2 Generations

A shliach in a city was applying for a position as a Rabbi in a local shul. The shliach contacted the officers of the shul, and it was arranged that he would come speak there on a Shabbos, after which he would be able to meet the congregants and have an opportunity to introduce himself to them.

When the designated Shabbos arrived, the shliach came to the shul. The president of the shul introduced him warmly, explaining that he was a representative from Lubavitch, who will share some Torah thoughts with them, and afterwards perhaps things would develop further.

Now, every shul or institution is dependent on the support of donations etc. for its sustenance. In many cases there is one (or 2) very wealthy member/s who usually bear the lion’s share of the financial burden. In this shul, as well, there was one main donor, who happened to be, unfortunately, not very fond of Lubavitch (to put it mildly).

Thus, when the president completed his introduction, this gvir got up and shouted: ‘I protest! I don’t want a Lubavitcher speaking in my shul!’

The president, however, was unfazed, and retorted: ‘We have already arranged for this guest to speak today in our shul, please everyone give him your attention’.

The protestor became even more furious, and screamed: ‘If you let this Lubavitcher speak here, then I’m leaving (and I’ll take my money elsewhere)’! But the president remained steadfast, informing him that if he wished to leave he is free to do so, but the speech will go on as scheduled. The man stormed out, and the shliach gave his speech.

After davening there was a kiddush [during which the president approached the shliach and brought him l’chayim, telling him: ‘you know we usually serve only scotch here, but for you, since I know you’re a Lubavitcher, I bought a bottle of absolute'], and the shliach met a number of people.

But there was one question that was greatly troubling him, and finally he asked the president directly: ‘What caused you to so forcefully defend me, even at the risk of alienating one of your important donors? Of course, I greatly appreciate it, but it was very puzzling to me’ The president told the shliach to come to his house motzoei Shabbos, when he would answer him.

On motzoei Shabbos, the president served the shliach a melaveh malka, and told him the following story:

During the (2^nd world) war, there was a youth who found himself, at a river bank, trapped between the Russian front and the German front. He didn’t know what to do (knowing that the one thing that they both had in common was their animosity towards the Jews). Finally he decided that the Germans would kill him for sure, and he was better off taking his chances with the Russians.

He duly crossed the river, and, as expected, as he neared the Russian front, he was seized by their soldiers. He explained that he was a Jewish youth, running for his life,  and he could sense that they trusted him. They took him to the medical tent,  and told him to take some food and rest up,  and didn't appear to give him another thought. Bone weary, he fell into a deep sleep. A few hours passed, when, suddenly, a group of soldiers burst into the room, grabbed him roughly, and handcuffed him. He was shocked at the startling change in their attitude, but it very quickly became clear to him: In the middle of the night, the German forces had carried out a surprise attack against the Russian positions, with numerous casualties. It was clear that they had received information, and the Jewish boy fell under suspicion of being a spy!

In vain did he try to defend himself,  trying - unsuccessfully - to impress upon them the ludicrousness of him, a Jewish boy, spying for his mortal enemies the Germans. It was wartime, and the slightest suspicion of such treason was more than enough basis to put him to death r"l. Indeed, they conducted a swift trial, and prepared to execute him. There was nothing more to do or say.

Moments before they shot him, the vehicle of the commanding officer passed by. He stopped, and inquired what was going on. When he was informed about what happened, he looked at the boy sharply, and said "I'm taking him with me". The  commanding officer took the boy with him to his tent, and then, to boy's utter surprise,  he turned to him and asked in a perfect Yiddish: "ver bizt du, vos tust du do?"

The boy was, understandably in a state of shock - moments before he had already been sure he was breathing his last - and it took him awhile until he could speak again. But gradually he calmed down, and told the officer his entire story. The officer reassured him down, telling him that he believes him, and that he has no need to worry. At that point the boy gathered his courage (or perhaps his curiosity overcame his fear) and questioned the officer about what he was doing there. At that, the officer began to share his story:

'My father', he began to relate, 'was a follower of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. When I got my notice to appear for the draft, my father immediately brought me to the Rebbe for a brocho that I be spared. The Rebbe, however, to the great surprise of both of us,  responded to our request with the words "ess iz nito vos tzu ton" (there's nothing to be done). My father began to cry, and begged the Rebbe to give us some advice to save me from being taken to the army. The Rebbe repeated his earlier statement, however, and added "there will come a time, while in the army, when he will have the opportunity to save the life of a Jewish youth, and he should be sure to take advantage of this opportunity when it arrives".

'I've been in the army many years (the commanding officer concluded his narrative to the youth), and have been promoted numerous times, until I reached this very high position, but I never saw the opportunity about which the Rebbe had spoken. Today, when I recognized the Jewish features on your face, I realized that the Rebbe had meant you, and that it was in order to save your life that I had joined the army in the first place!'

The president of the shul now looked at the shliach pointedly, and exclaimed: "I was that boy in the war, all those years ago, and the Rebbe saved me. I owe my life to Lubavitch, and you can be sure that I will pay no attention to any screaming, but will do whatever it takes to get you this position!!"

[In fact, the shliach got the appointment, and went on to be very successful in his new position. It would seem that the Rebbe with his ruach hakodesh was not only saving the life of a Jewish youth so many years later, but was also - through that - securing a job for a shliach 2 generations even further down the line!]