Ep. 60: How American Chassidim Were Made with Rabbi Leibel Altein

Could you describe to me like what what the process is of uh of this of the system? >> You can't describe it. No. >> I don't know how to describe it. >> Okay. If you can't, you can't. >> I'll just give you one small word, a simple observation of this Abdul. I'm saying let's imagine Albert Einstein came into a classroom of of teenagers and he he threw a sentence and that sentence is in physics or whatever it was. I'm Yasi Cayman. Welcome to among an ongoing fabin about life as a vibrant connection with theb and inspired living shaped by the way he teaches us each and every day. How are you? I'm >> not a rabbi >> Mr. Al. >> Noah >> no >> okay I I I without the certificate seems to be a a lot worth a lot more I guess. What >> the without the certificate seems to be a lot more >> I dropped out a yeshiva I'm a dropout yeshiva dropout >> okay I I would love to hear that about that but let's start a little bit earlier before we get to you I want to hear a little bit about your parents and also your za Rabis Jacobson maybe you could tell us a little bit of of Jacobson and Uh I mean I know we can talk for hours just about him. So maybe biker >> you want to start with my parents? I'll start with my parents. Okay. My father was born in America to Shayenes. His parents came from Galitzia. Both his mother and his father. He was born on the low east side. Then they his parents moved to Brownsville. Interesting. He once told us that when he was a mammer kind his father sent him to yeshiva he went to elementary school to Berlin which was in Browns New York but he once told us that when he was mish the first time he went to yeshiva to get to yeshiva they had to take two buses and cross you know a busy street that know was eastern park so the first time he had to go his father took him he showed him which buses you have to take which street you have to cross The next day in the morning he took him to the door gay >> on his own. >> Okay. Different world today. >> Today they were arrested channel the parents for child abuse. >> Right. So he went for elementary he was in Kim Berlin and then later from he went to tadas. This is already the sadics and the sadics my schol. So my father joined this group. >> So was from he learned in >> Okay. So you want to hear about my bikinis my was born in the middle of the tishnun when he was 11 years old. So his the intettle he was ready to advance. He had to go to yeshiva. Besides in he had a lamemed there was also someone who taught him and his sister limud languages. They taught him a whatever and my said he excelled in it. So when they had to go to yeshiva there was a yeshiva in Russia forgot what the name was lead or something it was a modern yes yeshiva that had so this teacher wanted my to go to that yeshiva and he wrote him um lot they should accept him so so my's father He came from families but he himself wasn't a but he was but not he wasn't good. There was no active lobaviches in his he said maybe there's one or two but he had no shakavage whatsoever >> intel >> in the so he was on the train station they're waiting for the train to go to the yeshivan leader when they were sitting standing on the on the train say waiting so a ye comes over to them he sees they're waiting for that train he tells him you're waiting to go to the sh leader so he say yes so he starts telling And when you get there, he tells them where they should which part they should dorm in which area. They shouldn't go to one section because in that section they can be boham who on chabas smoke and learn. So that was the first room that they had. They were still on waiting. Good. So they're wait they're going to wait v all of a sudden the youth comes over to them he tells him you're waiting for train to to go to that yeshiva he says and he points to a train You don't know who who it was. >> They didn't know who it was. No. Say so when they heard that. So they came to Lavage. Isaiah was 11 12 years old. He went into the milavich there there was the yeshiva but after the yeshiva they started making for he went to and they accepted him. So he was in labage. I think this was this was about summer or I'm not sure which. I don't remember exactly which year. So you learned in the then the su was just like now there was you learn you learned there was like Marstown then 770 when I went to was Newark in 770. So Lavish was also like that. When you finished the you went to the therin you stayed there for a year and a half then you went to Lavich that's was then he came to the zavage not sure which year was in labav till they left m he was there after the rebash went to the stove The yeshiva is inabl for a little bit for a year or two the yeshiva was still in labav. So my was there mish to the very very end when the last wagons left he was there. This was he was I think till about maybe I he got married in to pay and he lived he after he got married he lived where my bub was from his parents he used to travel sometimes from his house to his parents house back and forth His parents immigrated to to the USA in Tesimo. My Zeda had grand uncles, his zeda's brothers who came to America in the early 1900s or even the 1899 90s. I'm not sure exactly when they were here in America already. So they encourage my my elder za and his brothers to come immigrate to America. They were shocked. My elder was ah and his brothers were also shock. So they came to American to pay after they