Stories about the Rebbe
An eye that sees
Rabbi Dovber Junik
Adapted from an article by Rabbi Michoel Seligson
Rabbi DovBer Junik, fondly referred to by locals as ‘Reb Berl,’ was born in Priluki, Russia in 1927 on the 6th of Menachem Av to Rabbi Naftoli and Mrs. Golda Ita Junik, descendents of the holy Rabbis: Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev , Reb Pinchas of Koritz, and Reb Menachem Nochum of Chernobyl.
Under the influence of the Rabbi of the city, Rabbi Hillel Solozuvski, Reb Naftoli became acquainted with Chabad Chassidus. Reb Naftoli was a Yireh Shomayim (G-d fearing Jew) and did not send his children to government schools but educated them with self sacrifice in an underground cheder.
Reb Berl obtained his background in Torah and Chassidus in Communist Russia, at a time when Chassidic life and studying Torah were conducted underground and fraught with danger.
His father was vigilant to give Berl and his siblings an authentic Chassidic chinuch (education).
At the outbreak of World War II, the family escaped to Tashkent, Uzbekistan from Moscow, and in 1944, the 17-year-old Berl went to Samarkand to study in the underground Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim, learning and receiving guidance from the elder Chassidim and Mashpiim (Chassidic mentors).
In 1946, the chance to leave Russia for Poland became a reality. The Jews from Russia traveled to Poland under the guise of being Polish citizens who had escaped during the war and were returning to their homeland.
Polish passports generally contained the citizen’s name with a list of the individual’s children on the side, without identifying photos. The people organizing the mass exit from Russia needed to separate some families and add their children to other families in order that the number of children that appeared on the passports should be consistent with the number of children present.
Reb Berl Junik merited to be listed on the passport of the Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe’s mother, and be identified as her child. This marked the beginning of an extraordinary relationship with Bais HoRav, the Rebbe’s family.
The train left Lvov, situated on the Russian-Polish border, on Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1946. The Rebbetzin did not utter a word during the entire trip. Reb Berl who helped the Rebbetzin with her luggage, later recalled: “There was great fear, and no one dared to mention the name ‘Schneerson’. Somehow, I found out that she was the Rebbetzin Chana, the mother of the Previous Rebbe’s son-in-law.”
In addition to the Rebbetzin and Reb Berl, a large group of Chassidim traveled to Poking, Germany where a refugee camp had been set up. Reb Berl continued his studies at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Poking. The Rebbetzin was known to some of the Chassidim, who arranged a private room for her and tried to assist her in every way possible. After a short period of time, the Rebbetzin left for France in 1947 where she met her son – later to become the Rebbe - who had come to Paris to greet her and escort her to the United States.
A Schochet in Dublin, Ireland
The Previous Rebbe suggested that Reb Berl study shechita (the skill and laws of ritual slaughter to make animals and fowl kosher for consumption) under the auspices of Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dworkin.
Reb Berl then found work as a shochet in Dublin, Ireland. From there the meat was sent to Israel.
After a year, Reb Berl was instructed by the Previous Rebbe to go to Brunoy, France where he studied for the next three years.
In the winter of 1950, the Previous Rebbe advised the Yeshiva faculty that the bochurim should come to the United States. Reb Berl traveled to the U.S. with his friends, Yitzchok Pewzner, who would later become his brother-in-law, Sholom Morosow, and Gedalia Korf, may he be live and be well. The bochurim arrived on Rosh Chodesh Shvat.
Reb Berl arrives to the Previous Rebbe
On the 4th of Shvat, the four bochurim in addition to Dovid Raskin who had just arrived from Paris merited to enter Yechidus (private audience) with the Previous Rebbe.
Reb Berl recalled the Yechidus. “When we entered the Rebbe’s room, his secretary, Rabbi Rotshtein, introduced us to the Rebbe. The Rebbe looked at each of us. I entered last and was introduced as Berl Junik. The Rebbe continued looking at me. Rabbi Rotshtein stated that I was Naftoli’s, referring to my father.
