Preparing video...
0:00 / 0:00
Ep. 65: You Want To Be Shpitz Chabad? with Rabbi Zushe Winner
725 views
In this episode, Rabbi Zushe Winner of Brighton Beach, NY, shares the remarkable story of how his parents became connected to the Rebbe and to Lubavitch, and the special kiruv the Rebbe showed his mother, especially after the passing of his father. He takes us back to his formative years in the Chofs and Lameds, sharing his experiences by the Rebbe during those years and beyond. In this interview, every story brings with it an insight, an anecdote, and a heartfelt farbrengen.
Comments
Transcript
Auto-generated transcript. Not time-synced to the video.
He's standing online and as soon as the
person is going to come out
going to give him a sign go in he tells
him as soon as he comes out go in and
then as soon as the next one online
would go in so mean the person's waiting
line by the door by the muza standing
and he's waiting for someone to leave
he's next I used to love to watch the
faces
add in the idle upon him it's mameish
he can You going make have
watching the guy be on his neck.
I'll give you a dma to that. Watch the
faces next time.
Watch the faces of the people who are
writing the settle.
It's inspiring
just these people writing putting a
paper
and they're thinking what they're
writing now to the Reba
has a their face is a different it's a
different person this week is the yard
site of the Reb's mother Sakana
as a day comes closer I would like to
bring your attention to Ken Kana Kana
was a fund established by the Reb to
assist women and girls with tuition
for education in
to learn more about this. Stay tuned
later on in the episode for more
information. If you've been enjoying
this podcast, please like and subscribe
so that others can enjoy it as well. In
addition, if you've benefited in any way
from a monk podcast and would like to
give something back,
you can do so today at their.org/donate.
I'm Yasi Cayman. Welcome to among
an ongoing faban about life as our
vibrant connection with the rebba and
inspired living shaped by the way he
teaches us each and every day
winner. How are you?
>> Okay, thank you so much. It's a pleasure
to have you here and let's get right
into it. Who is Rabi winner? Where were
you born? Where did your parents come
from? have the winners come to labavich.
[sighs and gasps]
>> My uh parents,
my father was
and uh in Europe and uh for several
generations there was
over there in Slanim
and uh he's holocaust survivor. both my
parents Holocaust survivors.
uh he was born in a city called Mir
famousa
still exists near New York and he
learned to mir but in Mir there were two
uh communities
there was shul was bigger
uh Zman Shazar's family Davin over there
he writes about it in his autobiography
and it was also Islam
and my father's family who were several
generations already there was
uh when World War II broke out a lot of
the mere yeshiva went first to VNA and
ended up in Shankai and my father
was still single
so he went with them
>> he wasn't learning in the ministry
>> he wasn't learning he learned for he
learned for a couple years in yeshiva
He also learned there was a yeshivan
besides the
yeshiva
had their own yeshiva
and he was uh he was learning over there
also
and uh then they he left when the war
broke out he left he left uh
Poland his family lived in Warsaw they
were born in Mir but Mir became After
World War I, Mir became part of Poland.
This this enabled them to move. They
were business people, wellto-do and they
moved to Warsaw
and um World War II broke out. He was in
Warsaw and he escaped Poland. He went to
Vilna. And there's the the
well-known story of uh miraculous
uh escape how they left from uh VNA
through Russia to Japan and then to and
then to Shanghai and he was he went he
was part of that whole
>> which is also part of the labavage story
also.
>> Yesim
lab of a big chunk also took that route.
He he knew some who were there tak
in in Shanghai and some of the rebies in
Betrid
also knew him from uh from China and
then he made his way here to United
States.
So that's the background of my father.
Eventually we moved to Kan Heights and
>> he got married here.
>> He got married here after the war and he
sent us Shiva.
>> So where was your mother from? My mother
was born in Mkach.
uh it's was Czecha Slovakia but really
it was um Hungarian
and her family also for many generations
were also
you know and
>> so actually um her from she was born in
Mukkach and from her mother from her her
side her parents were a few generations
Mukachidim
her father her father was from Hungary
was he learned in he got uh what they
call it
from
but they were really
a lot of a lot of Hungarian
used to go to Tans to Poland Galitzia
and then one of the Tanz sons became a
reb in Hungary so they're really tanidum
So which is a it's less canoi type of
more obviously and so on but they were
also he used to travel every
tok
um with one of his sons. So yes there
were both my father and mother were from
families and this idea of sadikim and
being with strong
>> them. So they lived in they got married
here in America.
>> Yes. My my mother was in Oshwitz and she
survived Oswitz. She survived the war.
Uh much of her family was killed. Her
mother and sisters were killed in
Ashwitz. A father in a different camp
but she survived the war. After the war
she came here
and that's where my father and mother
were introduced and uh they got married.
>> And where were they living
>> originally? They lived in Williamsburg.
So I was born in Williamsburg
and uh then my father was a businessman
here
and uh and uh they eventually moved to
Crown Heights. It was called then Crown
Heights for a while. It was called Bet
Star. You're talking about Park Place
and Norins. to only on the other side of
is
>> the other side of Parkway. In that area
um eventually there was in the apartment
houses that we lived in there was there
were a lot of who lived there the
Pinsons the Lipkars the wine garden
Wilhelm
uh and there was Bab had a had a big
community over there other schuls.
>> So you already said that you went to
Bedford and Dean. How did your parents
decide to send you there?
>> That's a good question. Um
my father was
as I said family and he was born in Mir
is really it's today Bellerus
which is a litfisher type of uh setting
the real old school Russian litfish
yiddish
and um
he got to know Labavich.
He got to know Labavich from even in
Europe. He got to know Labavich
>> in in in Poland.
>> In Poland, he heard about it. He got
even more to know in in Shanghai.
But also he had an uncle that became a
labure already in Europe. Uh Shamshin
Zilstein.
He is buried near the oil. His wife that
that which is my my father's aunt. She
was a vener.
She's in the first row of the women's
section when you go to the oil. The
first row you see
and uh they became I think still in
Russia, Poland.
They originally slaughter but they
became lababer and and they came here to
the United States I believe before the
war and uh they they were they lived in
the Crown Heights. He used to be uh by
the
but more he was more active by the
so he knew about
Lavich
>> your father
>> my father also
it was known that Labavich is mid neff
and um he he believed and he said this
to some people I heard that in America
to to stay today. We take Yiddish in
America.
There's Yiddish, big Jew, yeshivas and
Kashus and Jewish community is
flourishing.
But you have to understand the people
who lived before the war. America was
Medina and to keep Yudishkar in America.
There were a lot of um siblings and
family members from uh the best families
so to say families even that when their
sibling or relative came to America they
lost it. So it was biscious yiddish in
America was sort of say biskas
and he believed he said some that the
kindavich
I think he was also give me influence
following
aimer
saying that and repeat
um
you know that when the will who broke
out. There was uh an agreement between
Stalin and uh
>> Hitler
>> and Hitler
and um
they split Poland.
The Slunder Reba then and his is yeshiva
was in Baranovich.
That section was taken over by by uh the
Russians.
That Russian took over that chunk of
Poland. All the that were there knew
that's big trouble because everyone
heard that in Russia they closed all the
yeshivas they they they fired all that
abundant from their positions and
shocked them. It was big problems. So
everybody knew that. So now that Russia
is coming into Poland that's that's
going to happen.
So at that time there was a reba they
called him the youngerba because his
father died relatively young and he was
maybe 20 years old about when he took
over but he was a big oid and they
respected him.
uh when the Russian army came into
Baranovich,
he he wanted to speak to a Yiddish uh
soldier or Yiddish Russian officer
what's really going on in in in Russia
as far as Yiddish.
So the Slan say that uh they found a
soldier and probably an officer and they
they brought him to the
says new what's going on it's with the
guy says they closed everything the sh
the everything everything is closed
so he said is there anybody still left
so yes still
in Russia
are
snafish they're holding they're still
holding
So the Slim said I Lavich you know like
wow Lavich
so this was known
>> yeah interesting it's called even though
in one of the story where they have it
they took out the word labavich but I
seen earlier edition
>> what did they replace it with um
the only way that you can stay from
Russia is near the
>> okay
>> but he actually said, "I Lubavich."
Um,
and so he knew about this for sure.
>> Your father
>> because he was my father because he was
in touch. He went to VNA and he and some
other wanted to bring the reb to VNA to
take them with them in their journey,
but he didn't want to go. Um so bottom
line is so is is
so he believed in that. Uh he also saw
the rebba as you know realb
and he he wrote to the rebba and uh so
he sent us to babisha
and it was also convenient. I used to
walk from parkplace in nor to bedadine.
It was a 10-minute walk. It was
relatively safe. Later on that the
community, the neighborhood changed and
it was a lot of crime and um but at that
time uh we moved there and he sent us to
>> your mother was okay with this as well.
>> Yeah, she was. Yes. I mean
and uh you know
you know after the war they're
interesting happen like my father is my
mother is Buddh it's two different
>> right
>> it's not only dialects but different
mentalities and personalities and there
are a lot of labav families married
families families
>> but it sounds like you were living
amongst Labavich so she was okay with
that also and your parents are
>> first of all when we moved to uh Crown
Heights there were not many from people
around us and actually my mother was not
very very happy
>> about living at Crown Heights
>> about moving Crown at that part of Crown
Heights was very not Jewish
>> not from
>> not it was Jewish but it's actually not
not and certainly not in our block
and she was upset about this because We
had lived in Williamsburg in the heart
of Williamsburg
where you see you know from a hidden
passing by Shabas and weekdays different
a different different uh atmosphere
[sighs]
and um she wanted to move back. So she
she she
told my my father that she wants to move
back. I mean I was just a little kid two
three years old at that time but that's
what she told me. She wanted to move
back and she went for a walk with uh
probably I was in the carriage. She went
for a walk to to Eastern Parkway from
Parkway to Eastern Parkway a few blocks.
Then she walked and she foundab
from
they knew about they heard about the so
it was a name. So she says to him I want
to talk to
which is [laughter] interesting but
that's what it was. Is he talking in the
1950s?
She wants she wants to go to about talks
about because she was brought up in a
home there this
and they give you advice and braas and
now look at this. So she uh so she says
it was Rabbi Groner. It was a bak I
don't know exactly when he got married.
It was a it was very young the 1950s
early 50s. And um
he tells you can't just go into the
Reba, you have to make an appointment.
She made an appointment and she goes
into the Rebus
and she tells the Reb that she's upset.
How should she deal with it? Her husband
moved from Williamsburg to Crown
Heights. Apparently, he needed because
that house that they own, they own a
house in Williamsburg on Ust Street, 146
UT Street.
and uh
he sold the house to use th that money
to go into business to go into some kind
of a business. The bottom line is she
wanted to go back. She complains to the
Reb and the Reb told
you don't go back.
>> The words the way she said it all gate
>> we don't retreat.
>> We don't retreat. which is interesting
uh hashkov in life you know it's a good
translation we don't retreat
>> um so what you what you should do is
tell ask your husband that he should
publicize that that you're living over
there babu was two blocks away there was
a Hungarian issue a block away but the
black was not Jewish she he said tell
your husband to publicize and this side
of Crown Heights. This that side of
Eastern Parkway was already a Jewish
community. A lot of Schuls on Crown
Street and Montgomery Street, President
Street. There were schuls uh and um
publicized it in the schuls, hang up
little uh notes and uh and that's where
you'll get you'll get people to move
over there. And that's what he did. He
made a deal with the landlord.
