THE REBBE’S BLESSING TO THE TAILOR

Rechov Nachalat Binyamin was busy, as usual. Store owners were busy with customers while others stood in their doorways and hoped passersby would walk in. Some were involved in bargaining with a customer who wanted a significant reduction in price.

In the midst of this hubbub walked someone who looked different than the rest. He wasn’t there to buy or sell. Actually, he was there to sell, but not fabric or merchandise but a mitzva, t’fillin. I’m sure you guessed it was a Chassid of the Rebbe.

R’ Yaakov Lebenharz, a resident of Kfar Chabad, has adopted this area as his own. For many years now, he goes from store to store, from merchant to merchant, offering his wares – t’fillin. He made many connections and lots of friends. We would not be exaggerating if we said that the storekeepers look forward to seeing him on Fridays.

One Friday, at noontime, the area was bustling and R’ Yaakov was going from store to store when he noticed that a new store had opened. Shmuel, the store owner, looked curiously at the religious fellow who walked up to his store, wearing a hat and jacket.

“How can I help you?” Shmuel asked.

But before R’ Yaakov could answer, a neighboring shopkeeper said a friendly, “Hello, Yaakov, how are you? Shmuel, he is our Chabadnik. Every week he comes here to put t’fillin on with us. I hope you won’t refuse … Believe me, you can’t say no to him.”

The store was empty and Shmuel rolled up his sleeve to put on t’fillin. R’ Yaakov, as a true Chassid, did not suffice with mivtza t’fillin. He looked at the door of the store and saw that it was missing something vital – a mezuza.

“What’s with a mezuza? How can you manage without one? A mezuza is a source of blessing and you should put one up as soon as possible,” said R’ Yaakov in a firm though friendly way.

Shmuel invited him over to his workplace. On the wide tailor’s table there was a blanket spread out and on it was a large mezuza holder.

“You came just at the right time. I was just working on it. I have double-sided tape. If you would have come five minutes later, the mezuza would be up already.”

R’ Yaakov saw that he had the opportunity to make sure the mezuza was placed properly. He examined the doorpost and noticed that the inner part of the door frame was blocked and almost completely hidden by a closet that was near the door. If they put the mezuza up there, it would be hard to see it. The outer part of the door frame was peeling and had many layers of various colors of paint. If they put a mezuza up there, it would not stand out.

They finally came up with the simple idea of painting the outer frame in one color. The mezuza would then be noticeable. They got a can of paint, quickly brushed it on, once, twice, and three times, until the frame was white and beautiful. They then waited for the paint to dry. In the meantime, R’ Yaakov did not waste any time, of course. He spoke to Shmuel about this and that, trying to incorporate matters of k’dusha and yiras Shamayim in the conversation.

The paint dried, the mezuza was put up in its proper place and Shmuel was happy. At that point, when everyone felt comfortable and the store was still quiet, R’ Yaakov stayed on longer to schmooze. Shmuel turned out to have warm feelings for Jewish things and had a great desire to know more. R’ Yaakov also noticed that something was on Shmuel’s mind. He assumed that since it was a new store, Shmuel was nervous about it being successful. R’ Yaakov decided he would try to find another time to discuss this matter with him.

“Every Thursday evening we have a farbrengen in Kfar Chabad. What do you think about joining me this week?” suggested R’ Yaakov.

Shmuel hesitated at first but when R’ Yaakov saw he was considering it, he urged him on. They concluded that they would meet at the farbrengen.

Shmuel did not disappoint. On Thursday he drove to Kfar Chabad and sat at the farbrengen, gazed at the Chassidim, listened to the singing, and was mesmerized by it all. He was very moved by the brotherly love and the homey atmosphere, by the simplicity and the honesty.

R’ Yaakov looked over at him now and then to see whether he looked comfortable, and Yaakov winked at him as though to say, don’t worry, I feel at home.

During the farbrengen, some Igros Kodesh miracle stories about the Rebbe were told. Shmuel was inspired and wondered whether he could try it. “I opened a new store in Tel Aviv and I am very nervous about it. I need a bracha for the business to succeed. Please explain to me how to write to the Rebbe and how it works.”

Shmuel was given guidance about how to write, about making a positive commitment, and about believing in what the Rebbe said and following through with it. Shmuel nodded and took it all seriously.

The answer he opened to astonished them all. It was in volume 14, p. 100 and it said: In response to your letter… in which you write about moving to a new store, and as of now you do not see success in your business and your profession is tailoring.

Shmuel was flabbergasted. What a direct answer!

In the letter, the Rebbe instructed him to be careful about giving tz’daka: especially when there is financial pressure, you need to give more tz’daka but at least not less than a tenth, and divide the tz’daka so [it is given] on several occasions. One of the auspicious times [to give tz’daka] is every weekday before the morning prayers. And check your t’fillin.

At the end of the letter was a big surprise: Ask a rav whether the door of your store needs a mezuza and then put up a kosher mezuza in a kosher way.

Shmuel winked at R’ Yaakov. After all, the previous time they met, they had discussed where to put the mezuza.

Shmuel left the farbrengen in good spirits, encouraged and feeling confident that, with Hashem’s help, the store would be a success, thanks to the Rebbe’s bracha and fulfilling the Rebbe’s instructions.