The Rebbe acknowledged with a nod of his head that he knew who I was and greeted us with ‘Boruch Boachem Lsholom’, blessed be your arrival. He continued, ‘Today, we see each other and from time to time we will talk.’ He then inquired about our learning seder (schedule).
Less than a week later on Shabbos, the tenth of Shvat, the Previous Rebbe was nistalek (passed on).
Reb Berl became connected and given over to the Rebbe and on the 7th of Iyar for the first time had his first Yechidus with him. The Rebbe put on his gartel (traditional belt typically worn when praying, and by a Rebbe while receiving a chasid in a private audience) and accepted Reb Berl in Yechidus. Reb Berl asked the Rebbe to write the details of the Yechidus for him. The Rebbe suggested that Reb Berl write the Yechidus and that he would edit it.
After the Rebbe assumed the nesius (acceptance of the mantle of leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement) and started wearing a kapota (traditional clothing worn by chassidim on shabbos) instead of a suit, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka gave the Rebbe’s suit to Reb Berl as a gift.
When the Rebbetzin Chana learned that Reb Berl had arrived in the United States, she invited him to her house. After that first visit, the Rebbetzin asked that Reb Berl continue visiting her. At times, when the Rebbe would leave the shul on Friday night after Maariv, he would ask Reb Berl to visit his mother. Reb Berl continued this tradition and visited the Rebbetzin every Friday night.
From then on, Reb Berl became a ben bayis, a member of Rebbetzin Chana’s household and also that of the Rebbe’s.
The Rebbetzin once made a comment to Reb Berl’s children that she considered them trustworthy, in the merit of the trust the Rebbe has in Reb Berl.
During one summer in the early years of the Rebbe’s nesius, Reb Berl was invited by the Rebbetzin to eat supper every night at the Rebbe’s house. One evening when he came for the meal, he overheard the Rebbe say, “I will go to my room, and you give him to eat. If he knows that I am here, he will not want to eat.”
After his marriage, Reb Berl visited the Rebbetzin on Shabbos with his family, on a steady basis. His children visited the Rebbetzin as well and were in contact with her by phone.
In the beginning of the Rebbe’s nesius, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka requested that Reb Berl set up the Rebbe’s table for the Farbrengen. Over the course of the following decades, Reb Berl fulfilled this responsibility faithfully.
Prior to every Farbrengen, he would enter the Rebbe’s room, and the Rebbe would give him the kos (cup) on which the Rebbe would later make kiddush and say L’chaim. Reb Berl merited to be the Rebbe’s Saar Hamashkim, the butler who poured the wine for the Rebbe, at the Farbrengen. In later years, he passed this honor to Rabbi Mentlik, the Rosh Yeshiva (the leading professor) in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in 770. In 1988, when Rabbi Mentlik passed away, Reb Berl resumed this function.
Reb Berl merited many private and rare kiruvim (warm encounters) from the Rebbe. The Rebbe once told him, “My father-in-law took you on his shoulders, and all the bochurim could be envious of you.”
During the famous Farbrengen (gathering of souls) of Parshas Shemini in 1952, which Chassidim refer to it as the “Shabbos HaGadol Farbrengen”, the Rebbe Farbrenged the whole afternoon and spoke to many people privately. The Rebbe also spoke to Reb Berl for about fifteen minutes.
Reportedly, the Rebbe called Reb Berl over and held onto his beard as he spoke to him. The Rebbe then said about him, “Such yungeleit will bring Moshiach.”
Once, the Rebbe asked Reb Berl how long it had been since he had seen his parents.
Reb Berl said he hadn’t seen them in five years. The Rebbe said that the time had come to visit them. The Rebbe arranged the travel documents to Montreal, where they were living, and asked if Reb Berl had bought a gift for his parents. He hadn’t, and the Rebbe commented, “Such a batlonus (oversight), I didn’t expect from you.” The Rebbe gave Reb Berl money for the trip and for the gifts, and stressed that the gifts should be purchased before he reached his parents. He added, “You are probably traveling at night. Make sure that you book a sleeper on the train in order to rest during the trip.”
