By Fay Kranz Greene
Yankees fans were ecstatic. Lefty Gomez and Joe DiMaggio had just helped their team sweep the Cincinnati Reds to win the 1939 World Series.
In Newark, New Jersey, twelve year-old Bill Shank was happily anticipating his forthcoming Bar Mitzvah. Studying with Cantor Katz at the B’nei Abraham Synagogue he was almost ready for his big day.
Bill however, didn’t get the chance to show off his newly acquired skills; he never made it to his own Bar Mitzvah. The celebration was cancelled because he suddenly developed a severe case of pneumonia. The young boy languished in pain for many months because the new ‘miracle’ drug Penicillin was not yet in widespread use. The Bar Mitzvah was forgotten in the wake of his illness.
Flash forward to this past Shabbat, July 23, 2016 and the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, New York; a highly reputed facility entirely dedicated to rehabilitation medicine.
Mendel Brikman, 43, a successful Chabad rabbi and businessman, had recently been accepted to Burke. Diagnosed with cancer in 2011, he underwent surgery that successfully removed the tumor but made it difficult for him to breathe. The husband and father of six, has been in and out of hospitals for the past few years, battling his illness and overcoming the enormous challenges placed on him and his family.
Remarkably, he is still the same outgoing, upbeat, personable fellow he always was. Quick with a joke and easy to talk to, Brikman has become known for his ability to listen and dispense practical advice.
Last week he was enjoying the company of his friend Chaim Marcus, who had come to spend Shabbos with him. They were sitting in his room at Burke discussing whether he had the strength to participate in his scheduled rehab session. Although exhausted, Mendel decided to go ahead with the therapy.
In the rehab room, they found a few other patients already there, including an elderly gentleman who turned to them and said “Shabbat Shalom.” It turned out that their Sabbath greeter was Bill Shank, Professor Emeritus and the former music librarian at the CUNY Graduate Center and that his Hebrew name was… you guessed it…Mendel.
During their conversation Bill told them about his canceled Bar Mitzvah, that he had never put on Tefillin and was leaving Burke on Monday. What’s a good Chabadnik to do?
“We are all raised on the idea that every Jew is infinitely precious and that every mitzvah has cosmic importance, especially Tefillin,” said Marcus. “For a Chabadnik, the words ‘I’ve never put on Tefillin’ trigger something akin to an adrenaline rush. Like my friend David Suissa says, ‘Chabadniks have one global model and it’s called, ‘we want you to do a Mitzvah because the world needs it.’ That is the essential lesson we learned from the Rebbe; helping a Jew do a mitzvah is the best way to say ‘I love you.’”
“So, Mr. Shank, it’s never too late, how about we make you a Bar Mitzvah tomorrow?”
“Let me think about it,” he said. “I’ll discuss it with my daughter and I’ll let you know.”
Later that night Bill enthusiastically agreed and had even invited his daughter, who was visiting from Norway, and a number of friends to join in the celebration.
By Sunday morning the guest list grew to include Brikman’s incredible wife Toby, their youngest son Zalman, and Bill’s roommate at the Hospital, Ralph Ziskind.
They also extended a special invitation to Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg of the Young Israel of White Plains and the Chaplain at Burke.
It turns out that you don’t need a DJ, caterer, centerpieces or flowers to have a meaningful Bar Mitzvah.
“Everything is Divinely orchestrated but it’s particularly gratifying when the Almighty gives us an opportunity like today,” said Mendel, “to be able to come together 77 years after your bar mitzvah and celebrate this occasion with you.”
Speaking about the mitzvah of Tefillin, Mendel pointed out that Tefillin is a testament to our love for the Almighty and His love for the Jewish people.
“What is written in G-ds Tefillin?” asked Brikman. “The Torah tells us that in G-d’s Tefillin it speaks of the special love that G-d has for the Jewish people.”
Brikman spoke movingly about what he has been through and shared a personal story about a former IDF soldier that had moved away from Judaism because his friend was killed during the first Lebanon war. After befriending Mendel and forming a close bond, the former soldier decided that although many years elapsed, he would begin putting on Tefillin again.
The Bar Mitzvah ‘boy’ shared his story and emotionally wrapped Tefilin for the first time. “I want to say this is a very proud moment of my life at age 90, I’m very honored, and very happy that I have my good friends and my daughter here with me, I’m very proud to be able to say that I’ve now finally been Bar Mitzvahed.”
Video: Bar Mitzvah at 90
Several of the guests had never even seen a pair of Tefillin, so Rabbi Greenberg gladly explained what Tefillin are, what is written in them, and why we wear Tefillin on the weaker arm, for which he used a baseball analogy.
There was some spirited singing as Bill unwrapped his Bar Mitzvah presents, which included the Chabad classic books, Daily Wisdom and Towards a Meaningful Life; a CD of Chassidic recording artist Avraham Fried; and a kipa with the words “Bill” and “Mendel” embroidered in Hebrew and English.
Shirley Miller, a long time friend of the Shanks, was visibly moved and told Mendel that “this has been one of the most meaningful and beautiful events I have ever participated in.”
P.S. In a typical Chabad twist, it turns out that Bill’s daughter Ingrid who lives in Norway, knows and is very fond of Rabbi Shaul and Esther Wilhelm, the Shluchim in Oslo.
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.
PH – Teaneck NJ
A true Chossid, Yiras Shamayim, and, Lamdan.
Never stops doing!
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
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!
Mendel and Toby wow really nice this is a very big Mitzvah
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
Go Mendel!!!! Come back home healthy and strong!
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 »
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.
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
Chaim can we expect a music video on this story??
Just kidding. Keep doing whatcha doing.
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.
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?
As an old classmate, can someone post visiting hours that would comfort Mendel?
TY
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!
I am sure this helped make the mitzvah possible…one big mitzvah leads to another
אתם השראה לכולנו
You are our inspiration
We miss you so much!!
שבקרוב ממש נראה אותך מנדל חוזר הביתה בריא ושלם
ידגר
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.
This should be a tremendous zechus for you. You should have a refuah shelamah bkoruv.
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..
way to go!!!!!
sk
So so inspiring!!
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
How did they get that yarmulka between Shabbos and Sunday?
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.
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
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!
Go Toby! You’re beautiful!
Such a beautiful family!! Toby you are a rockstar with such strength and courage !!!!
What a kiddush hashem.
Thank you guys for posting this.
Your job in Burke is now done. It’s time for the complete refuah and your trip home, to stay.
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.
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
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.
beautiful. uplifting. thank you!
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!!!
May you very soon be able to join your wonderful family at home, grzunterheit mit alle brochos for a complete recovery miyad mamash!
A complete quick refuah. Toby is such a special strong woman. Besuros tovos and strength from here on.
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