I heard this story from Reb Peretz Chein. Reb Peretz Chein had two brothers learning in Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva established by the Rebbe Rashab in the city of Lubavitch (White Russia).
“I”, Reb Peretz told me, “Was called upon to appear before the Russian army board to be inducted into the Russian army.”
To be a Russian soldier it was impossible to live a proper Jewish life, and Jewish young men tried whatever means possible to receive an army release or white card.
Reb Peretz decided to travel to Lubavitch to consult and receive the Blessing of the Rebbe Rashab.
Reb Peretz complained to the Rebbe and said, “Why should I find myself in this predicament? Just because I am unable to be in Yeshiva like my brothers, since I must help my father to support the family, I should end up in the Russian army. Reb Peretz asked the Rebbe for his holy Blessing and advice. The city where he was supposed to appear for the army board was in Homel (Gomel). It was well known that the board there was very strict, and it was almost unheard of to be freed from army duty. He therefore asked the Rebbe whether it would be advisable to seek another place to go to.
The Rebbe answered him and said, “G-d will help you and you will not become a soldier. My advice to you is to go to the office in Homel.”
When he returned home and his relatives heard what the Rebbe said, they vehemently opposed the idea because it was well known that only absolutely sick or weak individuals were released from there and otherwise, they were very strict.
Reb Peretz remained firm in his decision to listen to the Rebbe. “The Rebbe told me to go to Homel,” he said, “and that’s where I will go.” He traveled there with complete faith in G-d.
When he came to Homel a few days before his appointment, he stayed at the home of a Polish Chasid. The day designated for his appointment was on the holy Shabbat.
Shabbat morning when he awoke, he thought to pray privately and have a quick Shabbat meal to appear at the office in a timely manner. His host said to him, “What’s the rush? There is no need for you to rush over there. First let us go together to the synagogue to pray like all Jews. Then we will come home and have our Shabbat meal. And after the meal, I will escort you and we will walk together to the office.”
Reb Peretz listened to his host and together they went to pray at the synagogue. The Shabbat meal at his host house was not rushed either. He lingered over the beautiful Shabbat zemirot (songs) as he was wont to do every Shabbat. Reb Peretz was beginning to get a bit nervous. He was worried that they would get to the office after it was closed which would add to his troubles.
Indeed, when they finally arrived, it was getting late. All the young men who were supposed to come had already been tested and left. The members of the board were getting ready to close and were looking forward to going home themselves, tired from the long day.
When Reb Peretz arrived, they began to scream at him and berate him, “Why did you come so late?!” They began to consult together what to do with this scoundrel. One of the doctors suggested, “Let’s write him down among those who’ve been freed and give him a white card, and then we can go home!”
The way it worked is that when someone came in the doctors would examine him thoroughly to make sure the person was healthy body and mind to become a soldier. This took time. However, when someone came and it was clear from the outset that the person was not well, he would be released without a full exam.
G-d put in their minds to do just this, and he was immediately freed. He was told to come back in a few days to receive his release papers and white card.
On the walk home, his host smiled and said, “I told you it does not pay to rush on Shabbat! Shabbat protected you!”
Reb Peretz gratitude to Hashem and to the Rebbe was beyond words.
*Translated from Ki Korov magazine Page 11 originally from the book Shmuos v’Sippurim by Rabbi Refael Nachman haKohen a’h.
Postscript: In the book Avnei Chein – the history of Family Chein by Shneur Zalman Berger and Eliezer Lein Pg 212 it says, that after Blessing Reb Peretz Chein, the Rebbe Rashab instructed him to learn two chapters of Tanya a day, some Mishna, and Zohar. Reb Peretz continued this daily study regiment for the rest of his life. At the conclusion of WWII, Reb Peretz Chein managed to leave Russia and came to Paris, France. From here he moved to New York with his family. He worked taking care of the Karestirer Mikvah (which was on Eastern Parkway and Brooklyn). He would use all his free time to study Mishna and say Tehillim (Psalms). He passed away at a ripe old age. His offspring serve as rabbis, emissaries of the Rebbe, and leaders of communities around the world.
For more about how the tears of a mother saved her child and brought her young son to learn in Lubavitch, and the illustrious progenitor of the Chein Family, the Chasid of the Alter Rebbe, Reb Peretz Chein, please see: melavamalkastories.com/Heartfelt tears of a mother saves her family – January 16, 2024.
*Rebbe Rashab 1860-1920. Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneerson zt’l, known as the Rebbe Rashab, was the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe. He was known as the Rambam of Chassidut, codifying and expounding on Chassidut in lengthy serial discourses called ‘Hemsheichim’ studied by serious students till today. The Rebbe Rashab established Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim in 1897, the first Yeshiva for men to incorporate the study of the esoteric part of Torah together with the traditional Oral Torah. The students of this Yeshiva were known as ‘Chayolei Beis Dovid’ – soldiers of the House of David. Indeed, they stood up to communism and continued to keep the flame of Judaism burning during 70 years of anti-religious persecution. Throughout these years, secret Jewish schools for children continued to exist educating a young generation to be proud and learned Jews.Today there are branches of Tomchei Temimim around the world.
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