In 1953 before Shavuos, the Rebbe asked Reb Berl if he was buying a suit for Yom Tov. Reb Berl answered that he was not planning to. The Rebbe told him that it is was worthwhile to do so and gave him money for a suit. After purchasing the suit, he returned to the Rebbe, who asked if he was wearing the new suit. The Rebbe wanted to see how the suit looked on him and asked him to turn around and then commented, “It seems to me that it is slightly short.”
The kiruvim that Reb Berl experienced were expressed more strongly when he reached the time for shidduchim (marriage). The Rebbe acted towards him as a father to a son, becoming involved and concerned in every detail. On one occasion the Rebbe said, “We need to take in consideration that the bochurim, Berl Junik, Sholom Morosow, and Dovid Raskin were born and bred in Russia and cannot adjust to the American lifestyle.” It was clear that the Rebbe intended to represent their parents and involve himself in their shidduchim.
In Yechidus (private audiences with the Rebbe) , the Rebbe urged and encouraged Reb Berl to become actively involved in shidduchim (finding a suitable wife).
Before Pesach 1954, Reb Berl was engaged to Ms. Fruma Pewzner, the daughter of the Gaon (Torah genius), Chossid, and man of self-sacrifice, Reb Avrohom Boruch. The Rebbe blessed the chosson and kallah (Groom and Bride) with many blessings, and instructed that the chosson and his father both receive aliyos to the Torah.
The wedding was set for the 9th of Sivan. The Rebbe was the mesader kiddushin and officiated at the chupa.
Rebbetzin Chana attended the wedding and sat at the Kallah’s head table.
Reb Berl recalled, “When I became engaged, the Rebbetzin told me that she knew the kallah. I later verified that in 1947 my wife was in France and studied at a school there. When the Rebbetzin was leaving for the United States, the school prepared a long speech and asked my wife to deliver this farewell address in honor of the Rebbetzin at a gathering in the Butman family home.
Rebbetzin Chana participated at my tenoim (engagement party) and the wedding. When she arrived at the wedding, she asked to be photographed together with the Kallah and then by herself. This is the famous picture that we have today of the Rebbetzin. In one of my chupa pictures, the Rebbe is standing and listening to the reading of the Kesuba.
I placed this picture in a frame and gave it to Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, and she placed it in the Rebbe’s study at home.
The Rebbe gave me a gift of eight handkerchiefs as a ‘preparation for the wedding’.” In the following years, Reb Berl had eight children. Prior to their weddings, each one of them received one of the handkerchiefs as “a preparation for the wedding”.
After the wedding, Reb Berl worked as a shochet for a year. He was offered a position in another state but turned it down because he did not want to leave the Rebbe.
Reb Berl recalled, “At one point, we were having difficulty with parnossa (work). I already had three children. The Rebbe advised me to consult a wealthy individual.
He also asked how long I had been out of work. I answered that it had been three weeks. The Rebbe wanted to know what I earned each week. He then gave me a sum of money equal to three weeks of work. After that, the situation improved.”
Entrusted with situations in the Rebbe’s household
On the 13th of Iyar 1952, the bitter news was relayed to Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka (the Rebbe’s wife) that the Rebbe’s brother Reb Yisroel Arye Leib had been nifter (passed away).
Rebbetzin Chana (the Rebbe’s mother) was not told, and the Rebbe requested that no one should share the news with her. During the course of the shiva, the Rebbe mentioned to Reb Berl that he did not want his mother to realize that he was wearing sneakers instead of shoes (part of the signs of mourning, one is not to wear any leather shoes). Reb Berl covered the Rebbe’s sneakers with black shoe polish to disguise them. Reb Berl was also given additional tasks by the Rebbe to help him keep the sad news from his mother, the Rebbetzin.
On Shabbos Shuva, the 6th of Tishrei (October 1964), Rebbetzin Chana became ill. The Rebbe’s visited his mother that morning. He instructed Reb Berl to keep a constant watch on the Rebbetzin and to update him regularly on her condition. The Rebbe also instructed Reb Berl to stay in contact with Dr. Seligson, the Rebbe’s household’s physician.
