Only A Glimpse

Being that Gimmel Tamuz is only a few days away, here's a short story illustrating how we have no idea what a Rebbe is.


Rabbi Yehudah Liebush Heber and his family were very close to the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin during World War II, when the couple lived anonymously in Paris.

"At the beginning of the war," related Rabbi Heber, "I was deliberating whether to stay in Paris or to try to immigrate to the States. This was before the Nazi invasion of Paris, and no one could predict how devastating the future would be. I was financially secure in Paris and concerned about the uncertainty and difficulty of immigration."

The Rebbe suggested that I consult with his father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe, who was living in Poland.

"I was very surprised by this advice. Contact with Warsaw was virtually impossible by phone or mail. 'Send a telegram,' the Rebbe suggested. This also seemed futile, because telegrams were not being delivered either.

" 'You have no idea,' the Rebbe said, 'what a Rebbe is. The letter and the telegram need not be delivered in order for the Rebbe to know the question. And the Rebbe's response need not arrive in order for you to receive your answer.'

"I promptly sat down to phrase my question and proceeded to the Western Union office. 'Sorry, there is absolutely no possibility of telegraphing Poland,' said the clerk. 'All the lines are down.' I did not really expect otherwise, but I had done what I could.

"The next morning I awoke with a sudden clarity. Despite my previous hesitations, I suddenly felt very adamant about leaving Paris and immigrating to the States."

Rabbi Heber arrived in the States in 1940, a few months before the Rebbe. His family maintained a close relationship with the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin for many years to follow.

This story sounds similar to the story which is told about the chossid R' Mendel Futerfas.

It was during the time he spent in jail due to his efforts to help save Jews from the hands of the Russian government. He was also heavily involved in saving Yidishkeit, by making sure that the chadarim had teachers as well as students.

One day while sitting in his little corner, his mind was wondering thinking about his situation. He wanted to contact the Rebbe to ask for a bracha that he should be okay. But he could not figure out a way to get a message to the Rebbe, for the Russians didn't allow any connection to the outside world.

He suddenly thought of an idea! He doesn't have to send an actual letter. All he has to do is think of what he would like to tell the Rebbe, and the Rebbe would figure out a wasy to answer him. So that's exactly what he did.

He forgot about this episode, and Baruch Hashem he was freed from jail. He arrived home so excited to see his wife and family. His wife told him taht he got a letter from the Rebbe, and she inquired if he knew what it was about. He answered that he has no idea what it could be about. He opened the letter and read it with the proper respect that a chossid reads a letter from the Rebbe. As he read it his heart skipped a beat. The Rebbe was giving him a bracha - in answer to his request - to be okay, and that he will return home safely.

He understood right away what happened. The Rebbe got his request even without receiving an actual letter.

From these stories we can get a tiny glimpse at how the Rebbe takes care of the Jewish People and his chassidim specifically.

May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. We should celebrate this year Gimmel Tamuz sitting by a farbrengen of the Rebbe hearing the wellsprings of the Torah!!!!!