Behind the Letter

Behind the letter

In the above letter to Mr. Chaim Meir Friedland there is mention of a unique relationship the Rebbe had with his father-in-law.

Mr. Benjamin Horwitz was a middle-aged businessman and industrialist living in Crown Heights at the time the Rebbe Rayatz moved there. There was a lot of talk among the local Jews about the Rebbe Rayatz bringing orthodoxy to the secular inclined Crown Heights; Mr. Horowitz decided to go to 770 and discover it by himself.

Mr. Horwitz returned home greatly inspired by Lubavitch and wished to become more involved in it. ‘‘This is the type of Judaism I want,’’ he told his family. Despite his age he began learning Torah and Yiddishkeit, thus becoming closer to Judaism and its precepts. He studied with Rabbi Meir Greenberg and the Rebbe (then called the Ramash), this can be seen also by the correspondences between the Rebbe and Mr. Horowitz in the summer of 5708.

In 1947, his daughter, Rivkah (Rhoda), got married to Chaim Meir (Everett) Friedland. Mr. Horwitz dedicated some Kehot publications in their honor. Rhoda, having a degree in English and Journalism, volunteered as a writer for the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education, a branch of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, which was directed by Rabbi JJ Hecht.

Tragically, Mr. Horowitz passed less than two months short of Yud Shevat, 5710 — the day the Rebbe Rayatz passed away — at the young age of 55.

On Thursday, two days before Shabbos Yud Shevat, Rabbi JJ Hecht took Mrs. Rhoda and her husband for an audience with the Rebbe Rayatz. Rabbi Hecht told the Rebbe that they have been married for a number of years and have not been blessed with children. The Rebbe Rayatz asked Rabbi Hecht if they had been to doctors. Rabbi Hecht replied that they did go to doctors, however, the doctors say she will be unable to have children. The Rebbe Rayatz smiled and said they'll have children, healthy children.

All the doctors Mrs. Rhoda visited, told her that it is of vital necessity to have an operation that will permanently prevent pregnancy. ‘‘You are putting yourself in danger if you do not operate,’’ they told her.

Mrs. Friedland visited the Rebbe to help her in her conundrum. The Rebbe assured her that the blessing of the Rebbe Rayatz is certainly going to be fulfilled and that she should visit doctors, the most prominent doctors, and should not have the operation.

At one point the Rebbe suggested that she visit the Rebbetzin’s doctor. Upon returning from that doctor, she went up to 770 to the Rebbe's office — at that time some visitors were able to see the Rebbe without an appointment — and told her that this doctor also speaks of the operation in very strong terms. While she was still with the Rebbe, the phone in the office rang and the Rebbe picked up. It was the doctor; she called to explain the danger to the Rebbe. The Rebbe put down the phone and told her ‘‘Go see another doctor.’’

The next doctor she visited didn't even ask her for her consent and booked a surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital. ‘‘Don't tell me about miracles or Rabbi's, you need this operation, and you are getting it,’’ the doctor explained.

Mrs. Friedland came by the Rebbe to thank him for all the encouragement he gave her and to inform him of the upcoming operation. The Rebbe asked her to do him a favor. ‘‘What is it?’’ she asked. ‘‘Please just visit one more doctor,’’ the Rebbe said.

So she did. Her cousin had just given birth and was in touch with a specialist in the field; Mrs. Rhoda visited this doctor.

‘‘I see where the other doctors are coming from,’’ this doctor told her, ‘‘I see why they insist on the operation. However, I suppose you go home and rest up for the next while. I suppose you may be pregnant.’’

The doctor had a lab on premises and took a test which indicated that she was in fact pregnant. There were a few complications during the pregnancy which she overcame. Presented here, for the first time, is a letter of the Rebbe on the birth of her first child which was named after her father, Binyamin Mendel:

By the Grace of G-d
5th of Iyar, 5712
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mr. and Mrs. E. Friedland
919 Park Place
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I was pleased to hear that the Bris of your son Benjamin Mendel took place in good order.

I send you herewith my blessing that "as he entered into the Covenant of our Father Abraham, so shall he enter to a life of Torah, Chuppah and Good Deeds," and that you raise him in joy and have lots of Nachas from him.

With blessing,

[Signature: M. Schneerson]