ב"ה
Wednesday, 26 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 6, 2024

90 Year Old’s Proud Bar Mitzvah

After meeting Crown Heights businessman Mendel Brikman in rehab while recovering from an illness, 90-year-old Bill Shank finally had a Bar Mitzvah. Full Story, Photos, Video

Rabbi Moshe Freedman, 57, OBM

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Savta in S. Diego
August 1, 2016 10:32 pm

Mazel tov on your Bar Mitzvah, Bill/Mendel.

May you put on Tefillin every day in good health to 120. You are bringing nachas to your family, friends, the Rebbe, and the Ribono Shel Olam. Hatzlacha rabba.

Typical Mendel...2
July 31, 2016 3:10 am

PH – Teaneck NJ

Typical Mendel
July 31, 2016 2:53 am

A true Chossid, Yiras Shamayim, and, Lamdan.
Never stops doing!

Gave me chizuk
July 31, 2016 12:46 am

Always too uncomfortable to say anything which might cause me to miss a great opportunity.
Refuah shelaima ( don’t know u) from klal yisroel . You sound like amazingly strong wonderful people. Prayers for you family

Store customer
July 29, 2016 6:05 pm

Always strongly impressed with your menchlikeit, professionalism. A complete & immediate refua Shleima. Yasher Choach to you and your family and your new Bar Mitzvah. Hatzlacha Rabba in everything!

big Z Schapiro
July 29, 2016 5:01 pm

Mendel and Toby wow really nice this is a very big Mitzvah

Thank you!
July 29, 2016 4:35 pm

Dear Mendel,

I dont know you well, but I used to see you in your store all of the time.

You were always extremely kind and polite to me. If you only knew how much that meant to me at the time and how much it still means to me.

I had no idea that you were’nt well. Wishing you a complete and immediate Refuah Shleima.

People in this community really appreciate you, care for you and are rooting for you.

-a former customer

We Love You
July 29, 2016 4:02 pm

Go Mendel!!!! Come back home healthy and strong!

Tante Annie
July 29, 2016 12:34 pm

Mendel, I am so INCREDIBLY PROUD of you. It is just fantastic, and very interesting that the daughter was from Oslo, Norway- Scandinavia- which played a very important role in the Zuber family, the family of your Bubbie. Rabbi Yacov Yisroel Zuber was the Rav in Stockholm for a great part of his life. Mendel, you are an inspiration for us all. Life can ALWAYS have meaning and a purpose, and you Boruch Hashem are always able to fulfill your tafkid wherever you may be. And I am as always overwhelmed with Toby, with her constant support and dedication. You… Read more »

Beautiful
July 29, 2016 10:15 am

Mendel and Chaim doing the Rebbe’s work wherever they are. B”H, they were the Rebbe’s messengers to reach out to this man and give him a Bar Mitzvah, incredible! Mendel, may you move on to the Next Shalichus with a complete Refuah Shelayma and Chaim Marcus, may you be visiting Mendel at his house With him in complete and good health, immediately.

Toby and Mendel
July 29, 2016 9:51 am

Always upbeat and positive! I have never heard either of you complain about the challenges you are faced with. May Hashem give you koach to surpass it all! You deserve it!!
Beautiful story and so well written!
yl

Question
July 29, 2016 8:16 am

Chaim can we expect a music video on this story??

Just kidding. Keep doing whatcha doing.

Shlichus fulfilled
July 29, 2016 7:58 am

Mendle and Toby ,you truly live the life of challenges and yet are always with a positive attitude. You inspireally me so much.
It’s easy to preach emunah and simcha, BUT it’s another story when you need to live it.
You have done your shlichus in Berk, now we need you healthy back home with your family, where you belong.
All the brochis to you .
A cousin who really admires you.

Incredible story
July 29, 2016 2:44 am

This story is beautiful and touching on so many levels. It has restored my faith despite my own challenges that have got me down.
And wonderfully written by the author. Where can I read more by this author?

Visitors
July 29, 2016 1:19 am

As an old classmate, can someone post visiting hours that would comfort Mendel?

TY

Mendel and Chaim
July 29, 2016 1:09 am

Mendel May you have a complete and speedy recovery! May you and your family be blessed and may you always be blessed to have Good friends like Chaim Marcus- visiting for Shabbos, around you. Refuah Shelayma!

