How is Angelo doing?

The following is an excerpt from the New book on the Rebbe “The Rebbe Inspiring a Generation”. It’s an unbelievable encounter that a Non Jewish girl from Brazil experienced with the Rebbe. to see more information on the Book see www.inspiringageneration.com.

Mel Wacks, Founder of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame, relates: “This is the Rebbe’s greatness: he loved, and he inspired others to love. He cared, and he inspired others to care. He had great faith that the Almighty would provide all the resources necessary to do His will, and he transmitted this faith to others.”

To the Rebbe, outreach was not limited to ignorant or alienated Jews. He spoke frequently in later years of the importance of affecting all of humanity. Not only were non-Jews important to the Rebbe, but they too have been helped by his special powers. Rabbi Shabsei Alpirin, Director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Brazil, visited the Rebbe in 1962 and never forgot the Rebbes special attention to a very sick young girl.

“In earlier years when I had first arrived in Brazil, the Chabad House would host a lecture every Tuesday evening. Often we had non-Jews attend.

One non-Jewish couple in particular appeared week after week. After one of the lectures I approached them and asked what had brought them there to explore Judaism. Why were they so interested?

The mother explained sadly, ”My daughter Angelo. She’s only eleven, but the doctors have found a tumor in her back. We hear that there is a great rabbi in Brooklyn who is known to give effective blessings.“

She shot me a glance, a certain fear in her eyes. ”We are anxious to meet this rabbi; perhaps he will give a blessing that will heal our daughter.“

I decided to write a letter to the Rebbe on their behalf and ask for a blessing for Angelo. Weeks went by after the letter had been sent to New York, and this couple still never missed a lecture. Finally, when I arrived at the Chabad House one week, I sensed a jubilant atmosphere.

Angelo’s parents ran up to me. ”We just went for a checkup, and the doctors were shocked to see that the entire growth had disappeared.“

Later that year I went to New York for 12 Tammuz, the date commemorating the birthday of the Previous Rebbe and his release from Russian prison. I was to leave for Brazil on a Monday and, it was hoped, meet with the Rebbe. On Sunday afternoon, I was told that Rabbi Leibel Groner, one of the Rebbe’s secretaries, was looking for me.

Rabbi Groner gave me a small note from the Rebbe that said: ”Ma shlom hayalda v’hahemshech la’ze? [How is the girl doing and what was the result?]“ I immediately chided myself for not having let the Rebbe know that Angelo had recovered.

I sat down by the table of Rabbi Eliyahu Quint, another secretary of the Rebbe, and wrote a letter detailing Angelo’s health. As I finished, I turned over the note that I had received from the Rebbe about the girl, and I realized that it was my very own handwriting on the other side! On the very same letter that I had first written to the Rebbe about the girl, the Rebbe had torn a piece of the letter and answered me. Amazingly, the Rebbe had kept my letter all that time, waiting to hear the fate of this non-Jewish Brazilian girl.

When I returned to Brazil, I spoke to Angelo’s mother and said that the ”great rabbi“ from Brooklyn had asked about her daughter. Curiously, she wanted to know what day the Rebbe had made this inquiry.

”Sunday,“ I said.

Her eyes widened. ”Now I know why the Rebbe waited until Sunday. This past Sunday was Angelo’s birthday!”