These were um
>> your father did this. My father made a
deal with the landlord. He told the
landlord any MTS tell me I'll find you a
tenant.
And uh that's what it was. As soon
filled up those three they like
fourstory fivetory apartment houses.
Each floor had two apartments or big
apartments and it was like three or four
such buildings a row with one landlord
and sigavar a community and you had um
so I said our neighbor was uh Lipkar and
then Pinson then upstairs was Wilhelms
and then next door was wine gartens
then there were Hungarian
>> and that stayed like that until like The
neighborhood I guess changed.
>> Yes. So we left. My father was nif.
So we moved shortly after that to Bar
Park. She had a brother in Bar Park.
>> One second. So your father was nif,
>> right?
>> How old were you?
>> I was 10.
>> You're 10 years old. You became a you
were a Yasum.
>> Yes.
>> So you ended up moving to Bar Park.
>> So you moved to Bar Park.
>> But you stayed in Bedford and Dean.
>> Actually I did.
which is interesting.
Um, I stayed in Bedford and Dean.
Um,
so I'm not I'm not sure what year we
moved, but not long after that. Maybe a
year or two. I did stay in Betine. How
did I get travel to Betrandine? I do
remember uh that I stayed in Betine. I
used to travel by bus, two buses from
Barra Park to uh to Bedford and Dean
until uh Betford closed or we moved to
Ocean Park and that was much easier. So
>> So I have a few questions.
Was it I mean
if becoming a Yasum and your father not
being there a lot of things changed. So
is that like a given that you're going
to stay in Bedford and Dean, you know,
or like things change, you move into a
new community like is there is there
some
something that happened then?
>> Um
that's one question.
>> Yeah. You have four cautious.
>> We'll start with one.
>> So
all right. So it's a good question.
My mother, you know, was was already
of the Reb
>> of the Reb.
Um,
and
for example,
when the Reb said to
she was pregnant
and asked for and the Reb told her, you
should put
before Benin in a girl's push in a
girl's yeshiva or school.
like
and she she told my father that.
So, uh say it looks like you're going to
have a girl in
>> a girl was born.
>> I was going to say I think it's an
unusual the stock before. Yeah, we know.
>> Yes.
>> But the the girl institutional clear
that's why she told me over they told to
give it to a girl. They knew already
Mustam is going to be a girl. So she had
two boys before before the girl. Um
yeah,
leisa
and um
afterwards also looks like my father and
mother did go to
I know that the Reb told my father
that he should learn two hours a day to
learn two hours a day
um which was hard for him. He was taken
and he knew how to learn and he learned
the he had a shalah that looked pretty
well used
and he had
so he he did learn
but
two hours very hard for him because so
here you're talking about a holocaust
survivor he was
very bright and successful in business
Uh, but he was running everything
himself.
Then he bought one apartment house in in
what was called in Spanish Harlem. Then
another apartment house
>> real estate
>> real estate. And he was managing
everything from the house. He didn't
have an office. Everything from the
house. He had a study where he learned
over there and it was it was a study and
his office and the business office.
Everything from that uh room.
Um, of course he had contacted lawyers
and accountants, but he was running the
business from his house. Then he would
go to Manhattan to to the to the
buildings, but he was running from the
house. And you have to say, so he's new
at all of this.
So he's very busy. His head is into
that. And the Reb says you have to learn
two hours a day.
So this is uh two hours a day.
Um,
so that I do know and I also know that
once they was supposed to they were
supposed to go in and they went but my
father was apparently not there. My
mother then went in alone and the Reb
asked her about
her husband and he asked her does your
father learn every day? So she said yes
he used to sit going to study
and then the said two hours he asks the
reb asked my mother two hours she didn't
answer first of all she don't look at
the watch second of all
it was very sure
and I heard from others that uh
the told you know businessmen from that
type of background. People who learn,
people learn
and big business people that they have
to learn two hours a day. Seems to me
almost like
>> seems to me almost like the Reb was
looking out for your father that like he
has this background background this
European background and now not to lose
himself in in the American way and like
and to learn
>> 100% 100%.
I think that's what he liked about the
rebba and bubavich
that nuda because he had that attitude
of
for America. He had that because I saw a
letter there was a letter from the
rashiv yeshiva
they wrote a letter to America
to do something to get papers for my
father bal all those all those people
who were in in vna or in Japan
some of them got smikas other paperwork
they didn't get to send to America to
get visas they were trying to get visas
And
so there was uh the the rashivas of of
uh the yeshiva in baranovich they were
actually liter people who were related
to the tells to the ts of rashas and
they gave him a letter. So I have I have
the letter the original of the copy from
derk savad maybe he sent a copy to
americanore and never went. So they
write about my father that he has um he
would be great for America because he
has a strong das and amuna that would be
very good for American youth. So he had
that that nuda you're bringing out not
to be swallowed up. So he did have he
had a strong
for example that he told him
so that you know this is what we call he
had that very strongly
not for this or that and the third thing
>> and it's part of what like
>> I guess
it's but he saw but this
this certainly
uh he he he note took note of.
>> So you were saying that your mother was
in without your father, right? So that I
think you were trying to weave into um
how you're staying in in Belf.
>> This that was later. Um
so she went to that was when he was when
he was alive about learning two hours a
day. Um you know in parentheses today
you have a lot of uh programs for Anash
and not
and uh there's other programs of um the
light paying money to be part of a
learning program which is which is uh
it's it's
a lot of people wants them to learn
wants to learn but they pushed it you
know today two hours doesn't sound so
much. But for people who just came to
America, just they're less than 10 years
and and they're trying to figure out
America and and they're making new moves
and business and so on. It was uh it was
a sacrifice. It was a lot of time.
Uh but Lima
is is something central like you said,
it shapes you not to be caught up in the
laz and other things.
Um after my father was nifter
um
so
the the the Reba
actually wrote a letter Ashashana
greetings
to to my mother. I don't think he before
that he sent her ashana letter to wish
her to wish a good year.
>> Your father wasn't like coming to
Fabrangans. He wasn't like part of lab.
>> Um I think he came to some for bringings
maybe occasionally. What? He never
became a lab.
>> Um
I don't know. He certainly wasn't a card
carrying lab,
>> but he did write to the Reb
Shilas, you know, there's old Shila that
he he writes about it that he had a
Shila about the building. They bought a
building with a partner. Partner was an
Israeli mass a big apparently he wanted
to uh invest in America and he trusted
my father. Um so he he they bought a
building bash
and in the contract it says that they
should
uh that they will give stock before
taking profit. They give 10% stalker
before taking profit.
So my father wrote a shila to the lava.
This is how he writes to his to his
partner. I had a shila and I wrote to
the lava. What was my shila? They bought
a building. So they had to write invest
a certain amount. Then they bought it on
a mortgage. In the mortgage there's two
parts of the mortgage. One part is to
pay interest. The other one is a
mortization. Amortization is you're
you're taking you're you're getting more
of the building. you're taking off the
loan.
So since they made a commitment to give
10% before profit.
So what's is there a profit? So interest
is for sure expense.
So every expenses all the expenses of
the building of course is not profit.
But what about the payment for paying
the loan and taking more ownership?
That's the principle. So that is
that is part of the prophet. So what did
he give 10% als from that? So he said I
wrote and said we should count the 10%
the from the from also the payment of
the principle and that's what we're
going to do because we have to go with
>> I saw such a letter that he wrote his
his partner
>> so card carrying or not but he's
listening to the rabb
>> not only he he asked he asked
>> I saw sometimes that the rabb
>> and he writes because that guy was a was
a businessman he's an Israeli you know
Israelis think that whatever they think
but uh he says we're going And we're
going to go whatever says, right?
>> I saw sometimes the Reb told business
people to give um whatever percentage of
the noi of the business.
>> Uhhuh.
>> So it's different, right?
>> Yeah. Whatever. Yeah. Okay. I hear what
you're saying about
>> I saw a few videos of that. Okay.
>> Okay. Continue.
>> Videos that were made here or
>> Yeah. Videos of the footage.
>> Footage.
Um so there was a Yakis. It wasn't just
he was also he believed also in in in
the
there is there is I knowishim
and everyone was giving the
letters and or $60 or $6. So there is a
a letter from the Reb to him from
to my father
thanking him for his wishes my father
gave him for the letter there were a lot
of people
>> who wrote it wasn't that bigish but
there is also receipt from
$60
was a special fund that the had
generally uh the receipts
If someone sent money to to the rebba,
they were going to receive from
because that was the account.
Sometimes the money would go to a
special account [clears throat]
and it was a different receipt from the
lishkash. So remember this was lishkash
was a special account for specialus that
the rebba had.
So there was a Yakis. He also
uh sent me for a while to
so I was about two years in was just
beginning and it's a no English bet had
English
and he got to know some people from from
um
he sent me to for two years.
I'll tell you the whole yeshiva was
maybe 60 70 kids.
It was um was just started. It was on
Eastern Parkway where all the T building
is now. There's a a building where the
playground is now. There used to be a
building
>> house
>> for a house for a while. Kahas had their
>> like a little building. Yeah. In the
corner.
>> Kahas had their had their swarm over
there. Mhm.
>> Uh but before had this from over there
had a that was the whole two two floors
over there. those
and he sent me over there which there
were mistab
families in maybe two or three maybe two
or three myself and there was a molan
was not in the south
>> Virginia
>> in Virginia I believe then there was
another one a freedman I don't think he
stayed in labavich
but he had to be someone who really
believed in in America old.
I mean it was really old
and there were tests. It was old
and old.
So he have
okay to have an appreciation from old
old
uh but I was there till about 9 years
old and then he he put me back into
Bedford
couldn't be because of English because I
went to English in Bedford third grade
English
uh but he had a
um he was an honore by Musta the first
dinner of olava
but they did there there's a picture of
it there was a Mr. Ganellis was was
there they have
>> and the wine
>> the ganelis wine it's another another
person and aer
>> where were the honores
um I did see uh he used to lend money to
the mikl title bam
I saw some promisary notes from titleb
to my father made it to my father so it
looked like he lent the money for the
pashtas
And uh
and there were promisary notes from that
he lent me money
and it was nifter
and my mother asked the rebi what she
should do with
>> so yeah you remember saying that I just
go like cuz she got a sha letter after
after
>> I'm just telling go back to my father
>> so because she said that
>> was he a labaturer did he become a
labavature So he was strongly tied. My
point is he was strongly tied.
He had a near his uh bed a table. He had
a table he learn before he wanted to
fall asleep I guess was learning
something. So there was which is so to
say so to say and there was a small
Tanya that he had. So he his connection
he took very seriously.
>> Right. So your mother is about the
promisary notes. So the Reb what she do
is rebuild
this. Yeah. So Reba told her
it's beus for your for your for your
husband if you just let it go.
>> Really told it'll be for and I I saw
them later on. I remember I saw
and this that
so you're asking about it seems to me
that it was a stronger
he I remember he came out to the leva
>> the rabbi came to
>> yeah so that's not so it was not so
uncommon
>> then
>> and I don't know who arranged it cuz my
father my mother was totally broken I
don't think she made any arrangements
>> he passed away suddenly
>> he passed away suddenly he got sick with
a stroke. He lasted a few days and it
was nifer.
Um
but there was bakan to labatur
you see he had a sh with
and his kids went
so the hearse did pass 770. This I
remember but there was a kdish that we
learned this year.
