Monthly Archives: January 2011

We are winding down our trip in Montreal. Below are pictures of interviews we conducted with Mr. Arnold Dalfen, Mrs. Giniwish and Rabbi Zushe Silberstein. Tomorrow is our last day in Montreal…

Mrs. Gniwisch speaks about the Rebbe's involvement in the "The Jewish Institute for Brides and Grooms".

Mr. Dalfen spoke about his relationship he and his family enjoyed with both the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe for close to 70 years! One story that sticks out is that Mr. and Mrs. Dalfen couldn’t have children and they asked for a brocha from the Rebbe. The Rebbe told him to go to a certain doctor.

After going to the doctor, the doctor told the Dalfens that there was no hope and they couldn’t have any children. Rabbi Kramer (Arnold Dalfen’s Rabbi) told the Rebbe the doctor’s prognosis. The Rebbe responded, “Let the doctor do what he has to do and I’ll do what I have to do…” Sure enough, the Dalfen’s were blessed with a baby boy.

Mrs. Gniwisch speaks about the Rebbe’s involvement in the “The Jewish Institute for Brides and Grooms”. Mrs. Giniwisch, Mrs. Schwei and Mrs. Feigelstock were the ladies involved in the organization.

Rabbi Silberstein spoke about the many French groups that he brought to the Rebbe through the many years. amongst many other things.

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Day 7 of interviewing in Montreal brought us more fascinating material!

Here, Rabbi Moshe Feder points out to Mendy Alevsky who is who in a picture of bochurim in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Shanghai, China.

In the morning, we interviewed Rabbi Moshe Feder about his days as a Yeshiva student in the central Lubavitcher yeshiva in Otwock, Poland. He went into vivid detail how life was back then and how the students would be able to see the Previous Rebbe.

After the interview, Rabbi Feder then showed us his collection of pictures of the Previous Rebbe, as well as a few pictures he had of his days in Yeshiva. He pointed out to us who each person was and what they were like. Quite amazing to see what life was like back then!

Later in the evening, we trekked out to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Saltzburg. We got a bit of a scare when Mrs. Saltzburg told us about an hour before the interview that the heating wasn’t working and that it was 65 degrees inside the house. To my surprise, she told me “Don’t worry! We’ll get some space heaters and will turn on the fireplace and it will be fine!” When we got there, she told me that by divine providence right as we pulled up, the heating starting working again. Or her own words “You brought us the heat!”

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Late last night and all day yesterday, we interviewed our 19th through 22nd interview so far in Montreal. Below are some pictures of the interviews.

"I was sitting literally inside the fire, not close to it, or near it. Inside." Rabbi Minkowitz shows the jacket which melted on him, and recounts the Rebbe's blessings.

Mr. Murray Dalfen met with the Rebbe at "Dollars." The blessing by that meeting changed his life, because his business became very successful after that.

Mrs. Chana Sirota describes how her father was jailed by the communists for 15 years (!), and how the Rebbe's blessings helped them get out of Russia in 1972.

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Today, thanks to Rabbis Moshe New and Itchie Treitel, we had people from all different walks of life come and tell their stories in a studio we setup at the Montreal Torah Center (MTC).

Mr. Manis Sunnenshine talks about his first meeting the Rebbe in 1956.

BH, it went over very well, with people coming in throughout the day.

One story that sticks out is that in 1962, Professor Avrohom Teitelbaum came with his wife and sister-in-law from Montreal to NY via plane to spend time with Rebbe and to come to a Farbrengen.

After the Farbrengen, Teitelbaum had a yechidus with the Rebbe and he told the Rebbe that as a struggling professor, he feels that the money spent on the plane tickets could have been put to better use by giving it to Tzedakah. The Rebbe replied with a big smile and said that when you come to Farbrengens that will enable you to give even more Tzedakah.

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Several classes of Beis Rivkah in Montreal got to participate in a remarkable program on the Rebbe’s history.

As part of their tour to Montreal, Rabbi Yechiel Cagen, Director of the My Encounter with the Rebbe project and Senior Interviewer Rabbi Mendy Alevsky visited Beis Rivkah, conducted a seminar for the 7^th and 8^th grades.

