Last Moments... Final Words...

The hillulo-yahrtzeit of the saintly sage and Kabbalist Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, [the Rebbe’s father,] is on 20 Menachem Av 5704 (1944). He passed away in exile in the city of Alma Atta, Kazakhstan.

....He was very ill in the weeks before his histalkus. He davened daily in bed and he was assisted in donning his tefillin.

Three days before his histalkus, due to his physical deterioration, the straps of the tefillin shel rosh had to be modified. He asked that I summon R. Yaakov Yosef [Raskin] to do this.

The last morning, it was obvious that his situation had worsened. He did not stop murmuring and whispering visibly; his lips were moving constantly. He was suffering terribly. . . several times he asked me to change his lying position, or to sit him up . . . This I did — there was nothing too difficult for me to do for him!

In a time such as this, one reveals super-natural inner strength.

There were now many friends and followers in our house. They did everything possible to help in any way they could. . .

From the Memoirs of Rebbetzin Chanah (written 5708)

. . .During that time he suddenly awoke, opened his eyes, and asked for water for netilas yodaim (ritual hand-washing). When this was done, he said: Men darf zich ariberchapen af yenner zeit . . . ([I] have to go over to ‘‘that side’’) . . . These were his last words on Tuesday night (the eve of 20 Menachem Av).

The next day, Wednesday 20th Av, his situation worsened critically. Reb Hirshel Rabinowitz o.b.m. [whose dedication and loyalty to HaRav Levi Yitzchok was legendary, together with his brother Reb Mendel Rabinowitz, o.b.m.] was one of those standing vigil and attending HaRav Levi Yitzchok at his bedside. When he bent over to hear what HaRav Levi Yitzchok was murmuring, he heard fragments of phrases: R. Levi Yitzchok said with a sigh: — — ve’Ikvosecha lo noi’do’u (‘‘Your footsteps were unknown’’) (Tehillim 77:20) — — Ay! Ikvos Meshicha — — Ikvos Meshicha

(Toldos Levi Yitzchok)