This year we went to past year
um they were publicizing the y of label
growner.
saying his his
base. So writes over there
um that uh of the is going to the oil
and he's he goes out with his bag to the
oil to the car and in front of 770 is a
hearse. A Levia is there.
The Levia was my father's Levia and he
asked Groner
um Alfal Vner
questioner wasn't sure was Vner or
>> Vinner
>> but Alf
he knew him I mean there was between my
father and theb
and he said he went to the he said to
him
he took his bag
the car. They opened the door to the
car. He took his back, put it in the car
and he went for the Levia. He he he
went.
Then he had to go back to 770 to wash
the hand and to go into the zal to do
the the seven vinams. Then he went back
to his room, went back to the car to go
to the oil, which is also very
interesting because usually when the Reb
was in a certain mode,
especially going to the oil, holding the
bag,
>> that's it.
>> That's it. But it wasn't it. He put it
in the bag. He put down the bag and he
and he walked the I didn't know that.
Yeah. But this I saw in the in this
yman. But I do remember as a kid sitting
in the in the the car
that he uh that the came out. I mean I
was a kid I knew.
>> Um so what what else what other what
other interactions did the your mother
have with the about like it sounds like
she was going to the with her questions.
So did you discuss about raising the
kids, running business?
>> The the business fell on her lap.
She was not a business type of
personality, but there was not much
choice cuz he was managing the buildings
himself. So for a while, she took her
brother along with her to help her go to
the buildings and collect the rent.
And um was sp mostly Spanish Harlem. So
it was not such a great neighborhood but
it was prasa
and um she had questions about her
business. She always asked the Reb and
she always make to the Reba and I
remember going as a kid with her inas
and she would cry to the Reb you know
she used to bring in a handkerchief
and uh she sat down in front of the
Reb's desk
and uh she would tell the Reb this and
tell the Reb that the Reb would give her
braas
and advice and
uh I would see standing on the side by
the windows right
between the window and the desk and
she's talking to the Reb watching
and Groner's coming in.
So Rabbi Groner's job was to watch the
Reb's time
>> move it along
>> to move it along. So she's coming in
behind my mother
and the Reba goes like makes just a
motion with his hand that he should he
goes out second time
>> to to leave her
>> to leave her. So there there was Kir
that remember they got from the rabbi
>> that she felt special.
She said that she thinks a special kov
is because of the following after my
father was nifa.
Uh this my my brother's bitzvah year was
about was that year or the end of that
year and they get a letter she gets a
letter from Shallay Slanim uh rebuilt
itself after the war
was killed in the war and uh Slum
rebuilt itself after the war and there
was a slot yeshiva
and my father also started getting
involved they they wrote letters to my
father he's a slimmer family from
Europe. His father was a was a was in
the in Warsaw
and they were for generations
that so my father started sending money
to he especially was into
so he paid supported to to reprint two
slan
in his role. So he um
so they sent a letter that no he's a son
of Rhina
Mishbak for generations they want to
invite inviting his son to come to son
of yeshiva after his bar mitzvah and
they're going to take care of him that
he doesn't have to worry about anything
they'll take care of him because he was
a
he was a supporter of he was a slim
mishb
so what you going to do?
So she took the letter to the rabbi
and she asked the rabbi she says show
the letter to the rabbi and she asked
the reb what should I do
on one hand her husband was
serious and they're inviting his sons
so I think he asked her what do you
think she says I want children by me so
bottom line did says
about yeshiva. He knew that.
>> So the asked your mother what does she
think?
>> I think so.
>> And she said I want him to stay.
>> Of course.
>> Yeah.
>> So said let him stay. Bottom line let
him stay.
So she felt the fact that she asked the
Rebba
what to do, put it so to say on his lap
and the Reb was the one who made the
decision
that
appreciated that the the the sons
remained in Labavage
because of that decision to put it to
Rebba and and they stayed in Labavage.
So she felt that the rebba was sort of
say
her because she did get him from the
there was I remember which which day was
the gave out
was I think is my it's a purple booklet
the gave out my that that evening
remember much later yeah
>> yeah much
And
so she didn't go from Barak. She was
very old
because she lived in Barak.
>> She lived in Barak.
[clears throat]
>> And she
my brother went
my older brother
for himself. They became a she went to
770 like everybody in Kanites.
And he took a m and you know the line is
rushing. So he takes a line and goes v
and theb said
[laughter]
he says for wow.
So we did we did some research that
night maybe three or four people
but they were more
>> I think we gave them some
>> they gave they says this is for your
father this is for this but she was uh
you know
you didn't
And uh my brother goes by and he says
for the mama.
>> No.
>> So I still have that that we wrote it in
the thing. Vin does for the mama.
>> So it's time you stayed in bed for the
the rebas.
>> Yeah.
>> Fully involved in this
>> 100%.
So you're talking about the also the the
end of that year by of
which is
towards
she got a letter
I don't think I don't think he got after
that she got letters regularly I don't
know uh I didn't even know about that
letter somehow it ended up on uh
these um they sell they sell
>> an auction
>> at an auction
It's an auction. Someone sends me a
link. He says, "What's your mother's
letter? Is that your mother?" Bluma. Her
name was Bluma. And it says, "Vina, is
that your what? You're selling letters."
I said, "I never heard of that letter. I
never saw the letter in her house."
Somehow someone
>> somehow I can't say what's going and it
has kish signature and it's l
so it makes sense that he would send her
a letter to to be m so to say for
someone else I also heard that that
he asked the mosquito
to the ven
oh
>> so it was it was kov
>> amazing
>> but you didn't know this when you were a
kid
>> about what?
>> Oh, and I guess maybe you recognize you
saw her client.
>> Some of this I knew. Um
[clears throat] I was I was there. I was
I was a kid.
Um
so it's very it's very interesting. It's
beautiful. So maybe we have to talk
about you a little bit. So you're
growing up in this environment bed in
Crown Heights. What is like um what's
your early memories of the I mean
there's like parades there's uh probably
maybe can maybe you can tell me a little
bit about those early years from your
viewpoint of of of the
so I was a a kid I learned about shisha
so I a little bit and sha of course
there ever was something central
>> so let me ask you a question that's just
like I guess a hakda to what I what I
asked you. You knew your labavaturure.
Was that a process? Was there a moment?
What's what's the story?
>> Do you know your labavaturure?
>> Yeah, I think so.
>> It might be an embarrassment, but uh
>> um so me was bittas. Well, uh I'll share
with you some things. I mean, as a kid,
it was you know this is this is my this
only thing I know. Yes, I knew my father
was a Islam. I didn't wasn't didn't
wasn't so aware of how much he was he
was connected to Slim. I knew about it.
I didn't know until later on when I saw
letters and I realized that he was quite
connected in the whole family. But he
didn't talk to us about him or about um
anything. He wanted us to learn. His
was to learn. To learn to learn was very
of him. This had an impact in my life
that he wanted us to learn that he he
was from the only parents who went to
bed to talk to the rebies how their kids
are doing.
>> Very modern,
>> huh?
>> That's very modern.
>> He was he cared about it. Mhm.
>> Other other kids that learned all the
and in Bedford remember that the only
one who came really was your father that
he was interested you know in in our
line he also hired for us Bakarim to
learn with us
and this did have an impact on my uh
later on as growing up I was I was just
10 years old was nif
and you know you're all alone you have
to make decisions you can do whatever
you Not really but it did have impact
that he wanted me to learn had an impact
in me really I could say to to choose
the d of of learning ta as something
important and I'm saying this because I
think sometimes parents
don't realize how much
um of an impact you can have on your
children
and
this is uh you know it should come
across to the children
no matter what age they are that limit
is important to you
even though it may not
so to say be so obvious that they're
listening maybe you're going to think
they're not listening what's a
difference but it does have an impact
that may come back to the children I've
seen years later you you know, as
they're growing up, you know, they might
get busy with other things, but it comes
back to them this this this idea.
>> I spoke to a friend
uh who told me that um his father isn't
no longer alive.
He passed away recently,
but he said that when I was a kid, my
father would learn with me because I
hated it.
But then I missed it. not not after he
passed away like like when it's when it
was gone like I missed it and he was
basically telling me that how he has a
ratson to to to learn and he's like
crediting his father you know that value
that his father instilled in him so
>> you're saying about learning with him
had an interesting so there was mbus
shabas in 770 evabas so I used to go
from bedford and dean no from park place
walk to 770 it's a
to uh for Shabas.
All the kids were up upstairs in the Zo.
I can imagine was not so many kids and I
think it was Rabbi Goldstein. Yel
Goldstein was leading the ceas
and uh and he says
whoever can answer this question is
going to win a prize, a small prize.
So what was the question? He opened up.
So if you can tell me how many kilois is
here, you win a prize.
That shabas and the shabas before my
father was telling me there's 26 kilo
because this the dus of the
I got it. I was 9 years old, eight, nine
years old. [gasps]
So it's stuck in my head. So he opens it
up for maybe 10 seconds. Opens up the
the sid.
I raise my hand the back
26 26 you're right. I come uh now. So it
says go to the principal and yeshiva was
Rabbi Tan
and uh
was 11. No I must have been nine years
older back in Bedford.
So he asked me how did you taken know
my father told me gave me actually was a
small prize
>> but uh yeah so um yes that impact is
very important
>> so so you're saying that your father
was my question was about you know that
you're
>> that you're lavish was that was that
like a decision or not or that was like
a
>> yeah that was a
later on when I was in in uh in Burough
Park. We moved to Bar Park as I said. So
I used I still learned in in so Bedford
already for a while I I learned in
Bedford. I used to take a bus, two buses
to Bedford every day and it was really
bad neighborhood and it was a lot of
crime and I had to keep my eyes open
from the right to left taking those
buses and then the yeshiva moved tan
lamemed to ocean park which is much
easier to go from my house in Barak to
park. You go by bike sometimes.
Um
so um
so it became much easier at that time uh
I used to be shabas
in in bar park and I s down next to my
next house we lived on 55th street next
to my house there was shul and yeshiva
so I had I made friends with some of the
kids my age 16year-old
17 year old kids who learned different
yeshivas
And then
why would theb walks by they jump and
why they adore the rebba and all these
questions and that why only Tanya only
learn
and so I used to we had this interesting
um discussions
and I wanted to always
to answer them
you know the to answer I'm a
and and I would always look for an
answer
to answer them about and about
um
and why
so there's there's
and so I would I would um say so why
don't you learn
says okay I'm gonna I'm gonna read Shim.
So I I bought Miss Shim. So I'm reading
through Mic Shim
and on the bus. This was this was I was
still in uh in bed. So I had I had 45
minutes to an hour a day each way. So I
used to learn on the bus
have a lot a lot of time. So I think I
had this is sh I'm reading it one pic
another pic it's a muser
and it's about you know
steps 15 steps to
and I had already learned already
I was I was learning in betas
So I was really getting into this idea
of I was talking I wanted to I wanted to
understand
why why I'm
so how does Allah work
I I think the motivation for my learning
was to know why
is learning through learning
so it's it's or
what we're doing in this world
and also how to get the structure to
understand it to understand it. So
really you could say my motivation to
learn this was part of what's made
that you understand and you feel it and
so
I started learning some of the
and he is hacking me with what are the
why not
so I came back reading
It's telling really it's it's a it's
it's a safer if you want to reach
so you take these steps
fine.