At first, Rabbi Cagen gave the girls an overview of the My Encounter with the Rebbe project, its importance and its aims, showing them samples of the videotaped testimonies. The girls asked questions and got to learn about the opportunity they have to learn from those who had experiences with the Rebbe – Yechidusen, Shlichusen, and a multitude of other experiences.

Then the girls got a most exciting surprise! They learned that they would be witness to – and take part in – an interview on their own!

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Day Four was great, BH. Just catching up now to post yesterday’s interview. Busy Day!

We interviewed Rabbi Simcha Zirkind in the morning where he told us about his various Shlichusen in Tunisia. Then he went on to speak about the many Montrealers he brought to the Rebbe for dollars and Machne Yisroel Development fund. In the late afternoon, we got teh rare oppurtunity of hearing stories about the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana.

Mendy Alevsky getting a laugh with Mrs. Jurkowicz.

In the late afternoon, we got the rare opportunity of hearing stories about the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana. In the interview with Mrs. Jurkowicz, she told us about her time she spent with Rebbetzin Chana in Poking, Germany. As a young girl, she used to help Rebbetzin Chana in different things she needed. She mentioned that one time, while helping Rebbetzin Chana pack her bags, she got to see the Tzemach Tzedek’s gartel. She also described the loving personality of Rebbetzin Chana .

Much more there, but gotta run and get ready for Shabbos!

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Day three was BH great!

Just about to start interview with Mr. Yankel Abramczk.

In the early morning (8 am), we interviewed Mr. Yankel Abramczk. He spoke about how the Rebbe gave a special brocha to his young son, when the doctors had given up hope on him. Abramczk also related how once he and HaRav Yosef Blumenthal were in yechidus (private audience) with the Re…bbe where he remembers that the Rebbe and HaRav Blumenthal held a deep discussion in learning ‘throwing’ various maare mekomos (sources) at each other. He was amazed!

In the afternoon, we were off to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rosler. Mr. Rosler spoke about the kiruvim (special attention) the Rebbe gave to him and pointed out to a letter that the Rebbe sent him congratulating him on growing a beard and putting on Rabbenu Tam’s tefillin. Normally, the Rebbe would write to Rosler in Yiddish, but this letter the Rebbe told Rosler that he davka wrote in English, so he could show it to his friends and be an influence on them. Mr. Rosler let us scan the letter and you can see it in the photo album.

Mendy Alevsky interviewing Mr. Rosler.

Mrs. Rosler describes how she was always nervous when going into to yechidus

with the Rebbe and how the Rebbe made her so comfortable and got her to speak openly about the concerns that were bothering her. Once her brother took ill and the Rebbe took an active interest telling her the exact medical advice the doctor had giver her, describing the medical issues involved.

That’s it for now…

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On Monday, the My Encounter with the Rebbe interview team arrived in Montreal and has already captured the testimony of 5 individuals. The rigorous interview schedule includes 25 interviews to be conducted by two experienced interviewers over a 10-day period.

Most of the interviews will be conducted in private homes.  But in a first of its kind experiment, on Sunday, January 23rd, the camera crew will set up a studio at the Montreal Torah Center. People from across the community are invited to stop in throughout the day to retell shorter experiences and encounters with the Rebbe.

If you or someone you know has an interesting story about the Rebbe, please email the My Encounter team at: interviews@jemedia.org or call 347.450.1770.

At the end of the week, the My Encounter team plans on giving behind-the-scenes presentations to the girls of Bais Rivkah and to the boys of the Cheder. Details to follow!

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Today the My Encounter team interviewed four people in Montreal. Hectic Day!

Rabbi & Mrs. Sapochkinsky talked about some of their early memories of the Frierdiker (Previous Lubavitcher) Rebbe in New York and of Rabbi Itche Meir Gurary spoke …about the special attention the Rebbe gave him as a young Yeshiva student in Crown Heights.

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The My Encounter with Rebbe team is still in Montreal, with 25 interviews scheduled between now and January

26th. This is our first interview with Rav Meir Plotkin. We hope to update you daily on the news of our road trip!

Our first interview in Montreal with Rabbi Mayer Plotkin.

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