Dear Alumni Sheyichyu!
Sholom U’Brocho!
Mazel Tov to Chaim Simon on the occasion of his engagement. May he use out the special period of Yokor Mikol yokor to its’ utmost! Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Mrs. Srully Lederman on the birth of their son. Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Pellin on the birth of their daughter. Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Mrs. Bentche Korf on the birth of their daughter. May they bring them up lTOveCHuMAA”T mitoch harchovo, and to be true chayolim/os! (If anyone is aware of any mazeltov’s that I omitted please let me know).
Thank you as always for the feedback, it is much appreciated.
This past Shabbos, the Yeshiva hosted a sheva brochos for the daughter of Rabbi Yossi Schochet, who married Zevi Geisinski. In honour of the simcha, I am sharing below the remarkable story that took place this year with Rabbi Yossi Geisinski, father of the chosson. Although the story is already מפורסם בכל העולמות, it is still worthwhile for us to recount it and learn from it:
It was almost the third night of Chanuka of this year. The sun would be setting soon and R’ Geisinsky, shliach of the Rebbe to Great Neck, was on his way to the public menorah lighting. On the way, he did not feel well and he decided to pass by his house to get a drink of water. He arrived home and felt overcome by weakness. He collapsed on the floor, unconscious. His nine year old son found his father unconscious and bloody.
He quickly shouted for his mother who was in another part of the house and immediately called for an ambulance. Mrs. Geisinsky also called for help. When the paramedics arrived, all it took was one look for them to say, “Heart attack.”
In the ambulance, they tried to revive the shliach, to no avail. There was no pulse, no reaction. The paramedics did all they could but were unsuccessful. R’ Geisinsky had no pulse for over forty minutes! An eternity in the medical world.
The resuscitation efforts continued in the emergency room. Everything was tried as the family members stood around and prayed that they wouldn’t be bereft of their beloved patriarch. The doctors nearly pulled the sheet over his body, but then one of the doctors noticed faint signs of life. From that point on, despair turned to hope. Herculean efforts continued to be made to bring the rabbi back to life.
Among the doctors was a rofei-yedid (doctor who was also a friend) who knew R’ Geisinsky personally. He was the one who insisted that they continue the resuscitation efforts. After the miraculous recovery, the doctor went to visit him and said that usually, after thirty minutes of trying, if there is no pulse, they stop. Thirty minutes without sufficient oxygen to the brain is definitely reason enough to give up. “From a medical standpoint, this is death.” Nevertheless, he insisted that they keep trying, saying that he knew the rabbi personally and would find it so difficult to tell the family the bad news.
As soon as they saw the first signs of a pulse, a number of medical interventions were done. But the doctors told the worried family, “We did what we could; from here-on-in, only prayers will help you. Pray, pray hard. At least 72 hours must pass before we know whether we were successful.”
R’ Geisinsky was attached to many beeping machines. The doctors and the family knew that he was hovering between heaven and earth. They just didn’t know which one he was closer to.
From the third night of Chanuka until the fifth of Teves, the shliach was in a coma. Then he opened his eyes. The family was ecstatic. From that point on, his condition swiftly improved. According to the shliach, the main improvements in his condition took place during the Shabbasos after his hospitalization. He has no way of explaining this.
Only three weeks later, he was released to his home. The doctors consider him an unprecedented medical miracle.
It is hard to describe the tremendous excitement felt in the community upon his return to shul for the first time, on Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Shvat. The Hallel recited in shul on that day (being Rosh Chodesh) was a Hallel like none other.
After the reading of the Torah, in which the shliach was honored with the aliya of Maftir and he recited the HaGomel blessing, he addressed the packed congregation. It wasn’t easy for him, for he was still weak, but this is what he told them:
His Heavenly Experience and the Rebbe's Intervention
“After I fell unconscious, I felt myself rising to the supernal worlds, just like I’ve heard has happened to other people in my condition. My father, of blessed memory, and other deceased family members came to greet me.
“At a certain point, I was greeted by one who introduced himself as the Malach Michoel. He took me to the chambers of various tzaddikim. I saw that each tzaddik sat in his own chamber and taught Torah.
“I asked the Angel to take me to the chambers of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe. He agreed and I stood facing R’ Yisroel Baal Shem Tov and then the Alter Rebbe.
“The Angel then said to me, ‘We must return to the heavenly court where your trial is taking place. They have not yet made a decision.’ The Angel explained that when they don’t arrive at a clear decision, they leave a little bit of life-force within the body so that outright resurrection of the dead won’t be necessary if they (the heavenly court) decide to allow the person to stay alive.
“We went to the heavenly court where I saw the members of the court discussing my case. One said this and another said that. They turned to me and asked me what I had to say. Should you return down to the world or remain here? Trembling, I responded, ‘I am a Chassid, a Chassid of the Rebbe. Whatever he says, I’ll accept.’
“They said, ‘If so, let the Lubavitcher Rebbe come and state his opinion about the fate of Yosef Yitzchok ben Chaya Luba.’ I stood there, frightened, waiting for my sentence.
“Then I saw the Rebbe appear, in all his glory, with all those present according him the greatest honor. The Rebbe said, ‘I am working so that Moshiach comes and brings the complete Geula. I sent my shluchim all over the world so they will finish the job. I need my Chassidim at their posts. So, Yosef Yitzchok ben Chaya Luba needs to return to life in a physical body to complete his work.’
“It was then that I heard the announcement that Yosef Yitzchok ben Chaya Luba – to life. I awoke from my coma. Apparently, everything I saw took place during the 72 hours that I was unconscious.”
Our Sole Reason for Existence: Bringing Moshiach
I don’t know if there is any need for commentary on this story, but one thing is important to point out: לא ללמד על עצמו יצא אלא ללמד על הכלל כולו יצא! The story happened with a specific shliach (and may the Eibishter grant that he continue to enjoy good health, in increased measures ט"לאויוש), but is undoubtedly a message to every shliach and every chosid. For, is not every one of us present in this world for the same sole reason?
We should not have to experience any health crisis’ ch”v, nor have any out-of-body visions; it should be enough for us to take to heart that the Rebbe said regarding one person. Any neshomo could have been in the supernal worlds, basking in their G-dly lights, rather than be imprisoned in this shell of flesh and bones.
