After the Rebbe accepted the leadership in 1951, the Rashag (the Rebbe’s brother-in-law) travelled to Chicago and met with a generous supporter of the Chabad yeshiva. However, this time he only donated 18 dollars. The Rashag was troubled since the yeshiva needed the money and asked the man the reason.
“Rabbi Gurary, this is the donation I give to all institutions I respect. I gave you so much more previously because of my tremendous respect and reverence to your father-in-law, the Rebbe. I loved him and I would do anything to help him and his institution. Now that the illustrious Rebbe is not living with us, I gave you my regular donation.”
Knowing the yeshiva was desperate, the Rashag asked to make a call to New York to speak to his brother-in-law, the new Rebbe. The man obliged and the Rashag returned with the response: the Rebbe said it is the same neshama (soul) just in a different body.
The man was so overcome that he immediately gave his regular large donation and also did so in the coming years.
Adapted from Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon. Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran Mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their Chassidim. He can be contacted at [email protected]
