R’ Zalman (not the actual name) was one of the distinguished Chabad Chassidim in Eretz Yisrael. There weren’t many Lubavitcher Chassidim in Eretz Yisrael at that time, during the nesius of the Rebbe Maharash, and R’ Zalman was one of them.
The reputation of the Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchok Luria, as a man of G-d, mekubal and holy man, who delved into the secrets of the Torah with his holy disciples in the holy city of Tzfas, had begun to spread. At the same time, there were stories about how he did miraculous things. The masses were struck with awe upon hearing about him.
There had been more than one fire in Lubavitch. The wooden houses were not immune to fire and the methods to put out fires were not what we have today. When a fire broke out, it was a danger to the entire town.
There was a long line in the yard of 770. Chassidim alongside those not-yet-frum, adults and children, stood and waited for their turn to receive a dollar for tzedaka and a bracha from the Rebbe Melech Ha’Moshiach.
Gideon (a pseudonym) walked briskly down the street in Crown Heights. He was on his way to see the rav of the community, Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dworkin (d. 1985).
Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was born on 18 Nissan in Russia in 1878. At a young age, he displayed unusual talents in Torah study. When he grew up, he married Rebbetzin Chana, the daughter of the Chassid Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, rav of the city Nikolaev in the Ukraine.
“I hate my world”, she insisted, her graying arms waving obsessively. “Everything about it is depressing. The longer I’m around, the older and crankier it means that the world is getting!” “
On 9 Adar 5720 (March 7 1960) the Rebbe spoke to a group of Hillel students. After some remarks from the Rebbe the students had a chance to ask the Rebbe questions. The last question in the exchange was a most daring one. “Can the Rebbe perform miracles?”
The rivers of tears that flowed from her swollen eyes had slowly ceased. Heaven had kissed them dry. “You must be strong,” the wind whispered. “Your children need you.”
One night in Teves 5779, the cellphone of R’ Zushe Zilberstein, shliach of the Rebbe in Montreal, rang. He answered the phone with no warning as to what drama he was about to take part in.
The large group of hundreds of young men hung on every word said by the renowned Chassidic mashpia, Rabbi Avrohom Elimelech, known as Meilech Biderman. As is his way, R’ Biderman spoke sweetly and pleasantly, yet deeply and penetratingly, words that inspired his listeners to cleave to the ways of emuna and Chassidus, with lofty feelings and pure faith in Tzaddikim.
It was the middle of winter 5770 when Rabbi Alon Razla from Florida received a phone call. On the line was a woman who introduced herself as Shani Huebner.
Many Chassidim lived through the hellish years in Communist Russia, among them outstanding models of truly devoted Chassidim, “maskilim,” “ovdim,” as well as everyday simple folks. There was one however who stood out as totally different than all the rest in his personal conduct, the Chassid R’ Yosef Schiff.
November 7, 2019