On Parshas Shmini in the year 5729/1969, our Rebbe related that a recent miracle occurred from the Previous Rebbe. Our Rebbe said, "Even though I was involved, I am not embarrassed to relate the miracle that happened."
In that year, both the Republicans and Democrats in New York City agreed to legislation placing Crown Heights into a much larger voting district. As a result, the Crown Heights community would have virtually no say in how government funds would be apportioned. A consequence would be that Jewish schools would lose funding.
When the Rebbe learned about it, he told the Chassidim to work to nullify the legislation because it was unjust and furthermore, it was unconstitutional! To that end, the Rebbe helped gather funds to fight the legislation.
The Rebbe was told that once both parties agreed to this type of legislation, there was no possibility of nullifying it. The Rebbe responded that nevertheless, it is something that should be attempted. "We will proceed with kabbolas ol—out of determination and duty without regard to what our intellect tells us is impossible". The Rebbe acknowledged that according to reason there was no chance of success.
On the day of the decision, the person who was chosen to appeal to the city council on behalf of Crown Heights was late [in an aside, the Rebbe remarked "as is usual with Jews"] and was not allowed to make his case. However, a revealed miracle occurred—a group from another neighborhood facing the same gerrymander had already submitted a formal protest. In any case, the motion was defeated by the Council.
When the legislation was reviewed some time later, the same representative of the Rebbe was tasked to bring the case for appeal, and, again, he was late!
This time, the door to the courtroom was barred. Astoundingly another miracle occurred and the door was opened for someone else and the Rebbe's man was able to enter.
Nevertheless, the effort did not succeed and the political plan was not defeated, although "watered down" a bit.
Afterward, the Rebbe noticed that the person involved with this effort had not come to the Rebbe. When the Rebbe asked why he was told that the Chassid was embarrassed because he had failed in his mission for the Rebbe who was directing him through the power of the previous Rebbe. Moreover, he had used up quite a large amount of money in his failing effort.
For the next seven or eight months, the situation remained the same. But about a week before the Rebbe told this story in public, he received word that the Supreme Court in Washington D.C had nullified the onerous plan completely!
This, the Rebbe said, was a revealed miracle from the Previous Rebbe through the Rebbe's shluchim. For seven or eight months, no one had worked to oppose the legislation, both political parties had agreed to it, and legal efforts to repeal it had been tried and denied by the court. In Jewish law, once an appeal is denied it is final. So, too, in this case, the legislation was "a done deal." Furthermore, it was not an issue that the Supreme Court could have been expected to address.
Commenting on the miraculous quality of the outcome, the Rebbe said, "This is an event that happened last week not a story from our grandfathers!"
The lesson is that even if according to nature a thing is impossible to achieve, through stubbornness and determination to do the right thing, we are given success from Above.