Okay. So it's about my
the feeling you come learning learning
is reach your the feeling you have
learning
is what you could do for the what's the
you know it's a different type of uh
feeling so you're asking me about if I
felt like a lab at that stage I would
these people were asking me questions
and I wanted to
okay it's a good question so I come back
to him he says
wrote but deeper safer and the real
light there are deeper
so get me [laughter]
so
okay I
fine
the aim of of
>> we're getting into we might as well
learn because it's going to be treated
it's going to be treated properly. So
it's so
>> okay there's deep resp from from but
they started telling me but they don't
learn that either the se I was 17 maybe
that that year
>> this is 17
>> yeah so um
>> so that's how like this is developing
>> yeah but you know I just want to say
you know today people I'm not going to
look at any other photo that says we
don't The the Reb said also isn't you
know
which is which is true but sometimes you
see the himself
was
in other
>> well there's a lot of things that theb
quotes constantly like
from yes
>> that says from
>> yeah but is There is brings and there's
a story behind it in
so he brings from I think
that but then he says also he says
and he calls for
in Clay
that he writes about the mileadis.
I mean obviously was reptic he was from
the big uh gadas
in Poland. Glad that my father in his
library he had a few copies of different
he had he had thin mostly he had a and
gladly had also he had what'sa
in the section the reb quotes he was a
god will be his soul and in his dreams
he dreamed [snorts]
so he dream so he writes over there that
this and this this night he had a dream
the kasha rabo and in the dream he was
mash of the kashand rabo And the morning
he writes in the dream he says God I
thought it over and I have another ter
that is a good he writes his dreams.
So the Reba I don't know when he saw it
say for this if he saw in Europe or here
in America was reprinted in America my
father had it
not and which he had you know other
people are big fans of
which has his dreams
and not only that he quotes it. He wrote
the the the ones who the
the vad and he tells them check check
the
and they didn't have nearby it was
reprinted in America they didn't know if
it was reprinted so they sent a baka to
a library to go check out those
libraries in Manhattan
go check out with CCA
if not stuck at the quote. It was
a little off,
but he told me that it was off the but
it was a quote
>> he tells him to check out the lion and
then they put it in there was printed
you know
they never made fun of
>> so what's tak the right approach because
inite
do only or mainly learn
>> whatever and then
>> themes says
by theb and I I could say this when
people say what's so special about so I
wanted to answer them logically not
this week we will commemorate ves is the
yard site of the rabb's Father Khan,
one of the initiatives that the Reba
began after her passing
was to establish Ken Kana, a special
fund that enables and helps Jewish girls
to be able to attend a yeshiva or Jewish
educational
seminary, yeshiva school, etc.
To this day, the fund assists both
people that do not have a Jewish
educational background that are seeking
to become part and enroll in an
institution for girls but don't have the
necessary funds to do so. This fund
enables them and helps them get those
funds so that they can attend yeshiva.
And it also helps people who did have a
Jewish education but their families
cannot afford they're attending a
yeshiva or a seminary. The fund helps
them be able to do so. At the Fabian on
Vish on the yard site, the Reb would
often remind and encourage the attendees
and those that were listening live via
the hookup to donate and take part in
Kana, which is in memory of Rebana.
And as Reb mentioned by most and by many
of the other mag of the other funds that
the Reb would mention at the those that
wish can write and send in their name
and their mother's name down and the Reb
will mention it by the
you can do so this
at magbus.org m a gbis.org
and you can click on the tab for Kana
and there's an option there to mention
your name and your mother's name as a
donor to the fund. All of those names
will be brought to the rabbis.
This is something that we can do to
honor Rabbi. It is something that we can
do to honor the RBA and it's something
that we can do to enhance and help the
education of Jewish girls which however
important it has always been is more
important than ever. have a good
>> is godless in
you know the question then and it was
the question then was was common for
who's the godl I remember in swan lake
in the koff's
>> camp
half of swan lake counselors
you had you the um you had kundala
was a counselor And there was was a coco
and there was a bunch of the night
activity director once.
>> I don't think it was but he was a
>> he was a rabbi. He was a muhamad.
>> He was a malam. He was a he was a he was
a bent his father was friends with my
father
>> from from Shanghai
>> from Shanghai or Poland. I don't know if
I'm where
>> I remember his father. My father was you
know literature type of and when I was
in camp in in Swan Lake
>> in Swan Lake I was already I was a Yasum
he was of me he was talk
you know he was he was
he was
et
was
but that's the crowd that was there so I
remember I remember in Swan playing
pingpong. Who the god? This was saying
this that other was saying nob
was was going on and this was going on
in the whole world in the
so I could be
you know and then and I'm trying to it's
I'm trying to explain it. So
in his you see he was tak and his elite
you know they were misnum they wanted to
sway him against theb from bra and even
here and he wouldn't budge he was a toy
is like type
don't interested in any politics
is it that's it.
So but the
so the
his limit
before
those
tenant
You know there was you know you heard
about it. There was tinus underbro
but you
think and there was tinus.
writing.
Okay. Sadic was already rebed
it
and the writing what's
and and it's nigabola
the reb showed bas and everything that's
if you see in the beginning of these and
when they were printed he writes
I was commanded what do you want for me
I was commanded to do this That's that's
the reason
and it was
>> by the way by the way it's interesting
we barely ever you ever see anyone using
that that
>> yes no no no that was you only find it
over there
>> yeah all them was
>> to command
>> means I was commanded
>> because
he's he's saying I it's not my idea
All right. Some I wouldn't do it.
>> It's also very interesting because this
is basically the theme of the one of the
themes in the
is the component of
>> so it's
all one thing. So this you know this is
one of the points I would bring out
you know it's
the and the and the all-encompassing
the all-encompassing you know
godless and
so
you know having these discussions with
others made me even stronger so to say
if if if you want to use that term
Um this idea of the broad
um emphasis of limit
the really wanted to impress upon us as
well
is enough just and
so the Reb really wanted us to have a
broader
cook
vision and scope of it. How do how do I
know? Because look at the mimus
that the writes for the
he sends us on the letters. He sends us
everywhere.
Yeah. Muslim.
Yes.
and uh he's not sending us to but even
even the sort of to say you say it's a
broad
not just it's it's it's
this page and this is
>> I was just reading a this morning
>> yes
>> I was I finished reading it I read the
>> right
>> it's
>> okay so I have a I have a I remember the
spoke about
I believe it was a Pikti
the used to come out now about now
was
then was another edition and then
sometimes was a third letter but usually
two letters certainly in the in the the
years in the lit
I think it was
uh a niss so b it Uh the beginning of
this wrote a letter then this another
letter which was a ham. You see the
skesh of the yum
kesh
and it was I think it was abran
or or
theb writes
that
in the in the
so he received a kasha
that it says in the mik of this and this
how it this med.
So the said
if you take a look
over there took
the a this or this med or this
if you g to this farm and take that out
and look it up you'd see that over there
this
right and then he said the following
He says,
on the
issukas
you'll gain a lot of ideas.
>> So first of all you should
>> first of all you should do it because
you'll gain a lot of
>> first you should when it says look it
means to look it up.
>> You should go look it up
>> and first of all you're going to gain
what's the what's the purpose of it
first of all
What does that mean?
>> What does that mean? You tell me what
that means.
>> Someone else is having himself. He said
house. Listen to that. Wow.
If you that means if you're going to
look up that med or that because the
said a orion
so okay the
people ask what's
the you wantb you want to learn the you
wantb
you want theb if you look take a
It says or
>> Yeah.
>> Mhm.
>> So you're doing it. So So the Reb has a
big deal. So, so now so therefore I'm
saying the whole cook was a much broader
cook of of
heard from the early so to say those who
learned in
by the
and before
and when the started saying his all
different type of different style of
than
so one of them once told me he said
he thought that
and Nigla especially Nigla because the
devil's boillet in the nigla it's going
to be garandish
you know and it is to a certain degree
uh but but that's really the
is expectations
and the broadness of it is something
that we have to take uh
>> to live up to.
>> Have to take more seriously.
>> Okay. It's for sure. But I have a
this is the true obviously this I mean
obviously but thank you for being but I
want to go back
about the broader learning.
I met a guy I guess but he was like you
know I don't know he had he was like you
know
so he's he was talking to me after he's
like
he says
so I guess he was watching my face my
facial express I didn't say anything so
he's looking at my facial expressions
he's like how come I tell the like it
so you're saying that we should learn
Just uh for the record,
um
that um
they touches because they show everyone
what they're what they're doing, their
life and he's done something else
and there's seen underneath.
So,
but
also in I saw which is very interesting
um
right of Tanya. So they reprinted the
they made Tanya Hashum
uh which is an awesome uh safer and I
was you know this time around I was
learning a lot of using it a lot and
noting of different you know Tai which
very inspiring
and I told this to the
my problem with this is the the earlier
edition of the Rebana
You could see the
mockerb
would write where
and there were different and tai that
you knew this is directly from the
rebba.
So now and the
is that they have in this new
you don't see necessarily what's t from
the rebba
>> it's all one
>> it's all one they combine other
but when I but what I like is I want to
see how the rebba learned this why I
bring this up
>> why I'm bring this up because in the
in the original which they printed said
he has over there on.
So he has a list of Delhi
who said
and one of them is
and he brings a mo from the he also has
of those symptoms. brings from the
but I found it interesting
so like this he brings
well hold it simp is not
so you see is looking at all these and
he's keeping the list of
and one of the list is
so
But he's he has it in the list
>> but
>> and it's also Kabak
he's counted he's counted as in Kabala
>> so that he's from the day that simp is
is is
not so he's bringing that [laughter]
okay
but he's keeping in the list
not which is interesting I think it's
revealing I'm not sure exactly what to
do with it.
>> But I have a rebuttal.
>> I don't This is not what I think. I'm
just saying like
>> someone someone could say
>> it's not if you look if you learn it's
all based
>> but the is doing since it's part of the
will support
or from other
>> fine
>> like always
calling this
not so many other quotes maybe there are
others but it's not that specific quote
likes very much it likes that quote also
>> I understand you know you're asking
practically speaking
uh there first of all there's so much
and this and this times question is
you know yeahid
and
the printed everything he was
everything he got his hand printed Print
print print
right
you know
then there's and then there's
he wants to in
so okay I'm not saying that you know
make a say there learn but sometimes it
comes your way
>> right
>> it comes your way
it's okay and if it comes your Hey, you
see the Reb did uh
>> you can ask the same question like
is it not
whatever.
>> Okay. Yeah.
>> Something about that
>> that I think he said maybe I think
>> it says that he knew I think
he knew
right.
>> Yes. But there's other
and also I think
learned
from Zind.
>> Okay, this is great.
I want to move back to
we'll we'll do a little more story and
then uh fab we'll go we'll go back and
forth. So,
so you were telling me about the early
years
early years around the
praise and
>> I I would say my one of my early
memories impactful
memories
and I don't even remember when it was
and what age it was
but I remember it had an impact
by a fab when I was a kid.
[laughter]
Like
even if I would come to
you know
And uh yeah so that's the
that's a very important even as a kid
the impression that you know the rebba
is talking
in with MS and uh and this is you know
it's
the
zach that's from I would say from the
earliest memories
um I I think I was an early terror then.
So there was probably there was a bus
taking us from Eastern Parkway probably
to Park Place
and
the Reb would walk sometimes to 770
probably was 12:00.
He's he's walking from his house to 770
on Eastern Parkway was in front of that
apartment house by the corner
and
and so the whole bus was mama Saka is
piled by the window on the side facing
the driver's skin is going to tilt the
bus and what are we looking at? We're
looking at the Reb walking and what do
we see? The Reb is saying words. He's
walking from his house 70 and we would
start singing. They would notice a Shiva
bust. He go like this.
