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?!”