were here a few years. They wanted my zeda to come with his family. By then my Z was already had had two two daughters. My my aunt my mother were born in Russia. So they they worked on getting them papers to be able to come to America. So in to pv they actually came. But before then >> your your grandparents >> yeah both >> that was a very rare thing for them to to come then >> yeah what happened was before then my asked the if he should come to he says his parents want him to bring him to America if he should come. So the rebba said yes he should go. Then he was at another time and the freed told him. So after the Reb told him he should go to America and the Reb told him he should come in. I forgot who it was when he came out. So he so at he was this one was by the and he told him that. So the said to get the papers. So says that it took three months to the date to get the papers. So he was in Hulu. Then he >> Hmel and he got the papers and he came and he and he got the papers. He finally got the papers and the money he needed to go and he he left Russia. I think he left Russia is when he actually left Russia. He came to Ria. I think he was used to kiss >> took so long. >> Yeah. Until >> from of till till >> Yeah. It took way to two That's how long the procedure took, >> right? >> He had to wait. It was a whole procedure to to get the visa officially. He came as a ro in a shul. So they had to verify. So the consul at the had to verify that it's true and then they stamped it. So it took a long time till all the papers went back and forth. I think he came to America on Hey Tavis. [laughter] >> Okay. But then he got the first letter from the gim. The letter was a a letter that Yeah. I forgot. It's a a page and a half letter. This was like uh the mission statement for coming to America. >> It's like a like a >> Yeah. I think I read in his safe is when he got to America he like did a lot of effort to make sure that he could find the langa lang and like to keep >> Yeah. When he came that was Yeah. He had a came with a long neckl but they would when so he says you know you make patch they said that they had to so he said they said in America it doesn't work that way everything is finished made you know >> off the rack >> off the rack and and no stores sell lang >> whatever and then became a child from Panosa. So like I said he he had uncles who were shock came to America before him his father and they were in they were ready they but they didn't want to take him says you look like a bottle we can't take you in you know you're too batonish >> disappear >> you know so they said so they looked around then there was already a good in America there was his name was Lshin. So they went him and asked he was the officially raari for all the kabachum in in Brownsville. >> There were many. >> Yeah, >> in Brownsville. >> So they looked around. The only one who was here before was Abby Simpson was already here. I visit Abby Simpson whatever if I can help him. The kits and imitates they first they finally found the shul from Eden who had come from theettle where they came from from Russia. Name of the was ani babisk but babisk thetle and they came from was close to babres. So a lot of people from the ded was a respected member of the of the of the kil in in the so when he came so they gave him so they said sure. So my ZA they took my ZA for a test. He was there and they sus they were mabo him and he became a [snorts] one of the people Davin Mayor Greenberg his father Davin Mul. So, Mayor Greenberg, he was a kid and Isaiah said yeshiva. But since he he never was in yeshiva before so when he came to yeshiva they put him in a lower grade because he he pushed he didn't know enough to be in the in the grades of his his age. So his father came to complain to my how can you send him to yeshiva? So my says Rosa you know he didn't want to send things even earlier. So so my tutotor him a whole summer that for the next year he was able to get into a class of his age when it came when May became mitzvah. So my says yes so he started teaching him. >> Was he from originally? >> No. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So ma start teaching mayor greenwork and then some other of his started being the >> what the yeah the one of them some of them yeah there were others a whole group this was the beginning of in America soci group first was only the May and they were from Vadas. Then the group started growing from other yeshivas also. They used to come to my ZA taught them started teaching my mimm fab with them. They became my my father already wrote to the sadics from America. He has I think a letter from the from the >> So your father basically joined this group of >> Yeah. >> So he's a mur of Jacobson who later becomes >> Yeah. This group became bigger and bigger and it made a big map in America. called this group that's the original not the yeshiva but the >> so they're an extension of basically >> yeahba then wanted that from every yeshiva should be one for the holy yeshiva So each yes yeshiva had a nitig in charge of that yeshiva. A lot of interesting letters from the freeba. One of the interesting letters is he writes they should be caveman on Tuesday to learnus and he wants to know exactly when they come. He also said that an they should learn in moi and that an should take turns to to be there when they learn. So if they have shus they have someone should be there to answer them. But he wrote when they learn them. He wants to