Um
those from the earlier memories
so besides the you went in
with your mother. I mean you had this
>> I don't remember details about
uh he asked me to if I prepared anything
for mitzvah he asked me to say something
I don't remember what I said I think it
was maybe the pilps
he gave me
um I remember on the day of my bar
mitzvah
I was in 770.
It was the was ding for the
was in the summer
and it was a small island upstairs that
was by the table behind the rebba.
Uh that was done for he was constantly
putting his hand under the talis fixing
the knot behind the head that
>> the casher
which I found interesting because they
don't tell the the
mitzub or anyone make sure your cash is
in the right place
the rabbi during the would be
when I was behind him I took note there
was he was making he was touching The
kesher should be in its place behind it.
Everyone that looks in the front, it's
behind the before the hairline, above
the hairline. Um,
so you went after you you were in bed
for for for Yeshiva afterwards.
>> Then I went to park and then I went to
Newark and then I went to some.
>> So you had all those years you had all
those years. I had this
um I had different
>> Let me let me ask you a general question
about
what was the whole thing of for then
like
there was a called I don't know why they
didn't reprint it. Yes. Everything
that's there already is reprinted in
different places.
But I think put together
special person different and letters. So
there was once there was a Picid
is to analyze
yourself make a of where you're standing
and connect with the
so I would say
we were taught
that to take very serious
would all the mashim
um would
emphasize. This is a time when you go to
the reb and you and you make is
beforehand.
Um
and to open yourself up to the Reb
and ask for guidance and
to be a better to be a better
Were
there specific things in this menu that
uh you can share
you know uh is a personal experiences
>> I asked this to every guest and they all
say yeah okay
>> I know
>> you know why they give you the same
answer why
>> because that's the answer [laughter]
the answer so Um
so what I'll give you the
right
um
so there's different bakim and part of
the scene the scene over here
and and there's different bakim who had
different were on different levels
so you could have a bakar and this is
because we used to bring together so I'm
going to give you about the scene and
about different bakim to give you an
idea of of how this this works and we
used to forang and sometimes to forg
about our own
and uh should I go into and not go into
and so on.
So
um so first of all
was struggling with the
which is which is common
and they of somewhere in a different
Indian is that says it's
>> I didn't hear such a
mashka
>> um I didn't I didn't hear such a such a
printed
>> okay where is it printed
>> printed
>> I saw it in a in a printed form okay
>> I understand I'm saying it's not and
it's okay it's fine
>> um
so some people were struggling the more
than others other people although they
were struggling with the didn't want to
bring it up to the rebba about their
issues with the
so they would
rebar of
um
and other people with taka they weren't
struggling so much with the
and their questions were were in and
limud and in
others with the issues of
um
uh one of the common things what the
told bakarim
was that when they go in the street they
should
And
some
oius
some people after would write in the of
the would
some people didn't write or some people
didn't the wasn't ma I know someone the
told him he should learn that when he
goes in the street he should he should
unblitus
Some people he didn't say on
>> this means you don't like start like
mumbling like
>> Yeah. Today you can do that cuz
everyone's on the iPhone.
>> You can listen to you can listen to
>> today people are mumbling.
>> You can mumble. Yeah.
>> You the first time I was driving a car
and when it started this whole thing and
I'm looking the guy on the side of me
he's screaming [laughter]
and f to realize that he's on the phone.
>> This a few years ago right?
>> Yeah he's on the phone that me he's in
the car and he's on the phone.
So,
so one verse told um
when he's in the street and this was
more to do that you're in the street,
you're exposed to the street. So
the cup is full.
Um
then he show he would um
so this was was quite common in this
nuda.
Uh but again going back to sur
the reb
I'm sharing with you different friends
we would discuss
He said
in under
other words
>> transfer the
>> transfer the you talking about he
said you saw so that
>> channel it
>> channel it channel your
I think this was says
so this is a thing
um and that
I know there was a discussion between
two two uh
and it gives you an idea about the
bakarim.
So they they had ga
I don't know if people bothered by Gver
today.
It bothers him that he has ga
now who has ga.
So I mean there's a spyus that's
boasting
[snorts]
but then it's because he has takus.
So he writes to the rebba he has ga
So both of them and this is this more or
less same one and answered
it should motivate you
and so on as a motivation.
The other one he answered
as
So explains that your mile are a gift
from so you didn't make yourself smarter
than anyone else. You didn't make
yourself a
lucky
>> nothing to be proud of.
>> Yeah.
the guard. So, so
one person he tells to use the other
person he tells how really there's no
point in there's no there's no having so
you ask everyone
it's of like it says in those
of the
um there people who ask you know uh I
know someone who is the rebba about he
feels he's a he was a vuva
but he but he he became a 77ur
a guy with with kashus
he still he still is using his kashus
bavich
and um but it was about chuva you know
from the from the from the hippies. I
don't know if he was a hippie but he was
>> that era
>> that era he was out he was totally out
and then he he uses kashis and he's
number 770
top 770
so he was trying to m of family or other
people and he feels that he's not
successful
I was very frustrated this
told Um
I don't know if this was the lion but
the was the mitzv of
didn't say
you have to do your part if you're going
to the and the is for you to do your
part
>> on you
>> it's on you if you're going to be
successful that's that's not in your
hands
>> so therefore what you're doing is
but that's not you to make a decision if
you was successful and not self and not
successful therefore therefore you
didn't do the you did the
um
Bak was saying they're saying about
what's the difference between I don't
remember the lush and
the the of the beginning and of
so personally I thought this was he was
trying to impress But maybe maybe I'm
wrong but you know uh
>> asking such a
>> yeah
maybe it bothered him you know maybe
>> maybe it really [clears throat] bothered
him
>> maybe it bothered him. So used to say
that
you did
to say
>> you should open yourself up to the you
should say things that you wouldn't tell
your closest friend.
So that was
>> whatever it is
>> whatever issue whatever I mean obviously
you want you want uh
you want guidance you want
>> um
you know used to say
a story that there was this is still in
Russia before
that uh
and those in the earlier years they
weren't m of everybody Especially
a person who was a big especially
let him stay where he is.
>> Let him stay where he is. But he saw
he was making.
So they used to reach out to him
as
so there was a a guy
was not a
but he had a bunch of mileas. So they
saw a person they would if they saw was
a they would look for what a way to
so you know
>> [laughter]
>> A lot of people even in my generation a
lot of people in this are from homes
because of to be a better
[clears throat]
that's that's what people
you know he's not going to find
you not for
of the
so that's what people
this guy heav
he had good lenin
and he ded
[snorts]
and they couldn't find anything which
they could so to say sell him that he
should become a
>> that you're lacking in this area
>> he's not lacking in anything like this.
If it's mid this, you know, you
and if he's person and you tell him, you
know, you want to know a way to be
is going to teach you how to make
yourself, you know, the story is
but his
>> there's no selling point.
>> There's no they can't think of anything.
So whe whether it's right or wrong.
So
one says let's call this person.
says,
"But
now I'm just giving you an example about
the scene is that I don't think the Reb
would be very fond of this type of a but
I'm giving you an idea. So you talk
about
you're coming to the Reb to open
yourself up to the Reb."
um that he should make he should make
you know
on a different and a different level
that wasn't
>> amazing I like what you did here I asked
you about yours you're talking about
everyone else's
it's good
>> about and Indian
>> and Indian
>> speaking of uh
yeah so
No.
>> So
the whole scene is the scene.
Um
we used to fast the day you went to we
used to fast
>> from the morning till
[sighs] I don't know
and and uh we felt that it's you know
we felt it and so
this was till 9:30 the door so I was
mostly upstairs, certainly American
Bakra.
Then after 9:30, the door would open
from the Z to the lobby where the
elevator is.
So you could see people coming going for
guys would still be learning it. So they
would be learning or they would see
what's going and then the door of ganed
was also open cuz people were coming to
the waiting room for was in Ganak. So
there's a bench in ganed and people
would sit there. Families would sit
there
and
I used to like to watch
the guy who's next on line to go in.
So growner
or whoever was in charge at night mostly
growner
would
people there should be less waste of
time.
So let's say there was then he would
line up a few bakim would go in and out.
Usually a bak used to be in there a
minute a minute and a half and if they
read the talle then they would leave
them will give a braha and they would
[clears throat] leave.
So next online there's a baker let's say
that I would know
he's standing online he's standing by
the muza
right right over there and as soon as
the person is going to come out
going to give him a sign go in he tells
as soon as he comes out go in and then
as soon as the next one in line would go
in so mean the person's waiting line for
his next
by the door by the muza standing and
he's waiting for someone to leave. He's
next. I used to love to watch the faces
and stuff a upon him. It's mish.
He could be he could be make have
watching the guy on his neck.
I'll give you a dma to that.
the other this summer I think maybe
before the summer I was in the oil and
I'm waiting for someone
supposed to I'm waiting for someone and
I'm in the room where you write your p
they call it today
so people are by a table and they're
writing
and I'm waiting and I'm looking at the
people who's who's there
and I I was inspired
Why? Watch the faces. Next time you
know, watch the faces of the people who
are riding the settle.
It's inspiring.
You have different people. You have old
and young from not from Anoshim
and they're riding their settle and you
could see a certain adite
and they're thinking what I'm now
writing to the Reba
just these people writing putting a
paper
and they're thinking what they're
writing now to the Reba
has a their face is a different it's a
different person it's different person
and I was going around the room. I never
It's 30 years since uh
yeah Kiml Thomas and I and I never took
note of it. I never was watching the
people but here I'm waiting and I I
thought of it. It's really madik and it
shows the power of the moes
that
the effect that it has on people who are
there
writing their their tetle they're in
their in their in their moment of truth
in their mo of truth
that's may you know I was thinking this
is something like
that that of your etum.
>> You could see it today.
>> Yeah, you could see it today. You see
the people how they're uh
I don't know what they're writing.
Everyone's writing different and
everyone's probably writing different
things. I mean some do some someone's
sick some think but that
this is a place where the truth the
truth there's MS kadusha
I'll you know it's
the effect that that the see and the the
reb is having on all these people.
>> Yeah.
>> Yes. You can see I was thinking that
this is similar to what I used to see
with people on the next but is there so
to say is their moment of truth.
>> Okay.
Appreciate that.
So let me
move a little.
What do you what can you tell about you
mentioned a little bit with but in
general uh
>> and Bedford.
So the truth is in Bedford
depending on which class
you have some uh
in bet who who uh
who did that who he was he accomplished
more
and some class he didn't accomplish as
much.
Um
I I came close to Nabiel
you know the truth is in the he he
didn't give a shi
for many years for one reason or another
reason
he he was in betford which you're
talking about
16 top 17 year old bakr
he didn't give a share it was
But he didn't give a
We gave
for one reason or another.
He didn't give a sh
in Tin Lammed.
The Shiva
moved to Ocean Parkway
and they decided they want Elim there.
to say the the Shiva in in Ocean Parkway
and and Bedford Bakham is to learn their
two two
till about 17 18 years old. Then they
would go to Newark for a year or two.
Then you went in 770 and there was
hardly Australia had but generally there
was no other. So that means Bakum used
usually were in 770 for four years three
four years maybe five years depends how
old you were when you had 77.
Um
so
they wanted to make a ru
they decided they're going to bring to
the bakim 770 bakim who already in 770 a
year or two I think so they bring bakim
from 770 would now be so to say or
really was a class
and what was the attraction the
attraction of was going to give them to
So that's when started giving
20 year old 19 20 21 year old.
