(By Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
****** The Rebbe of Skulen saves his chosid miraculously from being kidnapped.******
The heilige Skulener Rebbe, Reb Eliezer Zusia Portugal, author of the Sefer Noam Eliezer, was revered by all. He was born on the 1st day of Cheshvan 5659, Skulen, Moldova, and was niftar 29 of Av 5742 at the age of 83. A new chapter in Rebbe Eliezer Zusia's life opened after the war when he became the father of hundreds of war orphans, even formally adopting scores of them. He is known as the father of orphans. He had one son, Reb Yisrael Avrohom, who was his successor. He passed away on Adar II 5779. Both are buried in Monsey Ny, near the Ribnitzer Rebbe. They were close friends. The Rebbe settled in Bucharest, where he adopted even more children. In his will, Rebbe Eliezer Zusia would ask that his "children" show their appreciation by remaining loyal to Judaism and studying Torah at every possible moment. He had connections all over the world and was well respected.
One of his close Chassidim R’ Shlomo, lived in Mexico and was a very wealthy man who supported the Rebbe and was a frequent visitor to the Rebbe in Brooklyn, NY. One day the Rebbe called R’ Shlomo on the telephone, and R’ Shlomo thought that the Rebbe needed money for an important tzedaka. However, the Rebbe didn’t mention anything about money. The Rebbe called to find out how his young son was learning. R’ Shlomo answered that he was learning very well, and he undertook to learn Mishnayos Sukka on his own, and in two weeks he will be making a siyum. The Rebbe was very glad to hear this. Then the Rebbe said, “I want you to promise your son a present after he finishes the Mishnayos and passes the test”. R’ Shlomo asked the Rebbe “What should I buy him”? The Rebbe answered: Whatever he asks for, you should buy it for him, even if you disagree with that request. The Rebbe concluded with an interesting command: Whatever he asks for would be a benefit for him and for you!” R’ Shlomo was shocked to hear the stern words of the Rebbe, but being a Chosid, he undertook to follow the words of the Rebbe to a tee.
Two weeks later, the young boy finished the Mishnayos, and the Rav tested him and was pleased at the fluency the boy showed. R’ Shlomo asked the boy “What should I buy you for your great achievement”? The boy answered, “I want you to buy for me a very long, heavy iron chain with a few strong locks!” This was very strange to R’ Shlomo, but the words of the Rebbe, “Whatever he asks for would be a benefit for him and for you,” were enough to prod him to agree. The boy received his present and was busy playing with the chain, locking the chain to different places, and having fun. Even though R’ Shlomo wasn’t thrilled at this game,
Lo and behold, a few days later, a fancy car with tinted windows stopped in front of the home of R’ Shlomo, and out came two hooded thugs who came to kidnap R’ Shlomo and demand ransom money. They waited at the door to tackle R’ Shlomo and carry him to their car. In the meantime, the young boy noticed a fancy car waiting outside, decided to have some fun, and began to chain the car to an electric pole, and he did a good job. Finally, when R’ Shlomo walked out of his house to go daven Mincha and Maariv, he was greeted by the thugs, and he understood that he stood no chance against them, so he was carried into the car.
But when the car tried to go, they couldn’t move too far as the car was chained to the pole. The thugs went out of the car to check what had happened, and in a split second, R’ Shlomo quickly ran out of the car and screamed for help, and neighbors came running. The thugs now feared for their lives and decided to drive off, thus ripping the chain off the pole. They gave gas, and the car thrust forward. The chain cracked, and they were on the way with the long chain hanging from the car.
The police came very soon and were told what happened, and the car model was given to them, as well as that a long chain was dragging from the car. It was an interesting site. It didn’t take too long, and the car was spotted on the highway, and the thugs were apprehended and arrested. R.' Shlomo heard the news and thanked Hashem.
R’ Shlomo regained his composure and realized that the Rebbe foresaw all this and put it into the mind of the boy to ask for the chain and locks. These words, “Whatever he asks for would be a benefit for him and for you,” are well understood now.
The next day, R’ Shlomo traveled to New York to meet the Rebbe and thank him for saving his life. The Rebbe listened with great intensity and ordered R’ to recite the Gomel and to make a Seudas Hodaah. Then the Rebbe offered to cheer up R’ Shlomo and asked, "Where is the chain and lock that you bought for your son”? R.' Shlomo shrugged his shoulders. The Rebbe smiled cordially and said, You owe your son a present. When you return home, ask your son what he would like, and replace the present.
