JEM Films Memories and Miracles
“Good afternoon. I’m calling about your special encounters with the Lubavitcher Rebbe.” “Who are you again?” “My name is Mendy and I am calling from JEM.” “Oh.”
Sign at Beis Betzalel in Pico while interview was in progress.
Thus began the journey Westward to Southern California. Our goal: to unearth memories and miracles, advice and inspiration. Our team at the My Encounter with the Rebbe project just concluded their third journey in the past six months. Yechiel Cagen, Mendy Alevsky, Yankee Teitelbaum and Eliyahu Benhiyoun were the brave troopers who made the ten day marathon –from 8:30AM to 10PM every day – during which over forty people were interviewed.
Along the roads of Los Angeles and the mountains of the Valley a very tired but determined interviewer called into a Google voicebox noting some memorable discoveries from each day’s interviews. Here are some of his notes:
A twenty-some year-old man turned to the Rebbe for assistance in realizing his dream to open the first Yeshiva in Mexico. “This was the early 1950’s. Who elsecould I turn to who’d be open to such an idea?”
A young woman related how the Rebbe helped her find closure after her father’s passing. She was 16 years old in 1972 and threatening God with rebellion. She was also having dreams that disturbed her sleep and tormented her soul. The Rebbe looked deep in her eyes – “straight to the back of my head,” in her words – and gave her soul the peace it sorely needed. Since then, no more tormenting dreams. Now she’s a mother of a beautiful family of fine Jewish children.
We interviewed another woman who was told six months after her marriage, “We’re sorry ma’am, your womb is infertile. There’s nothing we can do.” Devastated and sobbing in the sterile hallways of the doctor’s clinic, she looked into the eyes of her young husband, searching for some hope. They were shining. He knew just the address. He was not a Lubavitcher but the Rebbe had helped them once before. A short while later at 3 o’clock AM, they were told by a specialist of a different kind, “don’t worry, God will help you.” And He did. Many years later and 15 children later that declaration of gloom is long forgotten. But wait, her story isn’t over! Years later in a different city, she pays a visit to a different doctor. After examining her, the doctor addresses her in a sympathetic tone, “Ma’am, you must be very unhappy.” Bewildered, she asks him, “Why?” “Well,” he tells her, “your womb is sterile!”
Dr. Dauer shows us picture of when he said L'chaim to the Rebbe in the 1970s.
Forty-two people interviewed and over 50 hours of footage later, the ‘My Encounter with the Rebbe’ team is riding on toward its next project. Our determination to keep these exciting encounters from lying dormant – or worse, being lost – fuels our work to unearth these timeless pearls of inspiration. Learn more about the project at: www.1000Encounters.com
Thank you so much to all the individuals in Los Angeles who worked tirelessly to make this trip a success!
Also, a big thank you to Ben and Rochel Federman for generously sponsoring a majority of the trip!
A few highlights:
Day 1:
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Blauner told the inside story of the relationship between the Rebbe and the ‘Zaydy of the Valley’ (Mr. JerryBlauner)
Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon talked about the directives he received as a new emissary to the Valley, namely one he lives every day with: “La’avodB’meretz, uBitachonChazak!” (Work with vigor and strong faith!”)
Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon talks about the directives he received from the Rebbe through the years.
Interviewed 5 individuals from the Valley about the blessings they received from the Rebbe.
Car breaks down at 8:30pm on the way home!
Day 2:
Interview with Rabbis Mordy Einbinder and Rabbi Moshe Weiss. They both spoke about the wonderful special attention they received from the Rebbe as youngsters (and of course much much more).
Mr. Jay Abrams spoke about the Rebbe’s blessings to his wife, which helped her get through a very difficult pregnancy.
Day 3:
Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz spoke about his early years as yeshiva student, and how the Rebbe remembered so many of the small details.
Mrs. Debbie Goldenberg spoke about the Rebbe’s advice to her when she was having dreams of her late father.
Mr. Moshe Chayempour talked about his role in the Rebbe’s involvement of helping thousands of young Iranian Jews escape.
Day 4:
Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold talks about his first time in 770 in the 1940s.
Rabbi Pinchos Gruman spoke about his days growing up in Crown Heights in the 1950s, and some of the interesting conversations he had with the Rebbe.
Rabbi Naftali Estulin talks about growing up as a Lubavitcher chosid behind the Iron Curtain.
Day 5:
My Encounter presentation for the Cheder Menachem Boys School. A behind-the-scenes look into the My Encounter project – and the boys got to interview Rabbi Zalman Schmukler!
The boys at Cheder Menachem interviewing Rabbi Zalman Schmukler.
Mr. Marvin Goldsmith spoke about presenting a key to the Chabad House of California to the Rebbe in the 1970s.
Day 6:
Dr. Alan Dauer discussed a letter he received from the Rebbe about balancing his responsibilities in the medical profession and the responsibilities of a Lubavitcher chosid.
Mr. David Stauber talked about the philosophical questions he posed to the Rebbe when first meeting him in Yechidus.
Mrs. Channa Arnold showed us a beautiful letter she received from the Rebbe about the importance of wearing a sheitel (wig).
Mr. ‘Tuli’ Deutsch gave us fascinating insight into his 2 private audiences he had with the Rebbe.
Day 7:
Rabbi Chaim Citron talked about how the Rebbe offered to pay for his college tuition after studying in 770.
Rabbi Dovid Misholuvin spoke about the self-sacrifice the Lubavitcher Chassidim in Russia went through behind the Iron Curtain.
Mrs. Sterna Citron (a cousin of the Rebbe) spoke about her memories of the Rebbetzins.
Day 8:
My Encounter presentation for Beis Rebbegirls’ school. The girls got a behind-the-scenes look into the My Encounter project and they interviewed Mrs. Raizy Schmukler!
The girls at Beis Rebbe interview Mrs. Raizy Schmukler.
Rabbi Meshulam Weiss spoke about the many directives he received from the Rebbe.
Day 9:
Mr. Yisroel Horowitz spokeabout his meeting with the PreviousRebbe and life in Crown Heights in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Dr. Meir Abhesera, “the Rebbe’s whistler” spoke about his unique conversations with the Rebbe.
Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Lovitch spoke about the Rebbe’s directive to drink red wine for Shabbos Kiddush and Havdalah, which miraculously restored his eyesight and saved his career.
