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Shluchim Surprised to Learn Cabbie’s Roots

Following a meeting with an alumnus, Rabbi Peretz and Chanie Chein – Shluchim to Brandeis University – got into a taxi cab and were surprised to learn of their driver’s roots.

by Rabbi Peretz and Chanie Chein via Facebook

Today we were walking up Amsterdam Ave. after having brunch with two [Brandeis] alumni. Soon we realized that we needed to get back to our apartment to prepare for an alumnus’ wedding this evening.

Shortly after getting ourselves seated in the back of a taxi, we noticed that the driver was an older, white woman. Unusual.
She soon asked where we were from. First we replied Boston and then added Brooklyn.

“Where in Brooklyn?” she asked. “Crown Heights?”

“Yes,” we replied.

“You are Lubavitchers. When I was a little girl I sat on the lap of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe (Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson who passed away in 1950).”

We were astounded; we did not see that coming.

She went on to share with us, “But in my home I have a portrait of only one Rabbi. In fact when using the title Rabbi, I only refer to him. When he arrived with his family after the war, from Europe, they stayed at our home. He was a grandfather to me, and I loved him.” His name was (Schneur) Zalman Schneerson (who was a cousin to the Previous Rebbe). Do you know him?”

“He is my great-grandfather,” Chanie replied.

ONLY in NYC.

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3 Comments

  • Ed Greenberg

    Many older people of all Jewish stripes lived in Crown Heights before the 70s and 80s. My family lived in CH since before 1930. My family made aliyah to Long Island :) back in 1965. My grandparents, to Rockaway in the early 70s.

    It would not be uncommon to meet people not of the Lubavich movement who hail from CH.

    As a youth I remember the many Lubavicher folks in the neighborhood. We lived on Montgomery Street next door to Rabbi Schragga, who was the founder of the Macabees patrol. My father worked on that patrol. We went to Young Israel of Eastern Parkway. Our shamas was Rabbi Majeski. His grandson is a Chabad Shaliach now in Florida.

    There was never any animosity that I knew of between the various kinds of Jews. Everybody said Good Shabbos, and was friendly.

    I’m very happy that the Rebbe pronounced that the Lubavich were staying in CH. I’ve visited within the past few years (for a Shiva call, unfortunately) and the neighborhood is still geshmackt.

    My best to all who live there.