Shavuos 5734, the time of the Giving of the Torah, was celebrated with great joy by all those who merited to be in the presence of the Rebbe, who encouraged the simcha nonstop. * Descriptions of the Yom Tov, along with stories from the Rebbe’s room and fascinating yechidus stories, over the course of the month. * Letters home, written by R’ Tuvia Zilberstrom during his k’vutza year, describing some of the events of Sivan 5734 in 770, with the Rebbe.
By R’ Tuvia Zilberstrom
HAPPY HOLIDAY WITH A SAD ENDING
BS”D, Wednesday, Parshas Naso, 5734, Isru Chag
To You, My Dear Ones, for length of days and good years,
How did the Yom Tov and preceding days pass for you? Here, obviously, everything is in a different form, in an elevated state and a sense of loftiness.
As I already wrote, many guests arrived here “to receive the countenance of their Rebbe on the holiday,” among them were, obviously, yeshiva students from Canada and Morristown, etc. As such, the large hall was filled to the point of no room even for standing. At the head of the list of guests was our acquaintance, R’ Zalman Jaffe from England, an energetic Jew and a shturemdiger, who is very close to the Rebbe. They say here that every time he is present, the Rebbe holds a farbrengen. That was his answer to us when we asked him on Friday if there was any information as far as a farbrengen on Shabbos. He answered that he does not remember a single time in the fourteen years that he was here, that there wasn’t a farbrengen on Shabbos.
Obviously, that is exactly what happened. In the words of the crowd here, he is the Zushe Wilyamowsky of Shavuos. He always stands next to the Rebbe, and after the davening does not wait for any instruction etc., but he begins singing right away, as the Rebbe smiles at him and spurs him on. So, on the eve of Shabbos Kodesh and by day, he began the niggun “Hoshia es Amecha” [by day, the Rebbe smiled at him and made a sign with his hand, as if to say, “Nu, begin”]. And as mentioned, there was a farbrengen, and I hope, bli neder, to write some points of what was said.
The Rebbe continued with a “koch” and a “shturem” on the subject of mezuzos, and in the farbrengen on Shavuos as well, with greater measure, intensity and forcefulness (after having launched the mezuza campaign in response to the tragedy in Maalot, as mentioned in the previous installment – Ed). The Rebbe added in the Shavuos farbrengen, that after they checked the mezuzos in the school in Tzfas, they went to the home where three people were killed by the terrorists before they reached the school, and they found that all of the mezuzos in the home were unfit for use. The Rebbe again cited the words of the Zohar that the mezuza protects when you go, when you come, when you are on the road etc., to the point that the Zohar explains in a few places that the letters of the word mezuzos transposed, spell zaz maves (pushes aside death).
It is interesting to note that this sicha was edited by the Rebbe in an unprecedented fashion. When he went on Sunday to the Ohel, on Erev Shavuos, the Rebbe edited the first portion of the sicha on the way but did not have time to complete it. When the Rebbe arrived at the Ohel, the driver Y. Krinsky went to a nearby telephone (since the car phone is not working properly) and communicated the partially edited sicha. After that, he returned to the Ohel where the Rebbe gave him the rest, and he once again communicated the contents over the phone. That allowed for the sicha to come out in print very close to the onset of Yom Tov.
What was novel about it is that the Rebbe edited the rest of the sicha while at the Ohel, something which is an extreme chiddush. Another interesting detail is that an edited sicha addressing the situation in Eretz Yisroel and its causes, was never published in such an open fashion.
This sicha was reviewed by R’ Yosef Wineberg on Shavuos, before they went on Tahalucha, for the express purpose of having people review it in the shuls, along with a broad explanation, as per the instructions of the Rebbe.
The farbrengen that took place on Shavuos was tremendously joyful. They say that for years it has not been so joyous. During just about every niggun, the Rebbe encouraged the singing with his head from side to side, and at the end of the niggun, “Nye Zhuritse Chloptzi,” he even clapped his hands with a “shturem.”
