chassidim – Page 9 – Melava Malka Stories

Esther Langsam* And Her Double Miracle

Many young Jewish men were saved from being enlisted into the ruthless Russian army by the efforts of a fearless young Jewish woman. She befriended a Russian woman working in the NKVD, the Russian secret police, who supplied her with blank Polish passports. These were filled out for the Jewish men who now appeared as Polish citizens. Once the passports were officially stamped, the person owning it would not be enlisted.

Chanukah Mivtzoim 5781

Monday evening, I received a call from my eleven year old granddaughter, Rochel Leah, “Bubby, I want you to take me on Mivtzaim tomorrow”.

Reb Zalman Senders And The Alter Rebbe

Reb Zalman Senders was one of the prominent Chassidim of the Alter Rebbe, having attended his Yeshiva as a young man. He was a very successful merchant who was generous in his philanthropy with family and anyone in need. He was a tremendously great and well-known Torah scholar and served G-d joyously.

Chabad of Cyberspace

The questions come from the far reaches of the world; from a scientist in Antarctica, who is holding a seder thousands of miles away from his family, from a student in New Mexico wanting to know if smoking marijuana is permitted before Shabbat services; from a mother who wants vegetarian recipes for Passover.

The “No” That Brought Him Closer To Judaism

Every summer, Chabad Yeshiva boys travel to outlying Jewish cities and towns where there is no permanent rabbi to uplift and inspire the Jewish people living there. This important connection for our Jewish brethren to their heritage is one of the many programs instituted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, in the early years of his leadership. The Rebbe’s love for every Jew, no matter where and no matter their level of observance, is legendary. And this love he bequeathed to his Chassidim.

The Mechanic Who Ran A Hat Store

The young newly married couple were happy in every respect. But when the young man lost his job, their joy was clouded over. An expert mechanic, he just couldn’t find another job, and their panic increased from one day to the next as they grappled with their financial difficulties.

The Bris in Siberia

Peretz Lein was born in Siberia. His father, R’ Moshe Lein, z’l, was a descendent of the famous chassid of the Tzemach Tzedek, Reb Peretz Chein* z’l. R’ Moshe was arrested by the communist in 1938 and remained imprisoned for ten years. His ‘crime’ was that he was a Lubavitcher chassid keeping Torah and mitzvot.
Miraculously, the time he spent in Russian jail saved his life during WWII. When he was released, he made his way to Tashkent where a Chabad Chassidic community existed, hoping to settle down and stay out of the way of the authorities.

R’ Shmelke of Nikolsburg*

The holy R’ Shmelke of Nikolsburg* conducted himself in the path of Chassidut.
The townsfolk of Nikolsburg were not Chassidim and they disapproved of the seemingly odd behavior of their community rabbi, Reb Shmelke, who was a Chassidic Rebbe. The most prominent members of the community, therefore, called a meeting and decided to dismiss him. They instructed the Shammash (beadle) to inform the rabbi of their decision. This Shammash was a simple fellow, though honest and upright. He asked them why they had suddenly decided to do such a thing?

The Twelve Pesukim Miracle

Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, I was greatly influenced by my uncle, who had recently became Torah observant. When I began wearing a yarmulke and tzitzit to school, the principal suggested to my parents that I would be better off attending a more religious school. My parents agreed and switched me to Torah Academy, a Lubavitch Day School when I was in fourth grade.

The Annonymous Esrog Donor

Rabbi Mendel Altein* is following in the footsteps of his ancestors. His great grandfather, the renowned Chassidic teacher and mentor, Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson** provided the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe with an etrog for the Holiday of Sukkot when he arrived on the shores of America the first time in 1929.