Chof Cheshvan Farbrengen in Ramat Beit Shemesh

On Chaf Mar Cheshvan, the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab (the 5th Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch), the English speaking Chabad community of Ramat Beit Shemesh (Alef), Chabad on Dolev of Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, held a wonderful farbrengen.

Led by renouned international star Rabbi Tuvia Bolton and directed by our Mashpia Rabbi Chaim Farro (formerly of Manchester, England), the event was attended by a broad spectrum of Anash (men and women), community members and supporters, and others just interested in a chassidic farbrengen.

The farbrengen went well into the night as Rabbi Bolton shared a number of stories directly passed down by chassidim of the Rebbe Rashab. Here’s an example…

The well known Av Beis Din and provider of kosher supervision in Bnei Brak, Israel, Rabbi Moshe Landau, shlita tells this story from his father, a“h, who was a rav and chossid who was part of Beis Rabaynu of the Rebbe Rashab. Rabbi Bolton heard it directly from Rabbi Moshe Landau, shlita.

The chossid Rabbi Landau was very close to the Rebbe Rashab. After the Rebbe Rashab became ill, Rabbi Landau contracted typhus, a very serious disease in those days. He was very sick for a very long period of time, often fading in and out of consciousness. Whenever he became lucid and able to talk he would ask ”how is the Rebbe???“, as this was his main concern. While he was sick the Rebbe Rashab was nistalek.

Because of this weak state Rabbi Landau’s family asked every visitor to not say a work to Rabbi Landau, as they feared the shock of hearing of the Rebbe’s passing might endanger Rabbi Landau’s very life! Every visitor followed their request. However, after some weeks a visitor from out of town came to see Rabbi Landau and the family forgot to tell him not to say anything about the Rebbe. The visitor came in and Rabbi Landau asked his customary question, ”nu, how’s the Rebbe?“. The visitor replied, ”what do you mean, he left this world over a month ago.“

Rabbi Landau let out a cry and called for his family. ”Quickly call the Rebbe’s son (the Rebbe Rayatz – Der Friedeker Rebbe) to me! And bring me a pen and paper.“ Rabbi Landau quickly wrote a letter and sealed it in an envelope. When the Friedeker Rebbe came to see him, he handed him the sealed envelope and said ”please take this letter and place it on the Rebbe’s grave“. The Friedeker Rebbe agreed to do so, took the letter and left.

The Friedeker Rebbe returned a few hours later. He said to Rabbi Landau, ”As you requested I took your sealed letter and placed it on my father the Rebbe’s holy resting place. My father said to tell you to stop the nareshkeit and you have a bracha for a refuah shalayma.“

Rabbi Landau later told his family what he wrote in the letter. It said, ”Dear Rebbe, I cannot live without you. Please give me a bracha to join you in the World to Come.”