A Bracha 50 Years Ago Comes True Today
by Rabbi Eli Moshe Levitansky
You’ve probably heard that our Chabad House in Simcha Monica is running a matching campaign these days. But I want to give you the back story – the incredible back story.
Our parents, Rabbi Avremel A”H and – may she live a long, happy life – Rebbetzin Levitansky moved to S. Monica in 1973, 5733.
For four years, they moved their Chabad activities from one rental space to another. In 1977, they and their community purchased a small house that just barely fit their needs, and Simcha Monica Chabad had its first permanent home.
One of my father’s dear friends and supporters then was a lovely man named Mr. Semelman. He was very invested in the down payment and purchase of this modest, first home for the Chabad House, and he flew with my father to present the Chabad House key to the Rebbe. It was Yud Beis (12) Tammuz, 5737 (1977), fifty years since the miracle of the Previous Rebbe’s release from Soviet prison, and at that special Farbrengen, they gave the Rebbe the key.
Three years later, in 1980, they sold that property and purchased a bigger one, the current home of Chabad Simcha Monica.
Over the course of 46 years since then, the Shul on this property has hosted everything from summer camp, to Hebrew School, Shabbat services, to High Holiday services, to Farbrengens, to adult education, to Kaparos, and literally everything in between.
For many, many years, we’ve been busting at the seams.
Even during my father’s lifetime, he was looking for ways to expand, but the adjoining properties were not available, and we were already maximizing our space.
And so we marched on, always improvising, always adjusting, making do, making the best of it, and keeping an eye on the horizon, looking for opportunities.
Twelve years ago, our family was excited to discover video footage of that key presentation from 1977. We’d heard about it, but we’d never seen or heard a recording of it, and this was momentous. And as we watched it, we discovered another gem: the highly unusual Bracha the Rebbe gave them when he accepted the key.
“May G-d Almighty bless you to make the same thing on the second jubilee, fifty years from now.”
They had presented it as a gift for Yud Beis Tammuz fifty years, and the Rebbe blessed them to do it again in fifty years.
We looked at each other in wonder. What a unique Bracha! It was a marvel in our eyes – so unusual and so… specific!
“Do it again in fifty years.” Wow.
And a “Wow!” it remained for us.
Until two months ago.
In the beginning of March, out of nowhere, the property next door to Chabad House came on the market. Having waited for this moment for so long, we pounced without delay and made an offer on the property. This acquisition would truly change everything. We prayed our offer would be accepted.
After some jostling and back and forth, our offer was accepted, Baruch
Hashem, and we entered into escrow.
And only then did we realize that escrow would close, and the Chabad House would double in size, in the beginning of the fiftieth year!
We were thunderstruck. We thought we knew what this purchase would mean. We knew it would double the size of Chabad House. We knew it would provide outdoor space for children, something we’ve been sorely missing. We knew it would provide functional space to expand our work, make it all work better, and get many more people through the doors and into our programs. We even knew it would make our father’s dream come true.
But we did not realize that it would also make the Rebbe’s statement a reality.
“May G-d Alm-ighty bless you to make the same thing on the second jubilee, fifty years from now.”
G-d Alm-ighty blessed us, and here we are.
We feel incredibly connected to the Rebbe right now. The Rebbe’s holy Bracha and open prophecy, which he gave our father and dear Mr. Semelman, is coming true in these days, in our times, through our hands.
To say that we are excited about this story would be a terrible understatement. There aren’t really any words to describe our feelings at this time.
But this I know: we need to close this deal, open up the expanded Chabad House, and bring the key to the Rebbe. The Rebbe asked for it fifty years ago, and the Rebbe will get it.
We will make sure of it. And we are turning to you all for help.
So many of you knew our father; many of you knew him better than we knew him. So many of you have passed through the doors of Chabad of Simcha Monica. So many of you have told us of your love and debt of gratitude to our parents. And so many of you have generously supported Chabad Simcha Monica over the years. But now is a time for big action.
Please get on board this supernatural train. Please get in on this Bracha from the Rebbe and be a part of bringing it to fruition. Take a look at the campaign and see what you can do. We will thank you and bless you, and we will be sure to keep you updated on the project as it unfolds.
And maybe we’ll send you a copy of the key as well!
I thank you for reading, for caring, and most of all, for helping to give this incredible story a happy ending.
You can participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity at jewishsmonica.com/youthcenter
Link to Donate: https://charidy.com/chabadsmonica26