I heard that [the cause for this was that] Zalman Jaffe sent in a letter on Sunday to the Rebbe, saying that the farbrengen on Shabbos was not sufficiently joyous and that he hoped that on Shavuos it will be joyful. And so it was.
After the farbrengen, which took place from 8 in the evening until 1:30 am (the Rebbe said before the conclusion that there were other matters to speak about besides for mivtza mezuza etc., such as mivtza Torah, mivtza tefillin, and the like, but due to the limited time it would be pushed off to the farbrengen on the upcoming Shabbos which comes as a continuation to Shavuos. However, the maamer cannot be pushed off, and he said the maamer), and afterward, he distributed kos shel bracha, and once again it was very merry, as the Rebbe spurred on the singers from time to time.
The chazzan Bentzion Shenker appeared in the middle of the farbrengen, and since he had composed a new song on the last verse of chapter 73 [the Rebbe’s kapitel for that year], “VaAni Kirvas” etc., he taught the niggun to the crowd. The Rebbe smiled a lot and sang along, and of course turned to the crowd to sing. In connection to that, the Rebbe spoke in the next sicha about that verse, saying that it is necessary to connect every matter in a farbrengen, and so he explained this verse as well. During kos shel bracha as well, they sang this niggun and the Rebbe encouraged it.
When the Rebbe went out afterward to his room accompanied with the niggun, “Ki B’Simcha Seitzei’u,” he still continued to spur on the crowd, and so too when he was sitting in the car until they reached the turn.
Obviously, there is a lot to write about aside from the sichos, also about what is going on around, things that are of significant import and not just trifles, but to “live” it is literally an entirely different feeling.
On the first night of Yom Tov, after they sang “V’Samachta B’Chagecha” as the Rebbe was leaving for home, the crowd formed into a circle uhn s’hut zich getantzt (i.e., the dancing was real and natural). This dance is no comparison to Kfar Chabad where there are 150 people dancing. In this case there are ten times as many, along with the accompanying and flowing (etc.) lofty holiness. As per the well-known saying, “Not hands and feet are dancing…”
On the first day of Shavuos, we went on Tahalucha to bring joy to Jews in shul, with most going to Boro Park and some to Flatbush. There were about 1,300 people on the Tahalucha, an impressive parade accompanied with much song… Meanwhile, until the writing of the sichos, bli neder, I will close with blessing of “Gut Shabbos,” and may we hear good news from each other, in general and in particular.
Yesterday, right after the kos shel bracha, news spread that had come by telephone in the middle of the farbrengen, about the tragedy that occurred on the way home from a wedding, heading to Kfar Chabad. [A car accident which included a car heading from a wedding in Yerushalayim toward the center of the country, which had five Chassidim in it, including the rav of Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Shneur Zalman Garelik. For some unknown reason, the car veered off the road and rolled over several times across the highway. Most of the passengers flew out of the car. Two were injured and four were killed: Rav Garelik (94) z”l, Yeshaya Weiss (34) z”l, Yechiel Goldberg (23) z”l, and Nechama Rosenberg (19) z”l.]
Each of the casualties is a separate tragedy. Nobody has the words to explain this terrible tragedy. Aside from Goldberg’s brother and Rosenberg’s brother who are here, there is also the unfortunate engaged chassan who is here, S. Bruchstat. Yesterday, after the farbrengen, the Rebbe left [his room] half an hour later and some connect this to the terrible tragedy. It was about two hours before the funeral, 3:30 here. Surely, masses of people attended the funeral going to Har HaZeisim.
All here share in the tragedy that happened to the family of Chabad and Anash. The ways of Providence are mysterious and nobody knows in what path he is being led. Of course, above all else there is the need to start by checking mezuzos as the Rebbe demands as a timely positive mitzva, as we have already seen in the past. And as the Rebbe said yesterday that this is a special mitzva for the women, more so than mivtza tefillin and mivtza limud Torah etc., that a woman should speak about it to her friend, and everyone is obligated to save another neshama, for this pertains to life literally, neighbors and acquaintances, and the like.
