Weekly Story: Spreading the Fire
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
Recently I heard from a friend of mine, Reb Yosef, whose work as an engineer brings him into contact with people who want to make changes in their house or building and needs his report about asbestos and lead in order to obtain a permit.
He said, I received a phone call from an architect asking if we can meet at a certain address in Manhattan. I replied that I have to make an inspection at a nearby address, so instead of giving her a time that I may not be able to commit to, if it ok with her I will pick her up when I conclude that inspection. She said that was fine and that is what we did.
The following day I picked her up and we discussed what she wanted to do, and I told her what I expected to find in that old building and how it can be resolved.
She then mentioned to me that she is also Jewish.
I asked her “Do you light the candles on Fridays?”
“No, but I should“ she replied. I have my grandmothers candle sticks which she lit in Communist Russia and that was difficult to do under her circumstances yet she was determined to do so, and here it isn’t difficult to light them, in fact, there is nothing that prevents me from doing so. I think I will start.
Reb Yosef informed her that he will send her on Friday the proper time when the candles should be lit and they arrived at their destination and he made the inspection.
For the next few weeks he dutifully sent her the time for the lightning of the candles.
One Sunday she sent him the following, This past weekend there was a family get together in honor of a wedding. At the reception I took out the candle sticks and I mentioned to my relatives that my grandmother had the fortitude to light candles in honor of the Sabbath in Communist Russia, and we should all emulate her and light the candles in beautiful America. And everyone did.
Reb Yosef then said, Not only can a chossid who is a professional do the Rebbe’s shlichus and conduct himself as a Shliach, but as the Rebbe often said, Shliach oiseh Shliach – one emissary can appoint and make an additional emissary.
I was able to make a woman that I would never have thought was Jewish, to also become a messenger and successfully give over to others what the Rebbe wants from them.
The heart of every Jew is ready to be awakened, all it needs is us to ready to light it.
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
