Kfar Chabad Magazines Story on R. Yakov Kopel Rosen

In conjunction with the article of Jeremy Rosen refuting the story about his father that was recently published, I though it would be interesting to note that the story has been told as such in the Kfar Chabad Magazine by England’s head Shaliach, Rabbi Nachman Sudak.

(The story that was quoted here – I have no idea which issue number it’s referred to. but I read it in Kfar Chabad issue # 196 (attached file) as told by Rabbi Sudak who was very involved in this whole matter (and heard it from the man himself) – and this version is similar to the son’s version.)

“I have merited being personally involved, while witnessing a close connection with Rabbi Y.K. Rosen and The Rebbe Shlit”a…….

“In our way of looking at things, Rabbi Rosen would have been considered as a modern person, since he did not fit the typical mould of a Haredi Jew. He acted to us [Lubavitch] very nicely, to a certain degree, that is. He had, however once provided much help to my father-in-law, Rabbi Bentzion Shemtov, regarding the Beth Sefer L’melakha, this was an exception and unusual regarding his behavior to Lubavitch, since he would usually keep out of our affairs, merely observing from a distance.

A scan of this issue can be seen in the Extended Article.

In 1962, he was stricken with Leukemia, and his sickness worsened gradually. He would need three blood transfusions weekly, and it was clear to all that his days were numbered. Notwithstanding, this did not prevent him from doing his work – at least to the extent to which his health allowed him. This roughly concludes the relevant description of Rabbi Rosen, which is related to this story.

Once, while I was in my father-in-law’s house, the telephone rang, Rabbi Rosen was on the line, he wanted to speak with him [R’ Shemtov] urgently, I replied that he had stepped out, and inquired if I can be of any assistance. He replied that he wanted him to visit him at his home, I replied that if this is of utmost importance, I shall then attempt to call my father in law, who was currently residing elsewhere, he replied that this can wait until the end of Shabbos. Understandably, I did not know what was the important matter that he had wanted to discuss with my father in law, perhaps, I thought, he wanted to write a Pan to the Rebbe, regarding his deteriorating health….

He got in touch with my father in law, and it was arranged that both of us shall travel to his residence after Shabbos. When we came to him, he told us the following “I know that my end is near, and I would therefore consider the time right to give Maaser to charity, I started to think about who I should give the money to, so I called different institutions and requested to meet with them – without mentioning that it was my intent to donate – when I requested that they visit my residence, they refused, I was sick as dead in their minds, and would therefore be of no use to them, and since they did not consider him as a living person, they had thereby unknowingly lost their potential donation.

”Before the war, I received a Tanya from R’ Itche Masmid, but I never bothered looking at it, now that I have begun to feel my end is near, I have started reading various mussar works and the like, and thus I have stumbled upon this book, the Tanya, when I saw the book I said to myself “this is not right, this book has been sitting in my house for such a long time, and I haven’t even touched it?! How can I do this?! So I took the book and learned a chapter.

”And then, something amazing happened, when I finished learning the chapter, I started feeling stronger and healthier, I felt like I was after a blood transfusion, this amazed me very much so, to the extent that I though I was having delusions, so I tried to rise from my bed, lo and behold, I got up without a problem without needing even a cane….

“These miracles made me come to a conclusion that Chabad Chasssidus is true and right, but I was still skeptical if this way also was also taken to reality in day to day life

”Therefore, I called you, and you did not refuse to come, therefore I have decided that I shall give my maser money to you…

“In addition to this, I would also like to live my life as a Chossid and die as a Chossid… I want to learn Chassidus several times weekly… I want a Lubavitch Siddur… I want a picture of the Rebbe which I shall hang on my wall.

”I want to travel to the Rebbe Shlit”a, and ask that he accept me as his Chassid

His wife advised him against going… he went with us and Rabbi Spektor, and we traveled to the Rebbe, before the flight he stated before us “I want you to know that I am not traveling to the Rebbe for a blessing of health, but rather to be accepted as a Chassid, I do not care to die in New York, I only want to go to the Rebbe in Yechidus.

When he came to New York, he was admitted into Yechidus, when he asked the Rebbe if he would accept him as his Chassid, the Rebbe replied ”Partner, yes, Chassid, no

“When a soldier is the battlefield, it is forbidden for him to think about himself and his family, I want you to be a true soldier.

When he exited the Rebbe’s room, he had felt completely healed, he sent a telegram to his family and to rabbi Rabinowitz from South Africa, informing them of the good news ”there is a god in Israel“

They (Rabbi’s Rosen and Spektor) then Farbrengen with the Bochurim and told them about the great miracle which had occurred, how the Rebbe had removed his illness, he then wrote a letter to his brother in law, rabbi Weingarten about the Yechidus and the miracle.

Next Sunday, rabbi Rosen entered the Rebbe’s room again, in order to give farewell to the Rebbe, he then asked the Rebbe again if he can be accepted as a Chassid to which the Rebbe replied ”Now you may“ the Rebbe explained why he had postponed this answer until that day ”an infant must wait a week until he receives a Bris, you had to wait a Shabbos and participate in a Farbrengen“ when rabbi Rosen asked if he should publicize this miracle, the Rebbe replied ”the first Luchos were given with much commotion and noise, they broke shortly thereafter. Noise is not good here, it is not a good idea to tell others” rabbi Rosen said that he had already publicized this miracle, and the Rebbe expressed discontent over hearing this. Rabbi Rosen realized that he had done something wrong, and had asked what he can do to reconcile his actions, the Rebbe did not answer. He asked me [Rabbi Sudak] afterwards what he should do, so I told him that he should, at least, keep quiet from now on, which is what he did.

We began learning Chassidus. He did not receive any more blood transfusions, and his life continued normally, he started to grow a beard and was very Mehader in Mitzvos, and he also changed his school’s curriculum and regulations, according to the Rebbe’s standards.

But then something happened, Rabbi Rabinowitz from South Africa mentioned this miracle in a letter which he wrote to a local paper, this troubled rabbi Rosen very much, and he feared that this would have negative consequences. In that time, we started looking for funding for the new Lubavitch centre. Rabbi Rosen acquired 100,000 L (from a loan which was owed to him), to which some of it was to go to the centre, he asked the Rebbe what to do with the rest. He had decided that he would not write to the Rebbe without immersing in the Mikvah, after he immersed, he caught a cold, and had a fever of 40C, and also was having problems with his kidneys. He requested me to inquire about the money, and also asked me to play tapes of Farbrengen’s. He was already close to his last breaths, but this is what concerned him. Shortly after, he retuned his soul to its maker.