as I was talking to the secretary, in the background – I recognized his voice from the farbrengens I had attended – the Rebbe was asking in Yiddish, “Who’s calling?”

I replied, “A Yid fun Maryland – A Jew from Maryland.”

I told the secretary that I have many questions which I would like to discuss with the Rebbe – questions about what direction my life should take, questions regarding my career, questions of faith… I explained that I was at a very uncertain stage in my life and I didn’t know where to turn.

I spoke in English and, as I was talking, the Rebbe’s secretary was repeating and paraphrasing my words in Yiddish – I imagine he was doing this so that the Rebbe should hear.

And then I heard the Rebbe say in the background, in Yiddish: “Tell him that there is a Jew who lives in Maryland that he can speak to. Der yid hayst Veinreb – his name is Weinreb.”

The secretary asked me, “Did you hear what the Rebbe said?”

Now, I couldn’t believe my ears. I knew for sure I had not given the secretary my name, but the Rebbe had just said my name! I was taken aback and I wanted to hear it again. So when the secretary asked whether I heard, I said no.

The secretary repeated the Rebbe’s words to me: “S’iz doh a Yid in Maryland mit vemen er zol redden. Zayn numen iz Veinreb.”

So I replied, “But my name is Weinreb!”

And then I heard the Rebbe say, “Oib azoi,zol er visen zayn az amol darf men reden tzu zich – If that’s the case, then he should know that, sometimes, one needs to speak to himself.”

The secretary also seemed stunned by what was taking place. He just stopped, and I could hear his breathing. And then he said to me, “The Rebbe said that sometimes it’s best to talk to yourself. Isn’t your name Weinreb?”

“Yes, my name is Weinreb, but maybe the Rebbe means a different Weinreb.”

“No, the Rebbe’s saying ‘Talk to Weinreb,’ and he explained that you must to talk to yourself.”

I thanked him very much, and the call ended with that.

I believe I understood what the Rebbe was trying to tell me. If I could put words in his mouth, he was saying, “You’re looking for answers outside yourself. You’re not a kid anymore, you’re a man. You are thirty years old, you are a father, you are a teacher of Torah. You have to have more self-confidence. It’s time to grow up and listen to yourself. Don’t be so dependent on others. Trust yourself.”

And from that point on I became much more decisive. I think up to that time I had a tendency to be very ambivalent, I was not a risk-taker, I was a procrastinator when it came to making decisions. But from that point on, I became decisive.

The Rebbe could have picked up the phone and told me what to do, but I wouldn't necessarily have listened to what he told me, and I wouldn't have accepted it in the same way I accepted this. Like many people, I suppose I had a natural resistance to being told by others what to do, and I think the Rebbe had insight to know that it was better if I heard the answer from myself than if I heard the answer from him.

That the Rebbe understood that, I think, was part of his great wisdom.

A few months after that life-changing phone call, there came an opportunity to express my gratitude to the Rebbe in person.I had come to visit my in-laws in Brooklyn and my father-in-law encouraged me to go to the Rebbe to thank him. The Rebbe was blessing people in a small public audience, and I went over to him and said, “My name is Weinreb and I’m from Maryland.” And he gave me a big smile of recognition.

I saw the Rebbe many times, and I saw many pictures of him, but that particular smile meant a lot for me.

From My Encounter