After the histalkus (passing) of the Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe entrusted Reb Berl with the task of securing his father’s seforim (holy books) and bringing them to the Rebbe’s house. Some time after the shiva, the Rebbe gave Reb Berl specific items of furniture which the Rebbetzin had used, adding, “She surely will have a nachas ruach (pleasure) that you are using it.”
During the passage of many years, Reb Berl made his parnossa (career) in the jewelry business and in his free time studied and taught public classes of Torah.
This was in addition to conducting a Tanya shiur (class) during the work day.
Reb Berl was always available to give his time and energy for any sacred matter.
This is how he came to teach the bochurim (yeshiva students) shechita in a special course under the auspices of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch in 1956. Many Shluchim were trained in this class over the next forty years. In the evenings, after a long and full work day, he stood with complete patience and commitment and trained groups of students to be come shochtim.
In the early 1960’s, Reb Berl and Rabbi Elye Gross spent their afternoons on the first days Sukkos at 770, dispatching and directing people to doing Mivtza Lulav. They tried to reach as many people as possible and bring them the mitzva of making the brocho on the lulav and esrog.
In 1967, when the Rebbe initiated the Tefillin campaign, Reb Berl would travel to a hospital every Sunday to put on Tefillin with the patients there.
In 1982, Reb Berl was asked by Rabbi Hodakov (the Rebbe’s chief secretary) to get involved with the bachelors who were not studying in yeshiva any longer, set up a learning time with them, and mentor them. Reb Berl was, B”H, successful, and this shiur is still bearing fruit today.
In his work attending to the Rebbe’s practical requirements, he participated in the construction of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin’s living quarters in the library, built a sukkah near the Rebbe’s room, and more.
In 1990, the Rebbe appointed Reb Berl a member of the board of Machne Israel and of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.
It is noteworthy to mention that although Reb Berl merited being close to Bais HoRav (the Rebbe’s household) and serving there, it did not in any way affect his Chassidishkeit. Reb Berl never stood out more than other Chassidim. He remained a discrete person of utmost humility, who never utilized his position for himself in any way.
In 2005, on the 9th of Iyar, after suffering an illness, with his family members at his side, Reb Berl returned his soul to her creator. He was buried near the Ohel facing the resting place of the Rebbetzin Chana.
Reb Berl and his wife, may she live and be well, Mrs. Fruma Junik, a woman of valor and a communal person in her own right, merited to build a beautiful family of sons and daughters, who are following the ways of their ancestors and involved in the Rebbe’s matters.
Reb Berl left behind his wife, Mrs. Fruma Junik; his sons: Reb Yosef Yitzchok and Reb Avrohom Boruch, of Crown Heights; his daughter, Mrs. Nechama Itkin and her husband, Reb Yosef Yitzchok, Shluchim in Pittsburgh, PA; his sons, Reb Shimshon and Reb Meir Shlomo of Crown Heights; his son, Reb Menachem, Shliach in England; his son, Reb Dovid, of Crown Heights; his daughter Mrs. Chana Spielman; and grandchildren.
Yehi Zichro Boruch! May Reb Berl, a legendary Chossid known for his total commitment to the Rebbe’s needs, without any expression of self-esteem or pride, his devotion to dedicating his free time to spreading the Rebbe’s Mivtzoim , and his refined character traits, serve as the inspiration to commit ourselves to the Rebbe’s directives, to fulfill them spiritually and physically, and to relate to our fellow Jews in a refined manner in speech and deed.
We should speedily witness, “The ones who dwell in the dust will awaken and rejoice,” with Reb Berl among them.
A Jew is a Jew
Almost thirty years ago, my father was asked to lecture to a group of Jewish and non-Jewish students in a city that neighbored Buffalo, New York. Although he was reluctant to accept, he was urged to do so by the Lubavitcher Rebbe who directed him to focus his lecture on charity, as charity is a universal responsibility of both Jews and gentiles.
