Late Shabbos afternoon on 3 Tammuz, the Chabad community in B’nei Brak gathered in the old, central Chabad shul on Rashi Street, to farbreng. The shul was packed and the Chassidim listened closely to the rav, Rabbi Yitzchok Belinov, who spoke about the significance of the day and hiskashrus to the Rebbe through learning his teachings and fulfilling his instructions.
Why did the Baal Shem Tov call down the Samech-Mem himself and why did the Samech-Mem become alarmed when five tzaddikim convened in an abandoned house on the edge of a tiny village? * What is the segula to hasten the Geula and why did R’ Boruch of Mezhibuzh’s stomach turn every morning? * What did the Yid of Peshischa learn from the gentile? * A compilation of stories about tzaddikim who did so much to hasten the Geula and to raise the Sh’china up from the dust. * From the book U’Meivee Goel
In recent years, we have seen an enormous number of miracles from the Rebbe to the point that sometimes we don’t even appreciate them. Like the Mitteler Rebbe’s daughter said, “By my father, miracles rolled about and nobody wanted to pick them up.” But occasionally we come across a miracle story that is so incredible that even we, who are used to miracles, go crazy over it
During the first wave of immigration from the Soviet Union, I was the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. One day, as I sat in the beis din that does conversions, a 42 year old doctor came in. He had come from the Soviet Union the day before with his wife and two daughters. He came for documents affirming his Jewishness for all the institutions that required it. He even brought witnesses with him to testify that he was Jewish, a son of Jewish parents. His mother was a pediatrician who runs a cardiology department in Moscow and his father, who was no longer living, had been a surgeon.
Shortly after the Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchok Luria, became famous in the Jewish world, he sent two of his illustrious students on a journey. They later became famous too as master kabbalists – Rabbi Chaim Vital and Rabbi Yisroel Srug. He wanted them to dispel negative rumors about him issuing from the beis midrash of the Maharshal who lived in Lublin. Defamers had made serious accusations to the Maharshal about the kabbalist of Tzfas and he had nearly decided to excommunicate him.
The following episode comes to mind every time I meet someone who refuses to understand what Beis Moshiach is about. Two years ago, after a lengthy process of back and forth with an ad agency, one of the largest health plans in Eretz Yisroel decided to advertise regularly with us. “The ad is on the way,” the media director told me about an hour before the closing of the magazine
R’ Gershon Kitover, brother-in-law of the holy Baal Shem Tov, experienced many difficulties before he was able to make his way to the secret yeshiva of the holy Ohr HaChayim. Even when he was accepted there, he only merited to bask in the glow of the holy Ohr HaChayim for three days.
At the recent banquet of the Kinus HaShluchim that took place on Motzaei Shabbos in 770, the former Broadway star, Dudu Fisher, addressed the shluchim. He told about the bracha of the Rebbe Rayatz in the merit of which his mother was born, and the bracha and guidance of the Rebbe which paved the way for the kiddush Hashem Dudu made when he appeared on Broadway without desecrating the Shabbos. * Also, his feelings about 770, who his chavrusa for Chassidus is, and where he wants to appear at the next Kinus HaShluchim
There was a very special man by the name of R’ Refael Chudaitov. He was a Bucharian Jew who had a great love for Sifrei Torah. He would rescue Sifrei Torah from destruction, and he often endangered his life for this
The tzaddik, R’ Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz, known as the Chozeh of Lublin, passed away on Tisha B’Av after a protracted battle to hasten the Geula. * It was a heavenly battle in which the tzaddikim of that generation were involved and the Satan himself was the adversary.
The surprising series of events began when a coded letter arrived from the Rebbe Rayatz who asked that the middle daughter go to the military doctor and try to get her brother Mendel released from the Red Army. The girl was beside herself; how could she convince the doctor when others had failed? And what if the doctor decided to inform on the entire family? Nevertheless, she carried out the Rebbe’s order with a pounding heart and great fear. * This was the first of a series of military exemptions which the girl arranged for the bachurim. * From the book “So’arot B’demama” on the heroism of Chassidishe women behind the Iron Curtain. * Presented for 12 Tamuz.
Wherever we go, when people hear our name, they immediately ask, “Are you the one with the accident?” And then they ask us to tell the story.
Every Friday, years ago, a group of bachurim went on mivtzaim to Queens. One week, they met David Nachmias and got into a conversation with him. He is an older man and he told them many miracles that he saw with the Rebbe. His stories motivated me to go back to him a few weeks later. In talking to him, I realized that these weren’t just miracle stories but an incredible historic chain of events.
August 10, 2016