And to explain how it’s connected with the matter of “He will watch over your goings and comings,” and your goings is mentioned before your comings, as well as the time in between. Then it will be fulfilled that the Destroyer will not be allowed etc., and only goodness and kindness will encounter us all of these days.
To hear good news in particular, for life and blessing (bli neder, I will send you kos shel bracha soon).
To hear from each other,
Tuvia
“MIVTZAIM” – WHERE IS THAT NAME FROM?
Sunday, 12 Sivan, conclusion of the yemei ha’tashlumin, 5734
Dear family, for length of days and good years,
What’s the mood in Eretz Yisroel, especially Yerushalayim, after all the recent events? We hope that there should already come an end and conclusion to it all. And as the Rebbe mentioned from what the Mitteler Rebbe wrote, that Moshiach can come even before the keitz; all the more so when all kitzin have ended and we all anticipate salvation, speedily. Of course, when one is connected to the Rebbe, there is a different outlook, the way Torah looks at it, and we constantly receive more vigor etc., without despairing, G-d forbid.
This Shabbos, there was a farbrengen again as I mentioned in my previous letter. Most of it revolved around the continuation from Shavuos, what needed to be completed regarding the tefillin, s’farim, mezuza, Torah and tz’daka campaigns. First, the Rebbe explained the title “mivtza” [in connection to the new “mivtza’ai kodesh” which he announced at the time - Ed.] that there are always those who want to attack and ask: Where is this term from, that has no source in Judaism, and so who says that we need this etc.?
The Rebbe explained that “mivtza” is from the root “betza” – “mah betza ki etc.,” which means benefit, to the point that if not for what it said in the verse, it was still worth selling Yosef to Egypt and even beyond that etc., and this was said by the tribes to the tribes, the holy tribes. When the letter mem is added [to make the word mivtza] it indicates acting upon another, like for example by adding the letter mem, the three-letter root for eating changes to feeding, and for doing an act changes to doing to someone else, and this is the name mivtza, and the Rebbe spoke about mivtzaim at length.
In connection to Shavuos itself, he said that it is associated with Moshe Rabbeinu – Mattan Torah, the hilula (the anniversary of the passing) of Dovid HaMelech and the Baal Shem Tov, and then he connected it and continued on Shabbos, saying how all the mivtzaim are connected to these three men; especially on this Shabbos which is connected to Shavuos as a continuation, since every Shabbos raises up the preceding days of the week, including holidays, but in addition to this, here it is within the yemei ha’tashlumin until 12 Sivan. Consequently, there is the inyan to mention them (Moshe, Dovid, the Baal Shem Tov), and they are immediately elevated.
There was a sicha in which the Rebbe cried a lot, although he restrained himself with all of his strength, about recent events which are always connected with our deeds and a person needs to search his deeds, especially when He preceded the blow with the cure for undesirable things, as mezuza was already spoken of before that. But sometimes even that is not enough, as it adds in Parshas Ki Savo, after all the curses it says, “and Hashem will make wondrous your blows,” that it isn’t sufficient, but adds the element of wonder, for which there is no explanation and no justification and we don’t need to excuse G-d, and it is only with the power of emuna that we understand that it is only a matter of wonder of wonders.
To correct this, we can only do measure for measure by our also “making wondrous,” as it is no mesirus nefesh when he goes and talks to a neighbor etc., about Torah and mitzvos, only for someone who sits and learns and innovates chiddushim and davens at length, and he is told to leave this for a while and go to a Jew that he doesn’t know at all and talk to him about tefillin, tz’daka and mezuza. Even though he has proofs that he needs to learn etc., since he already innovated a Talmudic dissertation on the topic and is in the middle of another dissertation. Only in such a case, if even he will conduct himself in a way of “making wondrous,” that would be a true measure for measure, and all of this reaches Hashem, as it were, and as it is written, “Just as Hashem rejoiced.”
