Weekly Chasidic Story # 1432 (5785-34) 21Iyar 5785 (May 19, 2025)

"The Astonishing Trade"

"Since your Belzer Rebbes often performed special miracles in the miraculous fashion of the Ba'al Shem Tov," said the Rebbe. “I will also behave with you in that manner!

Why this week? The Torah section of Behukotai discusses at length about the "holy exchanges" that would take place in the sanctuary and the Holy Temples.

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The Astonishing Trade

Moshe-Mendel Feiner, a Belzer Chasid lived in Los Angeles with his wife. The following fascinating story happened in the year 1951, right after the Lubavitcher Rebbe accepted the leadership of the Chabad chasidic movement. Even after the Rebbe officially became the de facto leader, becoming the seventh rebbe in the dynasty, he continued to ascribe the leadership to his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneerson, the Rebbe Rayatz, [still known as] the 'Freidiger' ["previous"] Lubavitcher Rebbe. Because of this, he often reacted seemingly evasively when asked for a blessing or advice.

It was in this time when the sun of the previous Rebbe set and the sun of his son-in-law began to shine, that Moshe's wife started feeling ill. In the beginning they thought it was a passing weakness, but her condition continued to deteriorate. When even more symptoms appeared, they realized that they needed to take her situation seriously. The doctor they visited immediately sent them for extensive tests and referred them to a specialist, who told them to see an even greater specialist. So she went for more thorough tests by that doctor.

After all the results came back, they were told the devastating news that she had a malignant growth. The diagnosis turned the couple's life upside down. Their daily life became an exhausting journey from tests to diagnosis to treatments, from hope to despair.

However, they did not only seek physical ways to conquer the illness; they also turned to the spiritual. Their search for help in this arena led them to the doorstep of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

In those days it was relatively easy to get an appointment to see the Rebbe. Though the Rebbe would avoid giving outright blessings and guidance--instead he would answer along the lines of "who am I and what am I that I should give blessings?" In spite of this the couple was advised by those in the know to try and receive a blessing from the Rebbe. The quietly circulating stories of the many miracles of the Rebbe convinced them to make the effort.

That was how one day Moshe undertook the trip from the West Coast to New York City on the East Coast in order to meet the new Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Moshe, although exhausted from the trip on the public transportation of more than 70 years ago, went directly to meet the young Rebbe [then aged 49]. Although Moshe had met in his life a number of other Admorim (heads of Chasidic dynasties), people of dignified bearing, he stood dumbstruck before the regal appearance he found himself facing there in 770 Ewastern Parkway. He quickly gathered himself; the life of his wife hung in the balance! Now was not the time to be silent.

Moshe described to the Rebbe the desperate situation of his wife. In the beginning, as on many occasions those days, the Rebbe answered with the familiar "Who am I and what am I that I should give blessings," but Moshe didn't give up. His wife's difficult condition forced him to continue. He heard himself say to the Rebbe with great reverence but firmly:

"I don't care who you are. [!?! - YT] I need a blessing, my wife's situation is very severe and a blessing of a Jew is effective."

With these heartfelt words the Rebbe didn't argue. "Which chasidut do you belong to?" he asked Moshe.

"I am a Belzer chasid," answered Moshe.

"If so," said the Rebbe "since the Belzer Rebbes always behaved in a heavenly fashion and did special miracles in the miraculous fashion of the Ba'al Shem Tov1 ; I will also behave in that manner with you."

Moshe was very moved by the unusual expression the Rebbe used in speaking to him, He again mentioned the condition of his wife and told the Rebbe that the doctors more or less despaired of saving her life.

What the Rebbe said next was entirely unusual. "You know that the Nazis yimach shemam ("may their names be erased"2 ) murdered more than six million Jews. Do you agree that I exchange a Deitshke (German woman) for a Jewish woman?"

Moshe didn't hesitate. He realized that the Rebbe intended the exchange with a very specific Jewish woman. He immediately agreed.

"In that case," the Rebbe said, "you don't have anything to worry about. All will be well."

Moshe left the Rebbe's room stunned by the explicit blessing he received from him. He didn't tell anyone what had occurred and waited for the realization of the miracle in the "Ba'al Shem Tov's style," according to the Rebbe's own definition.

Indeed, a short time later his wife recovered in a miraculous fashion. Afterwards, during every check-up, the medical staff were lost for words about the recovery that had no logical explanation whatsoever.
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Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the translation by Mrs. C.R. Benami, long-time editorial assistant for AscentOfSafed.com, from the Hebrew weekly, HaGeula #1075.

Why This Week? The Torah section of Behukotai discusses at length about the "holy exchanges" that would take place in the sanctuary and the Holy Temples.

Biographical note:
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (11 Nissan 1902 - 3 Tammuz 1994), became the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty after his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, passed away in Brooklyn on 10 Shvat 1950. He is widely acknowledged as the greatest Jewish leader of the second half of the 20th century. Although a dominant scholar in both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah and fluent in many languages and scientific subjects, the Rebbe is best known for his extraordinary love and concern for every Jew on the planet. His emissaries around the globe dedicated to strengthening Judaism number in the thousands. Many hundreds of volumes of his teachings have been printed, and hundreds of English renditions too.

Footnotes:
1.Revealer of the Chasidic movement in 1724.
2.That was literal. The full meaning is "May all traces of them be obliterated."

Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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