So that started lamemed
and tak
of ocean parkway
used to come once a week give nigla. So
this was like a branch of 770 was in and
this h went on for for many years till
like as the nuns
when uh nunbak moved to crown heights
but this went on
um [clears throat] that year with this
that level
was now giving to 770 after I went to
770.
So I came for a year in Ocean Parkway
and Rabiel was mi and I was really taken
by the of his
till then people talking about the
genius his memory he has a photographic
memory after the for five hours he goes
it and makes a memory memory memory
But the ofel and the go in in in amus
and hava
and hb of
this was not what what people were
talking about
and what people appreciated
but this here was ngala
I mean people who knew and close to him
knew that and he's always considered ily
even as a bak.
But then
you saw his
and his
and
before he spoke he gave a sh
for a few months and then he went into
And I was totally taken by it. I wrote
his shared him down
and and we used to go to his house
just me me and another two friends.
There were guys usually in his house was
uh his his nephews were there especially
Yasi Rabasi
Panis
Yasi was there. These are older than us.
But since he was Elsa and he told me to
come to his house,
so we used to go to his house Thursday
night before he started going to Burough
Park. We used to prepare a question
just to get him to talk and he'd spend a
few hours. Sometimes the were there
already, sometimes not.
is to people don't really appreciate and
it's important for it to be said
but
he wanted us
certain
other
and we went to his house to learn them
out of the curriculum and we asked to
give us a
in in
right I remember there's a there
um about what's in the different reasons
for for Tommy Habria. So this begin
and then [clears throat]
so there's there
um
is if there's a reason
so then there's a reason why you're
so if there's a reason why is a bit how
much you understand and there's a
reason. So,
but if there's higher than a reason,
so then you're just doing it because
there's nothing to you left. The is
garnished. There's no part of you that
is being convinced you. So it's
so small heart on the bottom that the
between the reasons is going to affect
are the
so he told us a story.
So he told us a story like this but in
in in Russia so
was there
appointed men to be mamesh
he was
he was a bak then still a big a big lon
and
was that he should
and he was very impressed with which is
another story.
So was very impressed with
asks.
So he gives him the
if they see the year is theim if the
which year was the I don't know upon him
he gives uh he gives the
whole question of the time
I don't know which was and which meeting
had with
him
it comes back a day get to later. And he
tells it.
Now this is a famous line from Brisk.
The brisk is not to understand the
reasons for anything
to do to understand what is everything.
So it's
it's a famous lineis
this the way they are you not understand
why what is it not why is it the other
is to understand why everything but was
always
Because
so his line meaning
said
tells us
the gates of the
>> there's there's a there's an after
doesn't
felt
just telling you.
So these are in yanim that uh
>> yeah this is and he after we used to
learn he says sit for another two hours
on the couch and tell us
>> it's funny because I sat through very
long in
I guess
>> you heard this
>> no no but I sat in long
for example
yeah so so he he his His was so so
number one he did mourn from us
he from us
it's not the tes
I'll take you over it becomes your it
should reshape your mind you should see
things the It
it should be in a way that you see it in
your head and you feel it.
But the is that you're applying it to
yourself. You see you learn this you
should apply that it's
of think
>> that was that was one of things I'm I'm
trying to bring you out to you that
Rabio wasn't just
this this he wasn't a mascul in the
what's called amas kiloas was another
land or it's it's so to say uh intellect
ual pleasure or intellectual acrobatics
that a person who is a mascul enjoys
orid because he's a and he enjoy
and
Um,
so the Reb, you know, speaking about the
of the
et.
Soidusbid
to reshape you. So we didn't hear from
him much about feel I can't remember
escapia we were younger already in
Bedford you know he was one time we were
talking about so to say watch your eyes
type of ver
>> not about ketchup or ice cream
>> about ketchup and ice cream
um yes and I got close to
um
years later to the last two years he
sees me in front of I think I was coming
for
he's standing outside of his house he
had a with him all the time
as if I have something still left for
what I wrote
40 years ago. I did have a few things.
Most of it got lost.
So I brought him, you know, copies of
some stuff that I wrote out still pieces
of paper floating around in.
So I was looking at it,
you know, to remember and the Must asked
other people as well because he wanted
to refresh.
He he told me that his his uh
later years and also he really enjoyed
teaching in Yiddish and that crowd
>> the American crowd later on it changed
to
>> I mean he was you know that till the
last minute all you needed to say is
>> he can slap him he's tired and he's
slept him
but
seek.
So, um I have to appreciate that.
>> Yeah.
Um
so, back to you a little bit.
You also had counselor in camp, right?
Mentioned Swan Lake before.
>> Yes. That's Swan Lake. I was
>> You mentioned Swan Lake.
>> Yeah. Yes. So, I was I was in camp. I
always held
that um
you know camp is is the Reb's camp
and uh I had talent for it. So I I I was
two years once a head counselor and I
was a a co-head counselor was in I think
lamealid
gim we were with rebalitzki who was the
head counsel he I was the assistant
counken
uh daled
I was a head counselor co-heads was
itken was there was also there on the
head staff
and
you have Uh they have to at the end of
camp the seder was the end of camp was
by the reba
and
um the reb would wait for
the is usually 3:15 was min but the camp
is coming so the camp try to organize to
be there not to him's
schedule but it's traffic and you're
coming from upstate and you know there's
a few buses. So it usually wasn't 3:15
and the Reb would wait when the when the
camp came all came down 770 and sat down
in the benches and they would tell the
reb would come down and then
the camp and the would camp.
At the end of the that the head
counselor would give the closing address
to the campers
and that and in front of the Reba and
then everyone would go home. That was
the end of camp. So by Ali to be the
speaker to speak in front of the Reba
they prepared a whole speech and
it was already ready
and usually the title of the speech was
you presenting with all the points of
I think that year we started
started
and he said put that in because from
that so we mentioned that and then I was
listening into the whole dash was every
two minutes without my over there
and at the end of the I prepared of
course the speaking from the very
nervous I wrote it down and the I have
the I said and the last words were and
with the
we're going to have
good
>> that spits
>> sounds
not spits
>> it's regular Yeah, we have
and really
we're going to go give a later
I say those words is listening to the
whole thing of I didn't see the reb's
face listen because I'm looking standing
there talking to the thing the Reb is on
the side and the Reb is looking the
whole time peak and the Reb says to me I
said,
he says, "Zog, he's telling me to say so
I don't know what to do."
I wasn't I was just like shocked. So I
think I said again and
is going to give us and he said again.
So that I said and and now already is
already screaming and may
[laughter]
and so I said I said the
>> Yiddish by end I said it in Yiddish.
>> So that was one experience.
>> What's the moral of the story?
>> What's the moral of the story? No.
What's the moral of the story?
I didn't mean to spit anything
but
you know I think to me at least was a
message
you know
the campb
wants to emphasize
and and you want
the Reb's camp.
That's the message the Reb is giving.
That's the message of
And don't forget that. Don't forget
that.
And um
you know,
you have
The Reb often said it to me.
He was telling us,
you know,
And the is
I remember the I mentioned before the
discussions I had with and the whole
they their problem was the exaggerated
connection the way we have the how come
when the rebba walks on the street
everyone's jumping off the street and
the way they're making away from the
rebba and everyone's running away
there's Look at no one else does that.
>> Among is brought to you by
we live in a chaotic world. A world
where for us is au
we do not have the ability to hear and
see the on a daily basis. Yet we know
that theb is very much with us and is
alive and thriving more than ever
before. one needs to only tap into it.
Provides you and your family with the
tools necessary
to tap into all of this. Whether it's
the monthly magazine, the way it all
began,
whether it's their hair books, their
hair online content, and so much more,
men, women, and children throughout the
world benefit and use these tools on a
daily basis. Whether it's children
enjoying the children's magazine that
comes along with the regular deer or
enjoying the children's podcast. Whether
it's Bakim in Yeshivas receiving the
dehair, whether it's girls in high
schools enjoying their hair club in
their local high school, people all over
the world and from all walks of life
enjoy and utilize these tools and take
advantage of it. If you're not already
subscribed to the monthly magazine, do
so today at deher.org.
That's der.org.
The hair is a dynamic organization which
is committed to continue providing these
tools, grow on a constant basis, and do
all that we can to help this effort.
Barakashem, it takes a lot of resources
and finances to make this all happen.
You can be part of through your
financial support as well through
visiting our website.org or through
contacting us to setting up a meeting.
Thank you very much. Enjoy the rest of
the podcast. So I said, "Must there's a
reason.
Mustad, there's a reason." And when the
Reb walks,
so but but I wanted
>> You're saying that it's a gut reaction,
but you wanted to explain it.
>> What What's Taken? The gut reaction.
>> Mhm. I mean, you weren't there, so how
do you know
what's what's what's the gut reaction
you're saying? Of course, it was a gut
reaction, which But it wasn't fake. I
said, "Because everyone's running. I'm
running." Maybe there was some losers,
so to say. Everyone's running, so I'm
running.
But
it was you felt presence of Kusha.
>> Mhm. So I remember telling them says
the problem is you know maybe you should
be running off the street you think he's
a state
so actually literally rolling in the
dust with the reb
would be there they would bust over
there they want to hear they'll be
rolling in the dust by the rebb's feet
the hair of art from theb
how come you how come nobody does it you
have a Either
either you don't see that in them that
they're worthy of rolling in the dust
or they talking not either either it's
your problem cuz you don't see it you
because you have a problem.
There's a
So the you know the
[gasps]
you know there's there's doing what the
reb wants you to do
to speak the law.
for
is
the
name
tell me.
So I'm telling these guys, so how come
how come we feel it? You don't you have
a problem.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
>> And again on you
>> the sh is in either either
he's he's he's he's that
>> and you then you're then you have a
problem. You're not you're not you're
not dova properly to to to him or he's
not that.
>> Mhm. If he's not that, so what do you
want? What do you want from us?
What's
I heard more than once.
What's
he say?
It's he's bottled up.
He's he's he's just
he's just bottled himself and therefore
no the isb
is nothing
my so big.
That's bigness. That's bigness.
The whole of the is he's nothing. He's
he's just he's just
says I'm nothing. I'm going to be
through me.
That's why it's called
because because because he feels on
nothing. What was the doing? He didn't
live himself
budgeted $2 billion $3 billion worldwide
budget. He slept in this small tiny bed
in seven in his room with books around
him. Where did he eat?
What? What? [laughter] Who's
se the last few years he's in his he's
in his little room with I don't know how
wide that bed was
>> if they abused it also.
>> Huh?
>> There's usually there's usually on the
bed.
>> Yeah. It's two hours they used to the
bak waiting outside would hear neglas.
They knew got up like it wasn't more
than two hours that he was from one
he didn't he was no mitas
giving out dollars who
miss Israel
everyone
as
What's that?
And
because
it's, you know, there's there's
me.
>> So you don't have so it's not you're
saying it's not even to say it because
why do you need why do you need to say
that? No. No. The reason was
>> I saw I saw weird on huggers today.
people write like they they're engaged.
They're writing these lines like uh you
know what I'm talking about.
>> No, but I don't think it's to write to
say all the things that are not uh
>> not the I'm just to bring out
and the way he taught us I didn't mean
anything uh I said because we we wanted
we wrote
is
emphasized
as
it has to be.