At the end of the farbrengen, the Rebbe gave out mashke to a few of Anash, for Paris, London, and to three places in Eretz Yisroel: Lud, Kfar Chabad and Yerushalayim. The Rebbe asked them to make a farbrengen and review these sichos. Apparently, all this comes as a result of the tragedy that is connected to these three places. The Rebbe said to R’ Dovid Naparstek, representing Kfar Chabad, “That there should be material and spiritual life, blessing and success etc., and a letter will yet be sent.”
To Shmuel Chefer he gave [mashke] for Lud, and as before to give it over at a farbrengen and added that since it was “making wondrous,” so too the activities should be in a way of “making wondrous.” For Yerushalayim he gave Shmuel Shaulson who came to the diaspora on a mission for two weeks and was here all Shabbos. The Rebbe called him over and gave him mashke to farbreng in Yerushalayim and instructed him to give over the content of the farbrengen. He spoke to the Rebbe for a few minutes, apparently about municipal issues. The Rebbe told him, “You’re a bit of a balabus over Yerushalayim! Is Teddy the balabus?” Obviously, the Rebbe also gave mashke for mivtzaim, that they be done with a “shturem.”
I hope that you will all attend the farbrengen and hear more details. Bli neder, I will write still more about Shavuos and the Rashi sicha from the sidra of the week.
For now, to hear from each other, all good things, and Shabbat Shalom,
Tuvia
P.S. The Rebbe went to the Ohel today.
THE T’MIMIM IN 770 MOBILIZE FOR MIVTZAIM
Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh B’Haalos’cha 5734
To my dear parents and all of you, a good and blessed week!
How are you? How is the feeling of the days of summer? Over here, for now, we are reminded of this season only in davening, when we say morid ha’tal, but it is not hot, thank G-d, may this continue. Here and there, sometimes there is one day that is partially hot, but it is negated in the majority. All is well.
Naturally, we are seeing some aspects of the Rebbe’s conduct different than usual, starting with a koch in mivtzaim that encompass Torah and mitzvos in general, continuing with editing sichos about mivtzaim, and the manner in which they were edited in the car on the way to the Ohel or some at the Ohel itself. Similarly, the sudden farbrengen which was also broadcast in part to Eretz Yisroel [nobody expected it, so even the one in charge of broadcasts wasn’t here and only appeared at the end of the farbrengen], and how the behavior today needs to be as the Rebbe demanded in a way of “making wondrous.”
On Friday, they divided up the students of all the yeshivos and they descended on a wide range of places for mivtza tefillin and to agitate for mivtza mezuza etc. I participated too, of course. We had to travel to Brighton Beach in several trains underground. Many Russian Jews live in this neighborhood and we spoke Yiddish with all of them.
Many of them put on tefillin every day and some of them are tinok sh’nishba who don’t even know what it is, but just try to conjure up memories of the Jewish home of old. One of them is a direct descendant, son after son, of the B’nei Yisachar. He began telling us Gemaras that he learned, even quoting the term girsa d’yankusa (the studies of childhood). There are many errant souls and there is much work to be done. The activity was very widespread and very successful.
Last Wednesday, I attended the wedding by Aunt Betty and met G Friedman; it was nice talking to him. He told me that he also sent letters to the Rebbe, but it took seven years until he came for yechidus with his wife, and the Rebbe gave them a bracha and, boruch Hashem, they had children.
Most of the guests from Shavuos left already, but some are still here. Last week, I spoke a little with R’ Yitzchok Groner, the shliach from Australia who stays here for four weeks every year. In the middle, he asked my name and I told him Zilberstrom and he asked me to send warm regards to Abba who knows him and traveled with him. He also said that he once told the Rebbe in yechidus about some of the mosdos in Eretz Yisroel and the Rebbe interrupted and asked, “Who do you mean! Zilberstrom …”
To hear from each other,
Tuvia
P.S. Did you get the kos shel bracha that I sent you?