know in Europe want be are learning in America a lot of mice about the Reb then sent the freedic ever sent the Mas to be here one time he was here he wanted to come a second time but the papers didn't work out. So he sent a different from was a so he used to bring with the a lot and when he came back to I think it was so he he gave a he came before so said that's time cit so before he was busy with it. He says so he'll take a a clos [snorts] looked at every single name he wanted to know every single he writes he writes he was reading the names whatever later when the came. >> One second. But then there was also a whole group that went to >> wait. Yeah, that was okay. Later. >> Okay. >> Then so two of the Bim decided to go Tatsk. Better Levy and Avon Barnetski. They decide they want to go on that and they taken we saw the American boys coming to the primitive whatever but on holiday thereus then my uncle went >> who also married he was married already but the night was that he should go after his to go learn This was a thing in Yan there was such a thing I even in Europe to go to go after your married for >> whatever >> a year. So they went out they came to. So my my aunt made you know. So the rebbit like they took care of the kids. So what >> your father was also part of this? Oh, this was before. This was before later, a few weeks before the M. But there were letters I think from a bring in. So in toad about a month before the war, Isaiah put together a group a group of six bim to goats. My father was part of those six. They went they came tow right before the >> we had two um in the recent deer magazines we had two articles last few months just about this. >> Yeah wrote it in English. >> Yeah from him. Yeah. >> So they came they came the first Friday they were there the bomb started falling. The Fredic ever told them they should go to run to they were not thoughts. They should go to Ria. They had to go to Vash and go to Ria and he they should wait in for him to come there. So it was a Friday night. They took the train to Vasha. They came to Vasha Friday night. Where were they going to stay? They thought they'll go into a hotel. But to go into hotel you have to sign your name. So shabas said he didn't know what to do. So he went to es one of the invas was famous by the >> so he told them okay they found a place where they didn't have So after Shabas they they went on a train to go to Ria. By then the the the the war was already the bombs were flying all over the place. So they they were on the train to Ria. The the Nazis in Makum the planes were trying to bomb the trains that were going. So when the train went stopped so a lot of people decided to get off the trains the Nazis are bombing the trains. They got off on the station the what happened at the end the Nazis saw the people getting off the trains on the station. So they came down and they strayed you know the this this they load they came down and they were f they killed people on the train station. >> They bombed the train station. >> Yeah. The people who on the train meanwhile some Polish planes came and the the Nazis train planes. So the trainers coming. >> So listening to the daba saved their lives. >> Yeah. They came to they were. So when the came so they called him the used to give him my father once told me that he says his still burning from the not in Ria they wish to the Mas. So they were in Ria. So the at that time it was known that the Nazis are soon coming into Latvia. So so the there told the Bim you have to run back to America. Save yourselves go back to America. the didn't want to go. So they didn't want to go again. So then was they went they left they left they left it again came to America. Later there was a letter from the I mean there was no communications then it was in the middle of the war whatever but that's what happened so he made it back to America or another one of the ones who was there I'm not sure if he was a discuss he also one who went before yord I think he was, if I remember correctly, I think he was like a kutz before >> and before I think I >> think so. Yeah, >> I think I once heard from you s Gordon about that when he when he came back to America. So all the B what did they do? So they they were going back to Vadas learning yeshiva because before the free ever came they were invadas he said he can't I cannot let say so he he sat in the I forgot on the east side or whoever it was >> that's I think I heard from You saw Gordon also >> amazing >> the kids. So they came when the freed came they all went into. >> So your father went back then comes >> they all went >> he started. So those are the first inhiv this group. >> Mhm. >> So your father learned in 770. >> Yeah. by father lon 770 in the beginning of tsham bay on a mo shabas he he was sitting in the zal he gets a tap on his shoulder liber tapping his shoulder so he goes upstairs to fa tells him that he received a letter from labavul in Pittsburgh who was in a bad neighborhood hood. So the ali young young families moved out to a better neighborhood. take care of them. So figure said as in Pittsburgh from Pittsburgh then it was mish a few days before he used the skis I don't know how my kids have figured out it was the night of December 7th the night of Pearl Harbor >> I don't know but My father was an elder of so no for. So my father went the next morning train station went by train comes to Pittsburgh comes to the train station in Pittsburgh there'll be a welcoming