a child, you can rely on that. However, before you give the money, ask Rebbe Moshe Lelover to guarantee that the child will live long because often, a child born through a miracle doesn’t live long."
When the parents placed that condition before Rebbe Moshe of Lelov, he replied, "The years of your child's life will be as many as the days I live in Eretz Yisrael."
Rebbe Moshe Lelover lived in Eretz Yisrael for 74 days, and that child lived to the age of 74.
When Rebbe Moshe Lelover was on the boat, he kept saying לשנה יום לשנה יום, "A day for a year," and it is explained that he intended that he would be zocheh to live in Eretz Yisrael for 74 days, and he was 74 years old.
During the voyage to Eretz Yisrael, the ship sprung a hole and started taking on water. Rebbe Moshe placed a cloth over the hole, miraculously stopping the strong surge of water. (This cloth is now used as a deck tichel [veil] for the kallahs of Rebbe Moshe's descendants.)
During the trip, the ship docked at a deserted island. Everyone got off the boat, including Rebbe Moshe Lelover and his gabai. Eventually, the sailors blew their horns to call everyone back aboard. Everyone returned besides for the Rebbe's gabai. The ship departed, and his gabai was left behind!
The following Friday night, before saying Kiddush, Rebbe Moshe announced, "I will not make Kiddush until the gabai arrives." Immediately, they heard a loud thud, and the gabai appeared.
The gabai told them, "I was captured by the other side (sheidim/demons). I heard them say, 'The old tzaddik is saying that he won't make Kiddush until his gabai returns, but he can't do anything. The gabai is with us.' But their leader announced, 'This isn't a joke. If the old tzaddik said that he isn't making Kiddush until the gabai comes, we must obey,' and they returned me here."
The ship docked in northern Eretz Yisrael. Rebbe Moshe Lelover visited the holy tzaddikim of Tzefas and Teveria and went to Miron and other places where holy tzaddikim are buried. He explained that after he gets to Yerushalayim, he will never leave her.
When he finally arrived in the Old City of Yerushalayim, he became ill. His children debated whether they should bring him to the Kosel HaMaaravi in his frail condition. Finally, they decided to take him since his main goal for coming to Eretz Yisrael was to get to the Kosel and bring Moshiach.
On the way to the Kosel, a group of Arabs began throwing rocks at them, making it impossible to get there. Shortly afterward, he was niftar. Unfortunately, he never did get to the Kosel....