It is interesting to note that this time a “general letter” was published in English, which came out three weeks ago.
THE REBBE ASKS FOR A HAND FROM THE MAYOR OF MIGDAL HA’EMEK
Monday, Parshas Shlach, 5734
To all my dear ones, for length of days and good years,
Last night there was yechidus, as usual. I dropped into 770 in the late hours of the night, as I like to stop in there before going to sleep. Near the door were bachurim from k’vutza, surrounding Rabbi Grossman of Migdal HaEmek. They say that inside for yechidus now is the mayor of that city, and they are waiting for him to come out to hear from him.
One of the bachurim prepared mashke already, another got mezonos, so they are expecting a little farbrengen in order to hear about the yechidus. The mayor spent 55 minutes in the room. Upon leaving, he and his wife were amazed. They asked Rav Grossman who was standing there whether he had submitted a letter to the Rebbe before they went in, telling the Rebbe what was going on in their city. “Everything is known to him,” they said. Rav Grossman said he had just arrived with them and had not submitted any note.
In the meantime, the chevra gathered round him so he would come and say a bit of l’chaim and they went to the zal near the table, and upon saying l’chaim, he began telling (obviously, anywhere else it would not be possible to approach him, all the more so to make requests of him, but when he was near the Rebbe, all those restrictions fell away). He said that when he went in, the Rebbe stood up and welcomed him in a friendly way, and with a smile. They gave the Rebbe a medallion, a symbol of the city made of gold. The Rebbe thanked them and added that this is only one finger but I ask for an entire hand (five fingers) and that’s another four fingers that I’m asking for:
1-Adult education, especially when Migdal HaEmek has so many new immigrants. The Rebbe spoke about socialism, that with all of its flaws, it actually has more positives than communism, and this is a benefit not only materially but also spiritually, when a person is educated and cultured and knows about things and can make the proper connection to each thing and event.
2-The Rebbe asked for the development of the local yeshiva under Rabbi Grossman’s auspices, as this is of great importance (the mayor answered that it was not connected to him since Rav Grossman was involved with this, and the Rebbe said he should give the money and Rav Grossman would be the rosh yeshiva) especially in a place like Migdal HaEmek that has yishuvim around it etc., and could serve as a central place to spread Torah in the context of a yeshiva high school for 14-16 year olds from various kinds of homes.
The mayor said to the Rebbe that there were 40-60 students in yeshiva and they were going to expand to 300 students with a dormitory. He gave many blessings for this, especially to Rabbi Grossman, and the Rebbe praised him very highly.
3-The Rebbe asked that they separate the co-ed classes as was the practice in a number of countries such as England and the like, where religion and state are separate things, and on the contrary, the education is better and the learning is better.
The mayor said this was not up to him, for in Eretz Yisroel the Education Ministry oversees all scholastic matters and it would be very difficult. The Rebbe said, on the contrary, it should be done within an educational framework and suggested, by way of experimentation, that they take four classes, separate two of them and leave two of them, and see the blessed results. He suggested to implement this specifically in the general education system and government schools. (The mayor mentioned that the supervisor was religious and maybe that would make it easier and the Rebbe said that for this very reason it might be harder.)
4-How to close the gap between grandparents and grandchildren. The children know nothing at all about the past and it is important to rebuild the bridge between the generations, and therefore the teachers must be not only teachers but educators, for then he will know and reach the heart of a child and find a place in the heart of the youth, and this job is incumbent on him. The Rebbe added that what parents were once involved with, today was up to the teachers who find the way to the youth’s heart more than parents. He asked to know, despite everything, whether it was possible.
The Rebbe concluded – this is one hand (with five fingers) that I ask for, and the other hand is for next time … The mayor and his wife bemoaned that today there are children who don’t even know who Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov are. The Rebbe told them that a certain Zionist who devoted his entire life and the education of his children to this path, complained to the Rebbe that his grandson did not know who Herzl is and had barely heard of Ben Gurion.
