By Rabbi Zalmen Wishedski – Basel, Switzerland
I once spent a Shabbos a few years ago in Meron and met a Viznitzer chossid who mentioned that he worked as a shochet in the Agriprocessors meat plant in Postville, Iowa when it was owned by Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin.
This chossid then shared with me a miraculous story that happened to him at the time and I present it here today in honor of Rubashkin’s birthday on 28 Tishrei.
This Viznitzer couple was originally from Israel and married for 3 years without children. Their families kept asking them ‘what’s going on?’ and they finally booked an appointment with a fertility specialist.
That Simchas Torah in Postville, this chossid witnessed a simcha he wasn’t familiar with. The fervent dancing, and not to mention the generous l’chaims, were something he had never seen before.
Between hakafos, Sholom Mordechai approached him and caringly scolded him. “What are you traveling to professors? There is a Rebbe in the world. You need to travel to the Rebbe to ask for a bracha and everything will work out!”
The man answered that it would be 2 days of traveling and his wife wouldn’t hold up. “She is already quite discouraged,” he said.
Sholom Mordechai (and typical of Sholom Mordechai) didn’t give up. “You know what,” he said. “Tomorrow I’ll take you to the Rebbe! I’ll rent a plane and we’ll go together back and forth. There won’t be any hassle in the traveling.”
The man smiled. ‘This Rubashkin must have had too much vodka…’ he thought to himself.
But on the morning after Simchas Torah, Sholom Mordechai showed up and tells the couple, “nu, you’re coming? The plane is waiting!”
The plane was really waiting. Sholom Mordechai took them as is and they flew to New York to the Rebbe’s holy Ohel at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens. Once they landed, they had 2 hours until their flight back to Postville.
It was freezing cold that day and they weren’t dressed warmly. The couple was told to leave their shoes outside the Ohel and they stood there with their bare feet on the stone cold floor.
The man’s wife shivered and didn’t want to enter. “I begged her to go in,” the husband recalled. “We’re already here. Let’s say Tehillim and ask for a miracle.” She finally agreed.
After 20 minutes, they were out of the Ohel and already on their way back to catch the flight to Iowa.
3 weeks later they once again boarded a plane. This time it was a commercial flight to Israel where they had an appointment with the fertility expert.
After a series of tests, the doctor tells them: “I’m sorry but I can’t help you. You are already 2 weeks pregnant.”
*
As this chossid was concluding his story, he points to his son and says “this is a child of the Rebbe.”
What’s his name, I asked.
Mordechai, he asked. “He’s named after a grandfather.”
He then added, “but when we were at the Ohel we promised that after we fill the quota for all family names, we will name a child Menachem Mendel.”
He turned to a younger son, a sweet 3-year-old with curly payos, and said, “Mendale, tell them your name.”
The child said, “Menachem Mendel.”
A moment later, he quietly corrected himself, “Menachem Mendel Schneerson.”
The father then said: “Look around, the 6 children that we have is thanks to the self-sacrifice and the ahavas yisroel of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin.”
This is an incredible story!
Ah, Sholom Mordechai!
After learning in Postville and spending time with SHolom Mordechai, this story is no surprise and its at only reminds us of what kind of Galus we find ourselves. To have such a man, a kind , caring, selfless human locked away behind bars, by ruthless, heartless, money-power-hungry politicians, Errrrrr
But such is Sholom Mordechai spirit “this to we will pass”. This too we will overcome. We will succeed, grow and we will rejoice in song and dancing. Yad HaChassidim al elyuina!
May it be Taikif Um’yad NOW Mammush, together with the Geulah Shalaima!! Amen!!!
So beautiful. Yes 16 ” Kayn yehi rotzon!!!!!
Hashem, Eibishter we know you hear us please fulfill your children’s cries & pleas. This one enormous mitzvah of ahavas yisroel DAYENU surely has been enough to free R’ SM !!!!
Thank you for sharing! Every time I write into the rebbe I ALWAYS ask for a Brocha for SM to be redeemed. C’mon already!!!!
I think the Chossid had told his son that he ‘owed a debt’ to the Rebbe and so the kid was named after the Rebbe and the kid knew it. He, therefore, in a cute way would say his full name is Menachem Mendel Schneersohn to make it clear that he was named after the Rebbe. I don’t think it actually means that the kid has the name “Schneersohn” as a first name. Nice story. If Rubashkin has been treated unfairly it is only because he didn’t have enough friends in high places. Meaning, people who have done worse got… Read more »
in that zechus
he should be reedmed,
and all of us from golus.
I dont understand the schneerson part. Can someone explain?
May r sholom Mordechai halevi see his own yeshua tekef umiad!
(The yungerman’s last name is schneersohn?)
That story was printed a number of years ago in the Derher magazine
in that zechus
he should be reedmed,
and all of us from golus.
I remember that שמחת תורה vividly, fondly, and clearly. Anyone that has ever had the זכות to be in Postville for שמחת תורה will tell you with excitement that מי שלא ראה שמחת תורה בפאסטוויל לא ראה שמחת תורה (other than by the Rebbe of course.) I know that Yungerman very well, he actually wrote a couple of Seforim on Inyonei Shiduchim. He also had a Shver that was in Postville for many years as a Shoichet who was a real nice person, and who was so fondly called Reb Yosef Myer (Olov Hasholom Leibovitch). This yungerman was perplexed on… Read more »
Let’s say tehillim round the clock and he will be free . we have the power from the Rebbe Shlita MHM now MAMASH!!!👍👍👍
The child’s first name is Menachem Mendel Schneerson?
May this story certainly holds a tremendous zechus for Shollom Mordechai halevi ben Rivka.
NU?
very beautiful story very inspiring we should only have simchos that shalom mordechai should be freed from the galus that is on with the venue of moshiach
i would like to wish a happy birthday to shalom mordechai
Such a beautiful story. May all these stories be a zchus for him to be freed immediately.
Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful story. Thanks for shareing!
May the Zechus stand beside him and take him go out of jail now
Wonderful! Todah.
BE”H, S.M. Rubashkin will have his final ‘Day In Court’ and win. This will receive wide publicity, & The U.S. Govt. will successfully be sued for vast amounts, afterwards.
Finally, the American populace will realize the futility of man-made governments & institutions & effect: ‘The Seven Noahide Laws!’
‘Halevi!’
Amazing story of emunas tzadikkim! GREAT!
BS”D beautiful story, typical of SM, today on his Yom Hayuledis he should fly out of his constriction MAMESH TODAY
Such a special man with a golden heart, he doesn’t deserve to be where he is.
Hashemi, in the merit of this story, please release him in 1 week just as the woman became pregnant one week after they were at the rebbe
שלום מרדכי הלוי בן רבקה
מן המצר אל המרחב now now now
בטוב המראה והנגלה!
so touching!!! Hashem have rachmonus on your precious children that love YOUR children!!! NOW!!!
Such a beautiful story. Amazing