That was one story. Here’s the second: Recently, just before the summer, I was visited by a meshulach from Israel (I think the “meshulochim lists” give my address as a place where they’ll find someone willing to listen to their stories). After we concluded our “business”, he asked me if I had time for a story. I said “Sure!”, and he shared with me the following:
“I” (the meshulach began his narrative) “am from Eretz Yisroel, where I live in Meah She’arim (His name sounded like Alpern or Alpert). We are the real Meah She’arim brand, on Shabbos I wear the bekeshe with the gold embroidery. Needless to say, both I and my family were as distant as can be from Chabad. Of course, like any true Meah She’arim’nik, taking part in the Israeli elections was an absolute no-no, - out of the question.
“My parents had been married for a number of years without any children. They visited doctors and specialists, and tried many treatments. Finally, after nearly 10 years, they were blessed with twin boys, my twin brother and myself. After we were born, our parents continued various treatments, hoping for additional children, but to no avail. Years went by, without any further births.
In 5749, there was an historical election in Israel. This was the election in which, uncharacteristically, Lubavitch became involved (as did many other Chassidic groups). Without getting into details (those who remember, remember...) it was an election with much more at stake than the next prime minister. Much intense campaigning was done, and the Lubavitcher chassidim did this in their own way; - there were large posters scattered throughout Eretz Yisroel with pictures of the Rebbe, and a promise to whoever would vote for “gimmel” (the party which was being supported by chassidim (and all Torah-true Yidden)) of brochos in all areas of בני חיי ומזוני. (The meshulach even mentioned, specifically, seeing the picture in which the image of a child is visible in the Rebbe’s hand).
“Although, as mentioned, we had not even the slightest connection with Chabad, still, my mother was very strong in her emunas tzaddikim (and she was also friendly with a Lubavitcher woman who lived in Shikun Chabad). Thus, the strong desire of my parents for children prompted them, in light of the promise in the poster, to do – what for Meah She’arim was – the unthinkable, and to vote in the Israeli elections.
A year went by, and there were no apparent results. My mother visited her Lubavitcher friend, who helped her write a letter to the Rebbe with her complaint; - she had done her part, and she was awaiting the fulfillment of the Rebbe’s promise.
The answer of the Rebbe was not long in coming: "איך האב נישט צוגעזאגט", “I never promised” he stated, “but since she acted out of emunah, she will have a child”. Indeed, less than a year later, my younger brother was born (and at the time, my parents were no longer taking any treatments)!
(I asked the meshulach if he knew whether it was a verbal answer or a written answer, but he did not know this).
“And how did I come to learn of this” (my guest concluded)? “Once we came home from school, and were repeating the things that had been said in school, which consisted of some very unflattering remarks about Lubavitch and about the Lubavitcher Rebbe. My father overheard us, and he jumped up as if stung. He immediately sat us all down and exclaimed: “You’re speaking about the Lubavitcher Rebbe? I’ll tell you who...