There's a reason there's a
you know um
you know there's this in the way to
connect to the sadic is through a so
there is this of aa you know and and the
rebba has to us so yes you know the
wasim
I was going to say the whole
You know, how does how does this work?
It's a sh, you know, how does this work?
You know,
you know
when after
so there was the guy today also. So you
have an apartment
and the apartment is a dining room.
What are you supposed to have in the
dining room in the walls of your
apartment? A picture of the Reba. So you
need a big picture. Big picture of the
Reba in your dorm room with a bunch of
people small picture have a picture of
now you have to have a nice picture with
a frame. So the question over here is
so there was a Vassan
and
if you go into someone's apartment
and you see a picture on the wall you
can tell who gave the kala the picture.
If
you can tell if the friends of the gave
the picture or the friends of the kala
gave the picture
how could she tell? No,
>> I don't know. I never heard of this
mimic. Yeah.
>> Yeah. No, that's about the picture
myself. Friends, the friends used to
buy.
>> Yeah.
>> So, if the friends and you can tell who
which friends the friends of the because
they want to give a picture, I give a
picture. So, friends want to give a
gift. You a picture of the Reba. You
give a gift so you can tell who gave the
gift. If there was a serious picture of
the reba the friends of the
six there were serious pictures of the
famous pictures in the room
if there was a smiling reba
so he knew the friends of the kala gave
the picture
so which is the real rabbi
it's one rabbi
it's one rabba
Okay,
that's very tightful.
Everything is like we have to unpack
each of these things. We can
we can remind more and more. So you be
mentioned. So what happened byass?
>> Uh what happened? There was a band,
there was music
and we danced.
>> Yeah. But how do you get engaged?
>> How do you get engaged? How do you get
engaged?
>> Very good. How do you get engaged?
You have to ask the You don't have to
ask the You have to ask the That's
You have to ask the
Why do you have to ask the is not what
you have to do
is you don't have to do nothing. You
don't have to do anything. What's have
to
>> Okay, very good. [laughter]
Thank you for the hakdama.
If you want to ask the Reb,
>> you have a brain, you ask the Reb.
>> Oh yeah. So you have to say if you want
to have a
[laughter]
>> All right. So really it starts
so yeah should you start in so so so we
used to write in if you wanted so to say
so it was an opportunity you could write
in
so it boiled down to two
right so you have different
so down to two hats
and
one
was who I who I actually married
and one was
um another hat which had my
but I wasn't sure about
wasn't sure about something there
I don't know what how express it but I
wasn't sure. So I wrote this name first
my my resonance name first and then the
other name but about the second one I'm
not sure you know if it's Gansson
Masim.
So he circled what I wrote I'm not sure
and he he uh made a line to the first
one and he wrote
cause you're not sure therefore
>> you're not sure.
So I was buddy China. So we went a few
times and
I
and and and went a few times then. Uh
yeah. So
you know how we proposed?
>> How
>> you want to hear a really interesting
way to propose? No.
>> Cuz I hear there's different ways of
propose and
it's a whole
propose, right?
So a propose means
you ask her are you ready to write into
the reb
that's like a wow
thus is proposed
only if you are smart
are you ready to write to them
proposal
and we're ready to write to So we wrote
it to the Reb's
proposal.
>> It's not will you marry me?
>> No, it's not. It's not [snorts]
proposal proposal. Are you ready to
write to the Rebon?
So then at the end we wrote
we wrote to the Reb and
um
so Ashhat was Rabbi Groner Groner
himself. He was a neighbor of my over
there on president in Udica area
and so he gave the answer was him I
think.
>> What year are we talking about?
>> Lamemed
V. Mhm.
Lamemed
and
so
so I got we got an answer.
So I got an answer that
is
since since she's a Basin which I didn't
write that she's a coin because I didn't
know he was a coin or not. was not part
of the
>> it wasn't on the resume.
>> It wasn't on the resume. It was not to
the anything but I discovered that she's
a bas.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I wrote
and
which is which is
Yeah.
brings
a should
then
Um
which is uh which is at that time was
uncommon.
>> What was the lion?
>> Common lion.
>> Yeah.
>> You sure about this?
>> Yeah. Now um that was the way we the
way.
>> So I think I have I think my parents
have that mind from Lami.
>> Okay. Land day
>> the year before.
>> Okay. So but but uh
>> it was changing then basically
>> it was changing then.
>> Mhm.
>> I don't know if it's exact exactly. We
have to check.
>> Yeah. But it was changing then. But some
of my friends who that time that more or
less in those months
>> had or something.
>> So depended. Right. So, and I never
heard that that was an answer.
So, I took it very to heart. You know,
what does it mean? Maybe it was,
you know, all things. It's a lotion in
the in the letter. It's a lion that the
letters the letter of the does
>> how you say that to
>> but
so you know
has to work on himself
so and this answer
is a whole
and I thought it was
then another person also got such an
answer.
So I took this very seriously
and um
yeah
so that that was the the
>> you took it seriously
sorry
>> um by the
uh before we went to before the it's not
two months later or a month and a half
later before the
so
the first the kala go in with theim
and the reb gives a a to all of them
and then go out and give a letter to the
rebb
and the reb to
so I asked my rabbis
that I want to the After the Reb gives
the bra to us, she should leave. I want
to ask the Reb something personally
and I gave it settle about this answer.
I said
I don't remember exactly the lion that I
wrote
but I took it very seriously.
What does it mean?
>> Like,
>> you know, how seriously is this?
>> Is it what your dilemma was? Cuz you
didn't know what it means or cuz like it
wasn't a regular answer like what was
your dilemma?
>> I'm not I mean
>> Yeah. You're saying
I mean
>> I think there was also different I think
I think like there there was like
>> no I didn't know
>> but there was I think could be yes. It
rings a bell such a
but
so
so he told me
as
>> sir
um
so says
that
zikar
is
right. It's kilu. My question was, do I
know?
I don't remember my question about kilu
was the response was
>> how do I know I'm fulfilling it?
>> How do I fulfill it? and
I was
and I was I guess I was
I took it very serious.
And he says
as
he used the word
>> like
>> he didn't say what's yes I thought about
by
>> or is it mean then right now by the reb
>> I didn't they made they printed a a a
flyer
recently about what I said. I didn't put
it in there but said
[snorts]
so is the
so
is you know
that's what he
So
the
so by the by the minute by then there's
the was two weeks later I don't remember
by the shabas of the there was a if
there was a
um I guess
was bays
so there's a so the would give a bottle
of smear to the office and then the reb
would give out the bottles to the
>> bring to the reb directly.
>> No, he brought it to the office.
He brought it to the office and then he
will bring down all the bottles and then
>> I think there was a time when
>> it could be directed.
>> I I don't think so. And then the Reba So
he went to the Reb with a cup. the
poured into my cup and he says to give
it out a little now
to make before on Shabas for the weekday
and the rest is
and then he hands me the bottle. When he
hands me the bottle he looked me in the
eyes and he says
that he's using the lotion.
>> He said he didn't tell anybody anything
when he gave the bottle.
He's like he's telling me,
you know, you were into that, right?
>> And you Yeah, he had brought it up
again.
So, Kilo, don't worry about it. I got
it. And you got it. And it's good. Oh.
Um,
yeah.
So after went to Ky after was in Ky
was already going for Yad
finished then it was going to
and then suddenly
the printing base
and he gave the
to make on
Um
Fabian
he said a whole that was what's the
prince B and it's a new
and it's a gilly doesn't want to put any
names to anyone who's the people used to
work in the print or or used to prepare
the the name was in it that says no
there's a gill he doesn't want to put
any names there it's too intense
So, no names, but there's going to be
printing it and he's going to give um
he's going to give uh
uh he's going to give um to Prince and
he also wants of so after
Rabiel goes to me
and he says the coil should make that
wants the coil should make
So who's in then was to to be the so to
say it was me and
from
he says go to to groner and he's going
to give you instructions.
It looks like um
the goner asked who's sh to be in charge
of this. So I was a kind of
um as a
also
um
also the
recommended
ask once in a while which choose a
Russian because he wanted the Naz
Russians
but uh okay
but um
We
>> Russian parents you mean?
>> Yeah. Russian also
came from Russia.
>> Oh
>> yeah.
>> Um
so he asked us go to go to the runner.
So we we thought we're going to in the
ky they're going to do we're going to
we're going to make
we go to the runner
>> divide and conquer that was the plan
>> not divide it's not conquer it's not
divide it's to make it faster you know
>> so we go to runner we have a shil
because there's already made on all of
the of
that was already printed
And for example, the first time they
printed,
they all did they cut and pasted
everything that the Reb wrote in in that
he made of of the took that out and I
put it in print in the back of so why
don't we just do that? What does he want
us to do? He says no. He says also have
made. So he says no that's not what he
has in mind.
Because the rebl
what the reb meant but that means is
that when theb made
so he was a lot to v
but it would it wouldn't cover
everything that's invol
so the only things which are of such
uh universal emphasis that in the big
picture of all of the he quoted he cited
but if you're making only it should be
more specific
okay so we started asking kite who's
shak basically it boiled down to me and
um
wrote a couple be but really it was
boiled down to me and we just divided
base I did like five six he did five six
in the beginning we weren't sure what
how to make it so we made a of one or
two we sent it into
was very pleased and he gave a bra
and um he gave us a nice
um the reba Uh then we got a they
started printing iron base but we were
working with photographs copies of what
the rebba took of the
>> fre was the I think it was the
also the rebba said by the
reb
gave him to watch
>> he knew when he don't make copies it
looked Looks like it was those copies
that he gave to us because it was a it
was by then the Xerox was making cop
machines paper on paper. Those were
photograph copies. He went to a photo
photographer to make a picture of every
page. That's what that was. Was not so
thick glossy, but it was photo.
Must spent a lot of money on that. Mhm.
>> And that box he gave us to to to work
on. So we worked on that.
So that was about a half a year, three
or four months.
>> Wow.
>> We're busy on iron base.
>> So give his own you see that's what it
is. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Also the numbers he had numbers on
each page in pencil look like the
handwriting.
>> You guys understood this. Yeah, I guess.
>> Yeah. No, we saw we saw that that was
>> amazing. Crazy.
>> Wow.
So you you went to Karakis before you
you're here, right? You had a you had
>> Yes. So it was after hearing those
um to so I I asked should I continue or
should I look for
the said look for
at the same time I asked to look for and
what should I look for
you as yeah
all that possibilities
So that means
>> whatever is more practical.
So I ask what does that mean?
He says you have a
you're asking clistic question what what
I should do fine. So you you're ready to
do all possibilities
>> to tell us what's possible.
>> Who said that? Who said that you have
such an offer? You have such a
possibility.
answer questions about.
So,
so the Reb,
so um soon after that comes to me and he
says,
"What? They're starting a new car
and
you'll behave." What's the Yeshiva?
like this they started opening new
yeshivas at the time. I think Miami is
was earlier but they opened then in in
New Haven and in Seattle
and in um Cincinnati maybe also the
opening city. What's opening in yeshiva
said 10 like no
and you're going to be there.
So I wasn't sure
I was more in 77 the last two years was
in more I was into Nigla
earlier very heavy into Nigla
but uh this was
this was uh but then I was a kind of I
was really focus
so bottom line is
should I So,
so I asked him, you know, he was say
Yeshua. I says, you know, I was a kind
of but he remembers me also from before
I was also into Nigla. Bottom line, he
says he thinks it's it's a it's a good
idea. I'll do okay. They wrote the Reba
and the Reb gave us braa
and I asked I'm not sure and I I said I
ment
says um he underline what and say yes
said and he um so we went to Karacus
I wanted to first travel to Karacus to
see what it's like
right sounds normal
yeah so you want to hear something not
normal
I went without going.