The mayor and his wife left 770 greatly impressed and accompanied by singing. Of course, this is only a synopsis.
To hear from each other,
Tuvia
***
26 Sivan 5734
To my dear family, for length of days and good years, many greetings!
I once again enclose the Rebbe’s bracha for the couple through the new shadchan. Did you hear me on the phone, Abba? It was quite nice to hear a familiar voice that I hadn’t heard in several weeks. The previous times, someone else arranged the call for me.
There is no answer from the Rebbe for … yet, even though I submitted the note three days ago. It doesn’t look as though he will have yechidus either, because of the great load, until after 12 Tammuz.
Last Thursday night, there was yechidus as usual. Among the people who came were the Skulener Rebbe, one of the leading activists in Eretz Yisroel. I heard one of the activists say to R’ Leibel Groner, “How does the Rebbe know everything? How does he know when I barely know?”
Tonight too, after a sicha for the students of Beis Rivka, which will surely be broadcast to Eretz Yisroel too, there will be yechidus. I heard that the Ribnitzer Rebbe will go in today. We see that today, the eyes of all Israel, from the leaders etc., to the simplest etc., are turned toward the Rebbe.
Some of the bachurim are already talking about Merkos Shlichus that will be going out all over the world in the upcoming weeks, spreading Judaism and the wellsprings, and of course, including the latest mivtzaim that the Rebbe spoke about at length this Shabbos at the farbrengen. He promised 50% participation in some of them, especially mezuza, as there has been a greater prodding in this more than other mivtzaim.
Tonight there will be a gathering about organizing these mivtzaim, at the end of which they will give out the mezonos from the farbrengen which the Rebbe gave for this gathering. For yeshiva bachurim in particular, mivtzaim are only for Friday afternoons. Of course, mitzva tefillin is expanding and this is how we conquer the world, with large trucks with signs that travel about and spread the message, and it is successful.
This is what the Rebbe answered to the first report of the activities: “Received with many thanks, many thanks, and may it be fulfilled with every one of the participants, men, women, and children shlita, that one who has 100 wants 200 and one who has 200 wants 400.”
With Hashem’s help, we hope that He will bring an end, finally, to all the darkness and protect us from everything. As the Rebbe emphasized, that because we are talking about this, there are those who are fearful of events etc., but it is not so. On the contrary, it prevents it from the outset. When the Destroyer comes and sees a mezuza on the doorway of a Jewish home, he runs away from there and from the outset, has no ability to approach and not only in deed but also in speech, and similarly in thought, as it says, “May his wicked thought be revoked,” such that even in thought he does not consider harming anyone. Only and exclusively to seek out and see to the good of the Jew in all the places that he finds himself.
That is it for now, until I write the sichos in detail [which revolved mainly around the mivtzaim].
To hear from each other,
Tuvia
REVERED RABBI, SOLDIER, AND MANY OTHERS IN YECHIDUS
[The author appended a letter written at this time of the year in 5736]
Monday, 23 Sivan 5736, in our courtyards of holiness
To my dear family, shalom u’v’racha!
Last night, Rabbi Wosner of B’nei Brak had yechidus with his two sons. Before he was called inside, I was called to the secretaries’ office where Rav Wosner sat as he waited. I gave him “shalom aleichem” and he asked my name and I said, Zilberstrom.
He said, “Ah, you are the grandson of Tuvia Spiegel,” and he told his sons who were with him how my grandfather supported him in his youth. Then I spoke to him in learning, particularly the Rebbe’s recent sicha about immersing utensils of non-Jews, selling chometz and the war with Midyan etc., as they waited.
He spent nearly three-quarters of an hour with the Rebbe. When he went in, the Rebbe told him, “his name precedes him.” He asked the Rebbe what he thought is the main goal of chinuch in our generation and the Rebbe said, to instill in every child that there is Someone in charge of this world, and then turned the conversation to the “shehakol” blessing in which you take water, the simplest thing, and say a blessing over it, and one says together with a little child that everything came to be through His word, that all of the created beings, worlds etc., all came into being through the “Word of Hashem” etc.
