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> A Story for Yom Kippur
> On a normal Shabbat this space is usually reserved for a Torah > thought of the week. You'll forgive me for taking the liberty of > breaking with tradition to share a story I just heard a few days ago > from my colleague in Antwerp, Belgium, Rabbi Shabtai Slaviticki that > happened with anacquaintanceof his, a follower of the Belzer > movement, Mr. Feivel Schapiro.
> One of the fondest memories many have during the High Holidays with > the Rebbe, was the blessing he would give moments before Yom Kippur. > In transcripts and recordings of the early years one hears how the > Rebbe's voice chokes with emotion, as a father blessing his only > children in these sacred moments. When the Rebbe would give that > blessing he was talking as a father to his beloved children.
> Feivel Shapiro, a member of the Antwerp Jewish community, lost his > mother early on when she sadly passedaway after an illness when he > was still a young child, only a tender 12 years old, shortly before > his Bar Mitzvah. She orphaneda home full of children and he was the > youngest of the family. Under these harshest of circumstances he > grew up and as time passed on matured into adulthood becoming a > businessman and breadwinner in his own right.
> Some twenty fiveyears after his mother's tragic illness and passing, > Feivel's business pursuits found him in New York City. During one of > those hot NYC summer nights he came to 770 Eastern Parkway, the > Lubavitch World Headquarters, to pray Maariv, the evening service, > with the Rebbe's Minyan.
> After Maariv he noticed a commotion of people going in andout of the > hallway adjacent to the Rebbe's study and it was obvious there was > something going on. Asking around he found outthat this is a night > of Yechidus, personal audiences, with the Rebbe receiving peoplewho > have made appointments to come and hear the sage counsel of this > great Jewish leader.
> Feivel, a person who, perhaps by virtue of his orphaned childhood, > was not afraid of anything and alively kind of fellow, was hanging > around thefoyeroutside of the Rebbe'sroom, decides he is going to go > in and see the Rebbe even though he doesnot have an appointment. > Unassumingly he goes over to the person in the front of the lineand > says I need to go in before you, as I urgently need to leave soon, > and the person agrees.
> The door opens and the person from the previous Yechidus comes out > andFeivel walks into the Rebbe's room. The Rebbe's secretary is > shocked by hisChutzpah and follows himin, intending to shlep out > this brazen intruder. The Rebbe looksup and tells Feivel to sit > down. The door closes. Silence.
> Not having intended to be there, he did not bring along the > traditional note outlining the requests, questions or concerns one > would normally hand the Rebbe - in fact he had nothing to say at > all. For a few short, but very long, moments, the middle aged > Belgian businessman sat, opposite the Rebbe facing him, in complete > silence.
> Then, as if on cue, the Rebbe goes over to a drawer and begins > looking forsomething. The Rebbe returns to his desk with a letter > and begins to read from it, which as it turns out, is an actual > letter from Feivel's mother to the Rebbe from just over 25 years > earlier. In this letter she writes that she realizes that she is > going to pass away but I amnot concerned about myself. Rebbe, I am > only asking you to arouse Rachamim Rabim,extraordinarymercy, from G- > d on behalf of my children. She goes onwith a passionate plea that G- > d should protect and bless her children, soon to be left without a > mother in this world.
> Feivel is just in shock and overwhelmed. He was just a child when > his motherpassed away, his memories of her in his childhood were all > he really had to keep her with him, and was never aware that this > letter of hers to the Rebbe, on behalf of him and his siblings, even > existed. Twenty five years letter, her love and concern were still > alive there in the Rebbe's room.
> But the greatest revelation was yet to come. When asking the Rebbe > if he could perhaps take the letter, the Rebbe gently requested > otherwise. Before I go out to Kol Nidrei the Rebbe explained (at > which point he would first stop in the little Shul and give the > Yeshiva Bachurim the children's blessings), I read your mother's > letter.
> Perhaps, as the Rebbe began the prayers of Kol Nidrei, pleading with > our Father in Heaven that we be inscribed and sealed for a Sweet and > Good New Year, he chose to evoke the divine mercy of G-d to His > children with the selfless love of this mother to her children.
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