He began his lecture by telling the following story:
During the time of the Tosfot Yom Tov [Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller, Chief Rabbi of Prague and Cracow during the 17th century and author of a commentary on the Mishnah], there lived a wealthy individual who ostensibly never contributed to charity. After this miser died, the Chevra Kadisha [Jewish burial society] felt that he was unworthy of being interred next to any upright and respectable individual. They buried him in an area of the cemetery called hekdesh, where society's outcasts were buried.
A few days after the funeral, there was a tumult in Prague. Two prominent members of the community, the butcher and the baker, who had previously been extremely charitable and generous, suddenly stopped distributing their funds.
The poor people of the city, who had always relied on the benevolent pair for their sustenance, were in an uproar. Emotions ran so deep that the matter was finally brought before the Tosfot Yom Tov.
The Tosfot Yom Tov asked the butcher and baker why they had so suddenly stopped their acts of charity. In reply, they informed the Tosfot Yom Tov that they were not personally wealthy.
"We were only able to give so much charity because the 'miser' who died just a few days ago constantly supplied us with funds for charity. He strictly warned us, however, not to disclose from whence the money had originated, since he wanted the great merit of performing the mitzva anonymously. Now that he is gone, we no longer receive the funds, and are, unfortunately, unable to continue with this worthy work."
The Tosfot Yom Tov was so impressed by the modest behavior of this unassuming "miser" that in his own will he requested to be buried next to this humble man.
When my father completed his lecture, a participant from the audience, a priest, approached him and asked him to repeat the story. My father, about to return to his hotel, arranged a time to meet with the priest the following day. Thinking that the matter would be forgotten, my father was surprised when the priest actually arrived.
My father repeated the story for the priest but was astounded when, after concluding the story a second time, the priest seemed terribly disturbed and begged him to repeat it yet a third time.
Finally, the priest divulged the reason for his agitation. "Rabbi Schochet, that charitable man in the story was my ancestor."
Skeptically, my father calmed the young man saying that there was no connection between him and the story, which took place over 100 years ago. "Furthermore," he told him, "you are a gentile, while this man was a Jew."
The priest looked intently at my father and whispered, "Rabbi, now I have a story to tell you!"
He began by describing his background. He had grown up in the state of Tennessee. His father was a major in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. In Europe, his father had met a Jewish girl and fell in love with her. He brought her back home as his war bride, and no one knew of her Jewish background. A short time after their marriage, the couple was blessed with a child, who they devoutly raised in the Catholic Church. The child grew up and attended a seminary where he eventually trained to become a priest. In his early adulthood, the priest's mother died. On her deathbed, she disclosed her secret to her astonished son.
After reciting the Shema prayer, she confessed, "I want you to know that you are Jewish." She informed him of his heritage and told him that his great-grandfather was buried next to the well-known sage called the Tosfot Yom Tov. She then recounted, almost verbatim, the story that my father had told in his lecture.
At the time, the priest, who was unaware of this information, imagined that his mother was delirious. Although he felt uneasy about his mother's parting words, it was only a temporary, fleeting emotion. As he got on with his life, he soon for got the entire episode.
"Rabbi," cried the priest, in a state of utter emotional turmoil, you have just repeated this story, detail for detail! You have just reminded me of my mother's parting words, and I realize now that the story must be true, or it wouldn't be so well known. Yet, what am I to do? I am a reputable priest with a large congregation of devoted followers."
My father offered to assist him in any way. He emphasized to him, however, that according to Jewish law, he was indeed Jewish. He encouraged him to explore his heritage, and he put him in contact with people in his city who could guide him. With that, the newly-found Jew departed. My father then understood why the Rebbe had suggested the topic matter.
He had no further interaction with the man, and did not hear from him again. Several years ago, when my father was on a visit to Israel. A Jew with a beard and a kipa approached him at the Western Wall and wished him "Shalom Aleichem [ Peace unto you]!" My father, who didn't recognize the individual, was completely taken aback when the man exclaimed, "Don't you recognize me, Rabbi Schochet? I am the former priest whom you met in Buffalo."