Rav Wosner asked the Rebbe why he is involved specifically with the mitzva of tefillin, to which he answered, “It says in T’hillim (2:3), [that the gentile nations say] ‘nenatka es mosroseimo’ (let us break their bands). Tos’fos at the beginning of tractate Avoda Zara cites the Yerushalmi that this refers to tefillin, and there in the Gemara it also connects this with the inyan of Geula. The verse continues, ‘v’nashlicha mimenu avoseimo’ (and throw off their cords from us) which refers to tallis and tzitzis, and as such he is leaving place for ‘others’ to create an arousal about the mitzvos of tallis and tzitzis.”
At the end, the Rebbe said to him, “I thought I’d catch you, but I see that whatever you are asked, you are comfortable.”
By the way, when Rav Wosner walked in, the Rebbe stood up for him and gave him “shalom aleichem,” and when he left, the Rebbe escorted him a bit until the door, out of respect.
After the yechidus, Rabbi Yitzchok Groner of Australia asked Rabbi Wosner why he did not sign on the proclamation of rabbanim regarding lighting Shabbos candles. Rav Wosner said that he did not want to discuss it in these “four cubits” (i.e., with everyone around). Still, he said that he was afraid of a bracha l’vatala (blessing said in vain). Of course, they began to bombard him with questions in learning until he did not have what to say, especially when he said that lighting candles is an obligation on the home and not the individual. They asked him regarding lighting Chanuka candles which is an obligation on the home, and yet, we teach little children to light them. He was left without a response. We hope that time will yet tell…
The brother of Yaakov Katz of Chicago also went in. He lives in B’nei Brak. When he came out of yechidus he was amazed and said, “I can’t breathe.” He could not say anything about what occurred since he was so overcome. Only afterward did he slowly tell how he blessed the Rebbe with the priestly blessing and the Rebbe gave him a blessing.
An injured IDF soldier had yechidus and was there for 15 minutes. He was glowing when he came out. He said, “I tried to look at his eyes, the crystal blue eyes of the Rebbe, but I couldn’t, since he completely blinded me. I tried again and again, several times, but each time he literally blinded me. They are piercing etc., and all is true and open before him. He is a man of great stature, head and shoulders above.”
The Rebbe spoke a lot about the war and the soldier said all was laid out before him, and the Rebbe had clear knowledge about the field of battle. The Rebbe spoke to him about the territories and about the foolishness in returning them. He added an interesting detail: “I saw that when the Rebbe spoke about the territories and the government’s position, he was so tense and in pain but immediately after that, when he spoke to me about my personal life, he was so warmhearted, like a father faithful to his only son.
He also said that he had been to see many personalities, the Chief of Staff of America and other countries, ministers and dignitaries, heads of state etc., but none could compare to the Rebbe.
He showed the Rebbe a kameia (a charm inscribed on parchment) that he always wore and the Rebbe told him that it looked as though it was over 400 years old and that he thinks this kameia saved him during the war and it is worthwhile to preserve it in the future.
Again and again, we see how in one night of yechidus, there is a gathering from leaders to simple folk, and they all stand before the Nasi, our king, Admur shlita, who responds to each according to his nature, each one in his matters, finding the Rebbe as the only address to turn to and find succor for his soul.
Fortunate are we that we merited and continue to merit to shelter in the cover of the Rebbe shlita. And may we always merit to be vessels for receiving, and in the language of Chassidim “to carry out the Rebbe’s intention” to provide nachas ruach to the Rebbe, which today, we have a clear directive for how to implement this. Starting with chinuch of oneself to the chinuch of the Jewish nation in every place they may be, until very soon we will be able to say, “See the offspring that we have raised,” with our king at our head.
Everything good, and good night, and with success,
Tuvia