How Lubavitchers Inspired the Vizhnitzer Rebbe in 1994

I remember the Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s travels to Ukraine in the month of Av, 1994. Together with 700 of his Chassidim, he prayed at the gravesites of many Tzadikim buried in the region, when he arrived in Berdichev a few days before Tisha B’av.

I was on Merkos Shlichus at the time in western Ukraine, and among our activities with the local Jewish communities in places like Berdichev and Zhitomir, we arranged Bris Milahs for many fellow Jews who did not have the opportunity to perform one under communism.

Knowing that he would be present that day in Berdichev, we scheduled a 23-year-old’s Bris Milah for that day. When they finished davening shachris, we went over to the Vizhnitzer Rebbe and asked if he would like to accept the honor of being Sandek.

When he answered in the affirmative, we completed the arrangements, and performed the Bris (see photos below). The Vizhnitzer was filled with emotion – his lips were moving during the whole ceremony, and afterwards the young man was named Moshe in his honor. The Vizhnitzer gave the young man a gift of $50 (At the time a yearly Ukrainian salary).

Afterwards, the Vizhnitzer spoke with us – myself and Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, who had just arrived in the area on shlichus – in yechidus for about half an hour about our Shlichus and activities in the region. He was especially praiseworthy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose Shloshim was only a few days before, that even after his passing his Shluchim were continuing their work stronger than ever – even in a far flung place like Berdichev.

At one interesting point in the conversation, he asked me why the young man agreed to do the Bris. I answered that it’s because of his ‘Pintele Yid’! He was very inspired by this, and repeated those words over and over.

I found out later that at his Tisch on that Shabbos following the visit to Berdichev he spoke in length about the Lubavitcher Rebbe and his Shluchim.

May his memory be blessed.

You can see Reb Shlomo Wilhem in the back (wearing Glasses). Reb Shlomo is the head Shliach of Western Ukraine, and will soon be marking 18 years on Shlichus in Zhitomir.

That is me looking at the camera.