Reb Mordechai (Mottel) Dubin grew up and lived in Riga, Latvia. His father, Reb Zalmen Ber, was a Lubavitcher chossid, and when Reb Mordechai was a young boy, he took him to yechidus with the Rebbe Rashab. As a young man Reb Mottel was involved with helping others in an extraordinary manner and eventually assumed the position of Rosh Hakohol of Riga. His house and office were always filled with throngs of people seeking his help and together with his secretaries, he would tend to each ones needs. Reb Mordechai also served as a member of the Latvian parliament, which he ultimately used to pressure the Russian government to free the Frierdiker Rebbe from prison and allow him to leave Russia with his family and library. The Frierdike Rebbe referred to Reb Mottel as the “sar hachesed” (Minister of Kindness) for his outstanding kindness to others.
Once when Reb Mordechai was in shul he realized that someone had walked off with his coat. His first reaction was that probably the man must have been really cold and did not have the means to purchase himself a coat. “Let him wear it in good health and I will buy another one.” The broad smile on his face testified that the stolen coat did not bother him and he was happy knowing that someone would be warmer from it.
During World War II, the Russians conquered Riga and soon thereafter arrested Reb Mottel. Reb Mottel was held in jail in Saratov, until one evening he was unexpectedly released. Having nowhere to go, he walked to the nearby city of Kobishov, hoping to find a home with a mezuzah that might take him in. After many hours, a tired, hungry and sick Reb Mordechai finally arrived in Kobishov and found a house with a mezuzah. After knocking on the door for a while, the door opened a crack but was immediately shut closed. Reb Mordechai, still wearing his prisoner uniform judged him favorably, “who would risk taking in such a person?” But with no energy left to struggle to explain himself, Reb Mottel decided to lay down right there, and what will be, will be. He soon felt his end was near and starting saying viduy. Then, suddenly a thought entered his mind, “what will be tomorrow when the yid will find me dead on his doorstep!? He will feel terrible guilt for the rest of his life!” This thought gave him strength to knock again and this time he managed to convince the yid to take him in. Reb Mordechai would say “because of my ahavas yisroel my life was saved.”
