The Lubavitch movement and the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt”l always had a special place in both of our hearts. Prior to our marriage, we spent several years visiting 770 Eastern Parkway each Simchat Torah and my beloved Mordechai did indeed have yechidus with the Rebbe prior to our marriage.
It is a well known fact that the Rav, Rav Yosher Ber Soloveitchik, and the Rebbe were great admirers of each other and aside from many things which they had in common they were both educated secularly in Berlin prior to embarking on their impactful life’s journeys and maintained a lifelong friendship.
I spent many years and many nights of rehearsals together with my two eldest daughters performing in the Montreal N’shei Chabad yearly plays. I learned to love and respect my female friends who were active leaders in their local Chabad community. Rabbi Yaakov and Mrs. Goldie Schwei, z”l were close friends, together with their daughters Chani and Rifki, along with the famous, warm and loving Gniwisch family. Several times when we were called out of town they hosted our very young children.
Majorly out of my comfort zone of late, upon reading that Chabad of Teaneck was inviting anyone in the community to join them in visiting the Ohel I decided to sign up. No stone was left unturned in typical Lubavitch fashion, and Rabbi Ephraim and Nechamy Simon ensured that each person attending would be well taken care of. Prior to boarding the bus to Queens, dinner was provided for the participants. Interestingly, the group of attendees was predominantly female. I had no idea what to expect. I have been to the kevarim (monuments) of many rabbonim, but the anticipation of this trip was different and special since the trip was scheduled within the week of the 30th yahrzeit of the Rebbe.
Many came from far and wide to honor and remember this great man and share stories of how the Rebbe greatly influenced their lives. Stories were recanted of how individuals became involved in Chabad. Rabbi Dov Yona Korn, who together with his wife now runs the Chabad House at NYU, following his stint as leader of the Chabad in the Bowery (that must have been interesting), recalled how he was 16 years old, with dreadlocks, purple headband and multi colored clothes the first time he walked into the yeshiva in Morristown out of curiosity. The rest of his story is interesting but too long to detail. By the way, he met his wife at a Grateful Dead concert! Several speakers followed, one of whom was the president of the Borough of Queens, Donovan Richads, Jr. I am always intrigued by the enormous impact the Chabad community has had on people from so many different walks of life.
With all of this being said, I had another thought when thinking about my visit to the Ohel. It refers to those, mainly old timers, who hear the word Chabad and make snide comments under their breath. I would like to ask some of them who their “go to” people would be when visiting a strange or foreign city anywhere in the world, if they are people who travel.
Several weeks ago my eldest daughter was standing on line, desperately trying to get a seat together with her husband to get back home to Rochester from somewhere in North Carolina. Their original flight from Norfolk had already been delayed and then rerouted and they were hopefully waiting to get on a final flight to Rochester. At the same time they noticed a “yeshiva bochur” standing on line who had flown from Minneapolis on his way to yeshiva in Philadelphia with his flight also having been rerouted and changed many times. This boy was totally stranded (without a phone). I got on my computer looking to call the Chabad House in the city wherever they were, attempting to get someone to accommodate this boy for the night. Who else is there to call? Certainly the National Guard, the local YMCA or any other organization would do nothing but tell him to sleep at the airport and wait it out. We all know that we have Chabad, wherever and whenever we go anywhere. Another great creation of the Rebbe, who so many years ago directed his “soldiers” to create Chabad Houses everywhere in the world. Boy did they listen!
Back to my trip to the Ohel. Following the speeches, guests were invited to a room directly outside the door to the kever, where people were given the opportunity to write kvitlach (letters of needs, thanks, prayers, in many cases listing the names of people who are in need of a bracha or a refuah, as well as words of gratefulness). Upon going outside to the site of the kever, I could see a large opening in the ground in front of the Rebbe’s kever to deposit these papers. I read that they are removed each night and shredded in order to make room for the large numbers they would be replaced with the next day. I stood there and felt grateful that I had the opportunity to be so close to the kever of one who was so special and had accomplished so much. His brilliance continues on for generations. It would be wonderful if all who consider themselves misnagdim would let at least a tinge of this chassidus rub off on them.
In the area of the Rebbe’s tomb are many other Schneerson family members, including his Rebbetzin. Candles are burning in different locations, and there is definitely a holiness surrounding the area. I asked a man who worked at the cemetery how it was decided who would be buried so close to the Rebbe, as I was interested in finding the kevarim of my dear friends Rabbi and Rebbetzin Schwei. I was told that much of the space was used by those who had died in close proximity to their dates of death. It became too dark for me to really walk around and look.
We should all be proud of the great accomplishments in Jewish communities throughout the world. As a hands-on person involved in NCSY for many years, I know what their great accomplishments have been. Rabbonim are fiercely working each day together with their shuls to include and educate the Jewish community in each city in which they are located. However, there is a difference between waiting for people to come to you and reaching out to find people and making them feel comfortable. Kol hakavod to Chabad everywhere in the world for what you are doing to bring people closer to Yiddishkeit and their roots. No questions asked, no prior history required; join them and you will feel as if you have been reconnected with family.
Thank you so much Rabbi and Mrs. Simon, for making me feel so comfortable. I will be bringing more people to see this makom of kedusha.
Nina Glick can be reached at [email protected]