We went blindly to Caracus.
It's not such a pretty city. It was a
good community. It's not the that's
there now. But uh it was of a community.
There was half a
there was prosperity over there. And we
accomplished a lot in there. the the
bakim and the perman
and Mrs. experiment
but uh I wanted I said I wanted to go
see it to travel there but uh the
said you know they started the yeshiva
the balatim are going to it's better if
it just comes as a fact
>> surprise
>> no but he had involved the raonim
>> the raarashi rabbi brener of the yeshi
of the karakas ashkanazi community and
of from the community they were on board
but it looks like they didn't ask the
they wanted to bring it looks like
Brener was a
that's what he told me was a with the
said you know you should make yeshiva in
Karacus it's really came from from the
rebba
told Rabbi Param you know the reb
suggests I make yeshiva what about
And perman
wrote to the rebba and the rebba looks
like approves it wanted it and he came
to meant like and says I need
but
apparently it was much better for theas
if we come down without so that's what
happened so wrote to the
you have to be crazy not to go there and
the says
you should listen to the alasar.
So like a good boy I listen
we went there over there it wasn't so
posit
inner city but we were there for seven
years and um
did you and then when you end up coming
back to New York
that that thing was finished so right
away you end up in Brighton the beach.
No. Um,
>> how did you get I mean you're
you're
I think you have a also is a sh
like you're
like you're part of a you're also like
how do you get all these like that's
very unusual. How does that how does
that happen?
>> So uh so
was the
um
the Reb. So I was doing a bunch of
things and then um there was a vadum a
flap
>> and the president talking when he came
back to New York.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Asking about the this the
different hats.
>> Yeah.
>> And the president was Rabbi Bamza
Bamzer. Of course.
>> So, he says, "I would like you to become
a vice president."
>> But this is You're living in Crown
Heights.
>> No, this is when I was already I'm
skipping.
>> Yeah.
>> I hope it doesn't confuse you. You'll be
able to handle it.
>> Yeah. Well,
>> you're listeners. You're listening for
sure. So, uh,
so what happened? So, he asked me to
become a vice.
So I tell him I'm I'm my my plate is
full. I have no
So he says the Reba.
So the Reba answered me, "Yeah, you
should do it." The Reba didn't stop.
Everybody should do more and more more
and more and more and more work.
Soon after that, I couldn't be with
together.
>> So knew the Reba, huh?
>> Oh yeah.
Soon after I asked the Reban, how do you
handle
how do you have the Reb?
>> I asked the Reb.
>> Yeah.
>> Because there's so many things that I
have to do.
>> Yes. You have to have
that's not an easy thing.
So the says you got to
the second time I had at least the
second time I had a I asked
and he wrote on the paper you got on the
set he wrote you got
I was standing very close cuz I wanted
to hear see the rebel were by the desk I
was standing and he's there sometimes
you couldn't see his his his face cuz
his hat
>> there was looking at I was looking at it
settle go like this you read it settle
fast so I stay mish close by the desk
and I could see he's writing on my tetle
your guy to matsa
years later I asked my grooner
is there a file of [laughter]
he says why you asking I says because I
saw the right on my set he he wrote your
guy to he had a pencil used to write it.
Why did he write it? So he just told it
to me.
>> Mhm.
>> He says the took her to the
I heard later that others told me that
the Reb wrote on their settle
>> things
>> things.
So think about this.
So it makes a lot of sense that he took
it to the aisle.
>> Is that right?
Where else did he take the set of that
people wrote
the either with he tore out stuff and
other stuff he sent to the incinerator.
>> Mhm.
>> It was private. So he's writing on it
settle. He got to masa.
He told me he got to he's not giving me
the settle.
So it makes a lot of sense. And he took
it to the oil. And by the way, I I was a
few times watching the rash
he would read sat people sent him
but he here what's going on is by
he answered the thing and he's taking it
to the
think about it wants his answer also to
the
>> exactly and I I know other people also
So
at least ask a for something and he says
give him an answer. So it's done and the
Reb is taking that to the oil and by the
oil he's bringing it again. This person
is there and he was by me and he said
and I told him
as I'm saying this I'm thinking you know
>> cuz he he he really he's taking with him
to doing it again.
So you have to implement it.
>> I'm just saying also.
>> Mhm. [sighs and gasps]
>> He took his stuff also that he already
answered and he already said and he took
it to the aisle
spending hours and hours by the
>> So you were in having yet? [sighs]
That's
that's that's for a different finger.
>> By the way, when you left Karacus,
you like knew that you still you need to
find the different like it was clear to
you that you need to find a different I
know some people that left. So I don't
know they settled in Kites. I don't
know. No. So I'll tell you this this is
also a very important
um
so that's all came for uh for Brighton
beach so I I had started writing my silk
I started writing it in Karacus
I started not because I'm interested in
per se
Zh
I I wasn't happy with the with the
cautious of the meat in Karacas
and there was an older a Hungarian there
and
I figured if I know how to I I could
it's going to be a different
with him
>> can have an influence
>> a stronger influence
because I didn't like some of the things
that was going on bottom line I learned
the when I learned
So besides I was learning
I think when's going to have a chance to
learn
properly
and aspe
there's a lot of lomness. So my really
is
saying and I found a lot of lness and
I started writing it and we used to send
to the Reb and I sent to the Reb and
about 15 20 pages that I typed up
about this is also what I'm working on
and the Reb answered me
um
I told this is what I'm doing.
I don't think I asked him clearly but he
said
>> if they think what they think of what I
writing
>> if they should
>> and if they're if they're even then you
should publish
those if there's a suffic and they're
even so then be be to publish it I
didn't write much I just wrote maybe on
one simmon
or a simil
I continue work on that that's
and uh during that year about that I was
between karacas and then I was focusing
on finishing that safer
and that's what I so the most of the was
then this took took a few years till I
decided I'm done with it because I was
busy with other things and pile was
printed off.
It was published.
>> It was published by Kohus and uh when I
sent in my the galley so to say the
first
um printing page printed pages I sent in
about you know about a sim or two to the
Reb
that uh ready to print it. So he said
wasn't complete.
So this was like a big thriller that
means satin red he said redi
and he he says t that was like a big
thrill
and then when it was printed I sent it
in and it's it's now behind the rebba's
desk
>> in the reb's room
>> in the reb's room in the it ended up in
a in a bookcase behind on the left
>> right behind the reba
>> which is uh I I guess it's special.
>> Yeah, sure.
>> We're talking about
>> So,
>> you're saying
so um so then there was a sats of uh
Brighton Beach. I wasn't sure if I want
to go, don't want to go.
The Reb encouraged us to go
and I was offered to uh send in a resume
and the Reb writes
I didn't get
I got to send in a resume
and maybe go for a proba.
So,
so I said, "Oh, this is in the bag." And
the president of the at that time was a
lab, Dr. Broner.
>> Mhm.
>> And he had been in touch with what he
think about this to take care by winner
etc. Went to shush
and lost the vote
by two two votes. This was like possible
such a thing. They say
there was a boiled down to two
candidates.
The board of directors didn't like the
way the other candidate was negotiating
with them. He says come back out to us
and the rest is the same.
>> My my question was
>> so so was dear about so I came to me
and I saw this as
>> Mhm.
Because I'm pas I could find pasa if I
was a businessman I'm not there for pas
I saw this especially the the my some of
my friends like and others went on
the told them the first choice is
becoming a in in a community
is not the way it works in America but
that's but I saw this other especially
the was encouraging me so I was doing
the bottom line is in Zion I think or
was the first
but I wasn't called it was already the
second I called every
I'm doing I want to go to the
I said but you're not what do you mean
I'm not I'm doing the
no you're not working for
you're not working for
You're not working
and it's not only you who asked there's
other
and others
in in America wanted
and they were not invited. I was very
upset. So I was not upset. I'm not here
to be a job. I'm here to do.
So I wrote to the Reba a letter.
I I should open up my guts. I never
wrote to the a page and a half. A page
like this 8 by 10 a page and a half. I
used to write small notes to the take
this time that from from yeshiva from I
wanted to go on and really we were we
were t piped up you know pumped up to go
to bringing ms to go I wasn't to go when
we
wrote and settle as we went into settled
together we're ready to go every day was
going sent us we're in and asked for
volunteers to go to a lot of my friends
went to we also volunteered but we
weren't chosen to go to then we went to
Karacus
then over here the only reason I was
interested in in in this is the gave me
and I saw this is
so and I'm doing the
and just because I'm doing the and
because it's not under there for some
reason
cuz it bothered me. It hurt me.
[sighs]
So answered one line.
So I went to Mosquito
sent me to New York is Dascin. I went to
David
after some negotiation he appointed me
in my neighborhood
>> besides the in the neighborhood.
>> Yeah. first you're anyways I said so I
was telling listen in my neighbor alone
there's this there this 50,000 100,000
yakas had 20,000 yakas has the over
there before I came then I came down and
then tb came down so
you you have someone to put over there
in my neighborhood you have you put in
my neighborhood I'm ready to take
responsibility for
Okay, but you're already busy and yes
yes your yes your yes your yes your yes
your yeshiva bottom line is listen I'm
going to I'll eventually hire somebody
else to help me I'm taking
responsibility I'm going to raise money
and do pool so bottom line I became
but that's a very important point I
asked I told the I'm doing the work
and then I'm the didn't tell me
The didn't tell me tell me that I'm
don't worry about it or my eyes you're
said.
This is a
you can't make yourself to beh
you want to be good
and the said everybody is yes we know
that and anybody whether you're or a
businessman you're doing
the is to a certain degree you're tak
but but this
which the made of
which is t foundation of
this is has its own
way of working and it's to be the
not to be a rabbi in
>> not enough to be a rabbi in
so itaka made a corporation and I raised
funds
And I started doing pulas and I and I
sent into that s proved me to be in my
neighborhood
and that's how it started. Now I have
ready my son and another son and uh it's
Kazak then another son in adjacent
neighborhood a daughter in another
adjacent neighborhood
and um so they took it to a whole
different uh
>> but you're saying that for
>> I think the moral of the story is that
right yeah but what what what was the
convict
I guess it could have gone either way
like you if the would have said you Is
it going right?
>> Yeah.
>> But he said no. He's saying you have to
do the extra step. You have to do the
extra.
>> No, I have to go through the system.
>> Right.
>> He he said this there's a system,
>> right?
>> What is he sending to meas?
So I go to to so I bumped into after the
sa I just bumped into rebinsky.
So I had spoken many times to masque
which which is mel
could be either mascus or melik.
>> So it's and
>> has there was under mascus not under
meal.
>> Okay. Whatever. Yeah.
>> That's already he bumped into. And I
says I want to go into I want to ask
about says says don't waste your time
New York City is under
you have to go to
so I didn't go to I didn't go to but I I
met the years before that as a bak I
used to I I my mother used to go into
also he would advise her different
things it's another discussion
>> okay winner this has been amazing and
your males. So we can be sitting here
for many many many many many many many
hours
of I think stories that we can talk
about.
So really appreciate it and uh
you should continue.
I don't I'm not understanding how you
could be a fundraising and
and I don't so maybe offer you'll give
me some tips how to juggle different
things. Thank you Rabbi winner.
Amen.
Amen. Thank you very much.