The Previous Rebbe Sat Right There
This Monday is the 60th anniversary of the passing of the Previous Rebbe and the begining of the Rebbe's leadership.
Here is a story with the Previous Rebbe, and the Rebbe.
Once, a Lubavitcher chasid, Rabbi Michoel Vishetzky, went to visit a Rabbi Rabinowitz in the rabbi's synagogue in the Bronx, New York. Rabbi Vishetzky was surprised when he noticed that Rabbi Rabinowitz sat at a corner of the table rather than the head of the table. "No one sits in that place," the elderly rabbi told Reb Michoel. When the rabbi noticed Reb Michoel's surprise, he began to tell him the following story. "When I came to America, I was privileged to meet with the Previous Rebbe. I told him everything that had happened to me in Europe and asked him what I should do with my life. The Previous Rebbe said, 'Since you are a Torah scholar, you should look for a position as a community rabbi.' "Soon after that, I was recommended for a position in this shul (synagogue), here in the Bronx. I asked the Previous Rebbe if I should take the job. The Previous Rebbe said, 'A shul is a shul, and so it's very suitable. But I don't like the shammas (sexton).' "Why did the Rebbe mention the shammas? I wondered. The Previous Rebbe saw that I was confused and repeated, 'A shul is a shul, but I don't like the shammas.' "Time passed. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I found out that the shammas was not pleased with me. After the passing of the shul's previous rabbi the shammas had assumed many responsibilities and had become the unofficial rabbi. He felt that I had pushed him aside and he began to cause trouble for me. Eventually the situation became unbearable. "When it became too much for me, I went to see the Rebbe, who had assumed the leadership after the passing of the Previous Rebbe on the tenth of Shevat, 1950. Before I even had a chance to open my mouth, the Rebbe said, 'My father-in-law said that a shul is a shul and he did not like the shammas. Continue to serve as rabbi in the Bronx. As for the antics of this shammas, he will soon need to worry about how long he will keep his job.' "I was amazed by the Rebbe's words. When I had spoken with the Previous R
A LONG DUTCH DRIVE
Some 30 years ago, Rabbi Yitzchok Vorst, was just beginning his assignment as a Chabad representative in Amstelveen, Holland. Shortly before Passover, he received a phone call from Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn. Rabbi Hodakov, the Rebbe's personal secretary, informed him that the Rebbe wants him to go to a certain small town and give shmura matza, the special matza hand-made from flour that was guarded against moisture, to the Jew that lived in that town. The young rabbi asked for the name of this Jew, whereupon he was informed that the Rebbe did not mention any names. Rabbi Hodakov assured him, though, that he would be able to locate him once he got to the town.
Rabbi Vorst attempted to explain that the town was many hours' drive from Amsterdam that he was busy making preparations for his first communal Seder in Holland and distributing matzos, and besides, he did not believe there were any Jews located in that town anyway. Rabbi Hodakov was adamant. The Rebbe said that he should leave tomorrow for this town. There was no choice.
The next morning Rabbi Vorst packed a lunch and spent the day driving to this secluded town. Once there he spent hours searching and inquiring for any Jews in the town, to no avail. He finally decided that the expedition was a total waste of time and went to fill his car with petrol for the return trip. The gas station attendant asked the rabbi what had brought him to town. Upon hearing his story the attendant replied that he believed that a worker at the local butcher shop was indeed Jewish.
With nothing to lose, Rabbi Vorst made his way to the shop. When he walked in, the man behind the counter took one look at him and fainted. When he revived he told Rabbi Vorst the following story:
His mother and he were the only survivors in his family of the Nazi horrors. They moved to this secluded part of Holland to avoid further persecution. On her deathbed, his mother made him swear never to marry a non-Jewish girl and always be true to his faith. That had been five years prior. For the last several months the local priest had frequented his shop and began proselytizing him. They would enter into long discussions, but for this man, conversion was out of the question.
