Weekly Story: The beauty of Every Jew

Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon 

On Purim, there is a special emphasis by the Lubavitch Youth Organization to bring joy to all Jews, even or perhaps especially to our brothers and sisters that are incarcerated in prison. 

I recently heard the following prison story and I said this is a story that I will share with the readers of this column. At the same, I am positive that many shluchim have similar powerful stories and anecdotes that the readers would enjoy, so please share them with me and I will post them. Thank you 

As always your feedback is greatly appreciated. Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Purim and Shushan Purim.

In the late ’70s or early ’80s, the shliach in Be’er Sheva, Reb Yitzchok Dickstein went to a prison to speak and put on teffilin with the inmates. Being a cheerful fellow many of the the inmates gravitated towards him and looked forward to his weekly visit.

One Friday, one of the inmates mentioned to him that there is another Jewish inmate who doesn’t come to this meeting and in fact, he doesn’t leave his cell to meet anyone.

Hearing this Reb Yitzchok said although he doesn’t want to meet me, but I want to see him, and I will go to his cell.

The guards allowed him in and Yitzchok walked over to that person’s cell and began a conversation. Contrary to his expectations this inmate was extremely talkative. He began relating his life story and his grievances against various people and the authorities.

Reb Yitzchok not only heard him out but he listened attentively to what he had to say and showed empathy to what he had experienced. After the inmate spoke for a half-hour, he asked, “And why did you come to visit me?”

Reb Yitzchok replied, “I come here every Friday to help the Jewish inmates to put on tefillin. Perhaps you would like to put them on?”

“Definitely,” he replied “what do I have to do?”

I will place one of these boxes on your left bicep and the other one on your head and you will say the Shema.

The person rolled up his sleeve and Yitzchok rolled his eyes in disgust. There was a tattoo that perhaps some would say, it is preferable not to put tefillin over it. However, after a moment’s thought, he decided I came so far with this individual, I will put it on.

After the inmate repeated the Shema, Reb Yitzchok wished him a good Shabbos and said I will see you G-d willing next week.

The following week when he came the inmate gave him a strong bear hug and said Rabbi I love you. You are the first person who validated me. You might not have agreed with the actions I took, but you showed compassion for what I endured. Thank you 

He then began to roll up his sleeve to put on tefillin and this time Yitzchok was horrified. The inmate’s bicep was almost raw. The image was indeed gone but the skin also was all gone 

The inmate saw his reaction and said, Rabbi last week I noticed your displeasure with the tattoo I had and I decided to remove it. So every day I took some salt and continued to rub it over the picture until I succeeded in removing it. The only thing is that it also removed some skin that should come back.

Mi kiamcha Yisroel (Who is like Your nation of Israel).

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com