Dear Alumni Sheyichyu! Sholom U’Brocho! Mazel Tov to Shaya Shpielman on the occasion of his engagement. Mazel Tov to Motty Reices on the occasion of his engagement. Mazel Tov to Shmully Karp on the occasion of his engagement. Mazel Tov to Mendel Babayov on the occasion of his engagement. May they use out the special period of Yokor Mikol yokor to its’ utmost! Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Berri Spitezki on the birth of their daughter. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Dovber Chaiton on the birth of their daughter. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Mendel Greenwald on the birth of their daughter. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Dovid Leib Halon on the birth of their son. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Bezalel Brohon on the birth of their son. May they bring them up lTOveCHuMAA”T mitoch harchovo, and to be true chayolim/os! (If anyone is aware of any mazel tov’s that I omitted please let me know).
Thank you as always for the feedback, it is much appreciated. Sorry about my lapse, and many thanks to those who gave me the push to get back on track.
The following story was publicized in numerous venues over the years, with minor variations:
Rabbi Pinchas Teitz was a Rov in Elizabeth, NJ. Although he was educated in Lithuanian Yeshivas, he became acquainted both with the Frierdige Rebbe and the Rebbe. One of the factors in his connection was his numerous travels to Communist Russia, a rarity in those times. Even during the most restrictive eras, he somehow always got approval to visit Russia unimpeded. He had good contacts in the government, who trusted him, and, while for most people travel there was very limited, he made 22 trips to the USSR in the 60s, 70s and 80s. It was only natural, considering the strong connection that the Rebbe felt, especially, with the Jews behind the Iron Curtain, that this would be a factor that would deepen his connections with the Rebbe, who would often use him as a liaison with the Jews living there. R’ Teitz would bring horaos from the Rebbe to them, and on his return from there he would orally bring the questions of people who lived there to the Rebbe.
In addition, he was very involved in printing chiddushei Torah of the Rogatchover Gaon, which were very dear to the Rebbe. He would bring them to the Rebbe, who gave them special attention.
One summer, while he was preparing for another trip to Russia, a representative of the Rebbe showed up at his house, bringing him a package of siddurim, chumashim and teffilin. This was no surprise; - he was already used to, and even expected, the arrival of an emissary from the Rebbe and the usual package before every trip. But, this time there was something unexpected: The messenger also took out a small-sized volume of Tanya, and handed it to Rabbi Teitz, explaining that the Rebbe had asked that Rabbi Teitz take it, and carry it with him throughout this trip.
"I was astonished," related Rabbi Tetz afterwards. "To cooperate with the Rebbe to deliver basic Jewish necessities to the deprived Jews of Russia was one matter. But to go with a copy of Tanya in my luggage? To Russia? It seemed unnecessarily dangerous. The KGB knows very well what Tanya is. Anything associated with Lubavitch was the greatest threat to their regime. What plausible explanation could I possibly give if it were detected?"
R’ Teitz decided to refuse. He informed R’ Chadakov that a Tanya was dangerous for him because it said “Lubavitch” on it, and if they opened his belongings and saw that he had some connection with Lubavitch, he would be arrested. R’ Chadakov, however, insisted, explaining that the Rebbe would not ask him to do something that would endanger him. “You will be safe,” he said.
When Rabbi Teitz recounted the story afterward, he shared that at that point he said to himself, ‘For once I’ll try to be a Chassid, and as a Chassid I will have emunas chachomim. I need to believe in the Rebbe’s wondrous powers’. So – perhaps against his better judgement – he agreed to the request.
He brought four pieces of baggage to Russia with him and put the Tanya in the bottom of the second one. He knew that they usually checked the contents of all baggage at border control, and if they did so he would be in trouble, but, as a familiar person to them, he usually went through without any problem.
To his dismay, this time, when he arrived in Moscow, there were new customs officials who did not know him. He had to undergo their scrutiny, which began with their opening the first piece of luggage, emptying out all of its contents and examining every item! He knew that when they did the same for the second they would find the Tanya!
The officials concluded their search of the first suitcase, replaced all the items, and were about to open the second. Rabbi Teitz was terrified; - the crisis seemed inevitable. But, when they started on the second suitcase, they took it, opened it, scanned it for a moment and then closed it! The 3rd and 4th suitcases were opened, emptied, and examined item by item in the same manner as the first one!
Rabbi Teitz had his first lesson in the effectiveness of emunas tzaddikim!
On the third day of his stay in Moscow, while passing a dark side street on the way back to his hotel from the Great Synagogue after maariv, he was suddenly grabbed by two young men and – before he could react – forced into a nearby parked car. Needless to say, he was in a panic. Russia was a frightening place to be in the best of times, and this experience increased his fear manifold. He had no idea what was happening. Were they the KGB? Was this a kidnapping?
His fears were soon dissipated, however, as his two ‘snatchers' turned out to be local Chabad Chassidim. They apologized for the rough treatment, explaining that this was the only means by which they could possibly bring him to a safe house without arousing
