ANASH SHLICHUS: Avrohom Blecher

“I consider myself the shliach of the building.  Every holiday we go to each apartment, knock on the door, and give a gift – on Pesach it’s matza, on Chanuka it’s a menorah kit with candles, on Purim it’s mishloach manos, before Rosh HaShana it’s a jar of honey, and before Shavuos it’s something sweet and dairy.”

Name: Avrohom Blecher

Age: 66

Lives: Ramat Aviv HaChadasha

Business: General Manager/Owner A. Blecher Insurance Agency

SHLICHUS AT WORK

For many years now, I have been an independent insurance agent, retirement planner and financial adviser.  We are located in a large office building in Tel Aviv and you can say that our office is definitely the Chabad House of the building.

In the office we have a place to put on t’fillin, some sifrei kodesh and a set of Igros Kodesh.  Every employee in the building knows that he can come in to put on t’fillin, to learn something, and to leave t’fillin or mezuzos to be checked, and he will get the best service.

Aside from that, at all gatherings of the office and of the building, or at other various forums, I begin with a short and catchy message of the Rebbe that applies to the subject at hand and I urge the audience to prepare for the Geula.

SHLICHUS IN LIFE

I live in a building with thirteen floors, three entrances, and ninety apartments, which means there are several hundred tenants, the size of a small Jewish community abroad.

I consider myself the shliach of the building.  Every holiday we go to each apartment, knock on the door, and give a gift – on Pesach it’s matza, on Chanuka it’s a menorah kit with candles, on Purim it’s mishloach manos, before Rosh HaShana it’s a jar of honey, and before Shavuos it’s something sweet and dairy.

I make the rounds on my own or with my wife.  We give what we brought to every family and add a brief message from the Rebbe.  Sometimes a long conversation ensues about the holiday and other topics in Judaism.

These rounds take me several days to complete both because the building is big and because, on principle, we do not leave anything at the door.  When nobody answers the door, we go back and knock every day until the holiday.

As for reactions, now they are positive and encouraging.  You have to understand that this is an exclusive building with a doorman who does not allow everyone to enter.  So people are not used to having someone knocking at their door.  Also, the interactions between neighbors in buildings like these is not frequent and most of the time neighbors don’t know one another. 

A few years ago, when we started doing this, many people were afraid to open the door at the sight of a bearded religious person appearing through the peephole, but over the years they got used to it.  We got acquainted, and Boruch Hashem, there is nobody who doesn’t open the door and accept the gift with a smile.

Lots of stories have resulted.  For example, I knocked at someone’s door and he said, “How did you know to come now?” He had just returned from his mother’s funeral and he was very willing to do what he was supposed to do, but he had no idea what that was.

“I am new here and don’t know anyone,” he told me.  We sat down and I explained to him about mourning and Shiva. I arranged for a shul nearby where he could daven. Since then, he davens every day in shul and has started making significant strides in Jewish practice.

Or here is another instance when I knocked on someone’s door for the first time, when we started this project.  He opened the door and when I said I was a neighbor and that I came to wish him a happy holiday and to give him something for the holiday, he was very moved and suddenly burst into tears.

It was all very awkward. He invited me in and when he calmed down he apologized and said he was moved because it was the first time a neighbor approached him and took an interest in him.  We became close friends.

***

When asked the following question: A few years ago, you and your wife traveled abroad for Tishrei to run a Chabad House in India.  Your office is an active Chabad House and the busy days before Yomim Tovim are dedicated to mivtzaim in your building.  Where does your drive come from?

He answered:  Nine years ago, when I was 57, I married (again).  I see that day as the day I became a baal t’shuva.  I felt I had been given new strength.  I discovered within myself many things that I did not know existed until then.  I feel that the t’shuva uncovered hidden treasures within me.

I think that the most significant aspect of my t’shuva is my hiskashrus to the Rebbe.  Sometimes, I encounter difficult and unpleasant situations, and I think of a picture of the Rebbe and I ask myself, what would the Rebbe do? What does the Rebbe expect me to do now? I try to do all the outreach with lots of Ahavas Yisroel, with simcha, and in a pleasant way, not in a way of contentiousness or debate.  Just with a smile and love.  All barriers drop.

Of course, behind it all is my wife.  She helps me and is my partner in all our outreach.  She encourages me to continue and do more.