Chaim's Beard
July 29, 2016 12:41 am

I am sure this helped make the mitzvah possible…one big mitzvah leads to another

מנדל וטובי היקרים
July 28, 2016 11:12 pm

אתם השראה לכולנו
You are our inspiration
We miss you so much!!
שבקרוב ממש נראה אותך מנדל חוזר הביתה בריא ושלם
ידגר

Wow
July 28, 2016 11:06 pm

Great story and great Mitzvah. Mendel, May you WILL have a great Refuah.

If you google this guys name you can find
A Memoir of a Music Librarian by
William Shank

seems he had contact with Richard Tucker when he worked at the NY Public Library in 1950. Wow that is a long time ago.

Your friends at One Hour
July 28, 2016 11:02 pm

This should be a tremendous zechus for you. You should have a refuah shelamah bkoruv.

IBG
July 28, 2016 9:45 pm

This story doesn’t even scratch the tip of the iceberg of the special person Mendel Brickman is. May Hashem grant a complete recovery l’maaluh m’derech hatevah..

dear mendel
July 28, 2016 9:40 pm

way to go!!!!!

sk

Go Toby and Mendel
July 28, 2016 9:19 pm

So so inspiring!!

dear mendel
July 28, 2016 8:51 pm

you are trully amazing!!! hashem should make you gezunt un shtark now and always

a ny shliach who always gets inspired talking to you

EFZ

Kippa
July 28, 2016 8:43 pm

How did they get that yarmulka between Shabbos and Sunday?

Ditto #4
July 28, 2016 8:28 pm

Toby is the strength. May Hashem give you koach!
Mendel, when you make us promise to be happy no matter what, how can we refuse you when we look at you and what you go through, yet always positive and happy. May Hashem grant you health and koach and happiness always.

Go Mendel!
July 28, 2016 8:09 pm

Leave it to you with your positive outlook and strength to be a Chossid EVERYWHERE! May the Aibishter bless you and your beautiful Toby to continue to be strong, to be healthy and whole and enjoy nachas and simchas always! Yasher Koach! Well done! Chaya Klein

Moved me to tears!
July 28, 2016 7:54 pm

Wow! I was literally in tears! May you be blessed with a complete Refuah Shelaima, and may you see Chassidishe Nachas from all of your children! You are indeed remarkable! Thank you for sharing! Articles like these make me so happy and make me smile to know of the good in the world! B”H!

Toby & Mendel
July 28, 2016 7:46 pm

Go Toby! You’re beautiful!

Mendel and Toby
July 28, 2016 7:44 pm

Such a beautiful family!! Toby you are a rockstar with such strength and courage !!!!

Kudos to Mendel Brikman
July 28, 2016 7:31 pm

What a kiddush hashem.

Thank you guys for posting this.

Now you can come home
July 28, 2016 7:31 pm

Your job in Burke is now done. It’s time for the complete refuah and your trip home, to stay.

Inspiring
July 28, 2016 7:11 pm

I remember you from back in the day at “welsprings” bungalow in Monticello. You keep on inspiring us. Thank you. May Hashemi bench you with only good in a revealed way.

sydney mates
July 28, 2016 6:48 pm

oy mendel its great to see you in such good spirits, hashem should bless you with only good health and good times and speedy and full recovery brought about thru simcha not thru any rehabs etc. all the best

Very moving piece
July 28, 2016 6:46 pm

So special to see such love for another yid and for a mitzvah.
May you both have refuah veyeshuah!!
Un altz gut begilui.
Moshiach now.

awesomeness!
July 28, 2016 6:30 pm

beautiful. uplifting. thank you!

Mendel is amazing!!!
July 28, 2016 6:24 pm

I would say I don’t know how he continues to be such a powerhouse going through what he is going through, however I know the answer…. Toby is truly a remarkable woman!
You both should know of no further tzoros. Complete and SPEEDY refuah to Mendel right now!!!

Heart Warming!!
July 28, 2016 6:15 pm

May you very soon be able to join your wonderful family at home, grzunterheit mit alle brochos for a complete recovery miyad mamash!

So beautiful!
July 28, 2016 6:12 pm

A complete quick refuah. Toby is such a special strong woman. Besuros tovos and strength from here on.

Chosid
July 28, 2016 6:06 pm

Mendel you are a great inspiration to all of Lubavitch. You are a amazing person. Hashem should Bentch you with Arichus Yomim V’Shonim Toivois Lange, Gezunte Yohrn Mitoich Harchovo Gedolo BG”UR

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