Rabbi Klein Farbranges in Morristown for Chof Zayen Adar

Wednesday night, the Rabbinical College of America, including Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim and Morristown community had the great privilege to hear Rabbi Binyomin Klein. This Farbrangen was by Rabbi Moshe Herson, to mark Chof Zayen Adar.

Rabbi Klein served for over to 30 years as a member of the Secretariat of the Lubavitcher Rebbe under the leadership of Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov. In his role as secretary to the Rebbe, Rabbi Klein’s life was devoted day and night, hour after hour, to serve directly any needs of the Rebbe.

Rabbi Klein’s began with a few stories, here’s one of them:

There was once a young lady who came to the Rebbe asking for a Blessing to help her find a Shidduch. The Rebbe’s response however surprised her as the Rebbe recommended that she begin to observe Shabbos. “I have gone to many Rebbe’s before and each would just give me a blessing, here however this Rebbe is asking things from me?!” she thought. For her keeping Shabbos was challenging as she ran a store which was busiest on Shabbos!

Alas, the store remained open, and the young lady remained single.

One day she arrived to find her store up in flames!!! Insurance covered the loss; however for whatever reason the business was not rebuilt nor were plans made either for it’s rebuilding. At last, she was not working on Shabbos! A short two weeks later, wonder upon wonders, she was engaged!!!

Rabbi Klein related that after his engagement he went to Yechidus (a “meeting”) with the Rebbe together with his wife-to-be. After this the Rebbe told him two things; a) The Rebbe would like if Rabbi Klein would work for him. b) “You have eyes that see and ears that hear, this you can not help, however not everything that you see or hear must be repeated.” The Rebbe then continued to tell Rabbi Klein that he should meet with Rabbi Hodakov and the Rebbe concluded “I will make the appointment for you myself.”

The Rebbe would often send Rabbi Klein on missions to the Holy Land. One time on a mission Rabbi Klein did what had to be done in a short time. Only four hours later he found himself back at the airport heading to the return trip. The security however couldn’t fathom the meaning of a visitor from so far for such a short period of time and this aroused their suspicion. They called for the head of security. Upon meeting Rabbi Klein simply said “I am a secretary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe here on a mission, it was accomplished and I’m heading back”. Hearing this he immediately understood and allowed Rabbi Klein to continue.