Eventually, though, the priest began to make headway. One of his arguments G-d had abandoned the young man, as proved by the fact that he was the only Jew in the area.
Therefore he should convert and become part of a community.
After several months of being worn down, the young Jew agreed to be baptized. But, he insisted, first he wanted three days to think it over further.
He felt confused and depressed. He was indeed all alone. But how could he abandon his faith? How could he renege on the vow he made to his mother? He cried bitterly. Finally he called out to the Almighty, "I will wait for you, dear G-d, to show me a sign that you are still watching over me. If I do not see anything from you by 6:00 PM on the third day, I will convert!"
And so the man cried. For three days he became more morose. He found work impossible.
The third day had arrived and still no sign. The man spent the day looking at the clock. At lunch time he took a break and again beseeched the Almighty. There was less than six hours before he would agree to convert. During his 3:00 break the man again turned and prayed.
Now there was less than three hours. If he did not see some sign indicating that the G-d of the Jews still cared for him, he would be baptized.
As the minute hand passed the 5:00 mark, the man was besides himself. Perhaps the priest was right after all. Maybe it would be better for him to convert. The minutes ticked on. Each one felt like an entire hour. At 5:45, he began closing the store. At 5:55 PM Rabbi Yitzchok Vorst, armed with his matza from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, walked into this man's store.
After hearing this story, Rabbi Vorst begged the man to come back with him to Amsterdam and spend Passover. The man agreed. Every step of the way was a new beginning for this man. He had never been exposed to Judaism as his mother wanted to hide him from it. After Passover, he thanked the Rabbi and left.
Twenty-five years later, Rabbi Vorst traveled to Jerusalem for the wedding of a relative. He was praying devoutly at the Western Wall, deep in concentration, when he heard his name being called and felt a hearty slap across his back. He turned and saw a large, burly man. The man asked him in Dutch, "Rabbi, don't you recognize me, I am so and so from the town of …. I spent Pesach in your house one year. Now I live in Jerusalem with my family. I owe everything to you." Sometimes, it is possible to make a deal with the Almighty.
Adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles from www.ascent.org
Two miracles are better than one
Phil and Elaine Brown were married for many years but had no children, even though they had visited several doctors and tried many kinds of treatment. One of the doctors told Elaine bluntly: "There is absolutely no chance that you will ever conceive naturally."
Hearing this, they decided to adopt, and went to a social service organization to fill out the papers. The case worker looked at their forms and said: "It's difficult to find Jewish children. The wait may be anywhere from a year to two or three or more." Still, the Browns decided to go ahead.
The agency examined their financial background, their education, their friends, their attitudes to children, their friends' attitude toward children, their attitude towards their friends' children, and dozens of other factors. After 13 months of questions, the agency finally asked for references.
At the time, Phil and Elaine lived across the street from Rabbi and Rebbetzin Zalmen Kazen, Lubavitch shluchim in Cleveland. Every time Rabbi Kazen would see Phil, he would say "hello" and invite the couple over for Shabbos dinner. Now, although Phil didn't know what to make of a Rabbi with a beard, the adoption agency wanted references, and so Phil thought that maybe he could combine business with pleasure. He could get a reference for the social service agency - after all, what could be better than a reference from a Rabbi? - and fulfill his obligation to the Kazens once and for all.
During dinner, Phil and Elaine told the Kazens that they were looking to adopt children. The Kazens told them that many couples had been blessed with children after receiving a blessing from the Rebbe, and suggested that the Browns try this route as well.
The Browns politely declined; they were not observant and did not want to make any commitments. Mrs. Kazen, however, is a very persistent lady. Ultimately, she persuaded the couple to send in a letter.
Several weeks later, the Browns received a reply. The Rebbe suggested they observe the mitzvah of taharas hamishpachah.
While they appreciated the Rebbe's concern and his suggestion, Phil and Elaine didn't feel ready for formal observance of any sort, and so they put the letter away. By this time, all their references had been checked, their personal character had been analyzed, and their bank statements reviewed. Still there was no child for adoption.