committee he gets off the train station's empty but he had a telephone number for the president of the shul so he calls the number guy answers says who are you so he says to help him says what can you help us and he slams the phone down the >> nice cabal pun. >> Yeah. So my father had the address of the shaw. So I gate in the sh. So he went he he came comes to the sh. While he's standing sitting in the shaw the postman comes into the sh with a special delivery letter. There was a shamus an alter shamas and shul al shamas gives a look at the letter and he throws it into a closet. After the shamas walked out of my father was curious so he gives a look the letters from the it was the letter from theb so they didn't know yet that he was coming right. No. So my father stayed he was the there my father when he was there told him that he should send them a list of and will send them the money. My father used to say every time he went to the store to buy something to eat at mall what he should buy the he saw that in the afternoon when public schools closed So he went on the out on the streetle and he started teaching the kids. So this is only this was in one section of Pittsburgh but he couldn't teach all at once. So he slept from 770 to come help him when he wanted to expand more. So he as told him that this is and he should ask. So any question he has by >> So he basically founded the school in Pittsburgh. >> Yeah. Whatever. >> And that was that the first >> it was actually the first one. Yeah. But it was it was an afternoon school what we call nowadays. >> Mhm. But it's it expanded to it was get my father was still so it came a point that also my father's already that someone has to anel an in this whole operation so my wife's grandfather pos was in Chicago so the frig told my pos to move to Pittsburgh and take take over the whole operation. So he came to Pittsburgh and he he made a regular a regular school from this mud kadesh in the morning in the afternoon. So the school and the sea of his school he he was the one who established >> shalom. >> Yeah. But his but the god was from my father. No. >> So he so ultimately he came back to New York >> then later. Yeah. At the end of Toshen Giml he came back. It was this in Toshen Gimmel he came back to New York and he got got engaged. >> So is there a story about the with the with the I'm saying it was Jacobson New Year's one of one of his. So >> yeah, of course you know >> he made the >> Yeah, sure. Yeah, there's letters from the to my father. >> So maybe you could tell me about your mother because I know there's a lot uh there's a special yakas that the Reba had with her. >> Yeah, my mother well my mother my mother was born like I said she was born in Russia. She came to America one and a half years old. She grew up, you know, and she went to public school. There was no there was no B anchors those times. My mother had a gain. She was like top in the class, whatever. So any she had was from the home. So her understanding was is from looking at my Z [snorts] just to give you an illustration my mama's court my father used to learn my mother used to sit next to my father and my My mother used to used to learn three [laughter] >> definitely unique. Yeah, my mother was like a big debater any on any every whatever she had very strong days you know no shortest she didn't go for any shortest or anything and you could argue for hours with her and she wouldn't budge you know whatever stark cop So I want to ask about the yahim. >> Okay. >> But maybe maybe maybe [clears throat] it's better better to go chronological order. See your parents got married. Parents got married in Toshan Daled. My father after he was in Pittsburgh. They got married in Kis to Daled. In the summer of Tamalid, he started the yeshiv in New Haven. So >> that was the establishment of it. >> What? >> That was the establishment of the Yeshiva. >> Yeah. He started the yeshiva m. >> Okay. Two so far two yeshivas under under his belt. >> Yeah. >> That are still around. Yeah. then I don't know exactly when he wrote the that he he knows the area of the Bronx. I don't know exactly how could be because my elder Zeda lived in the Bronx because his great uncle he had a great uncle like I said who came and they they moved into they lived in the Bronx. So I imagine that's why he moved to the Bronx. >> Your father's >> my Z Jacobson's parents. >> Okay. >> They lived in the Bronx. >> Could be that's how he said he that's why he knew the Bronx. There was a very big Nus in the Bronx. The R there was the Malik. who also had his own thing going on in Tadas. But >> yeah, that's a separate same time as your ZA. >> Yeah, that's a separate issue. Okay. But but my elder like I said he was so he so he ded and he was like I don't know if he was and span So, so when he so the told like I said everything l went back and forth. Lupel he he started the yeshiv in the Bronx. I think it was not sure if it was to or you start in the Bronx. [snorts] They moved to the Bronx. The yeshiva lasted until the end of the lads. By then the whole Bronx was going for vice for Sher. There were no Eden left there. So that's the Bronx. >> So that's and that's So that's where you were born. That's where you >> Yeah. >> Okay. Fine. So um maybe you could tell me a little bit about there's a lot of letters from your mother to the Reb like maybe you could tell me something about it. >> [snorts] >> Oh, no. The letters they printed that was alsist without a name, but it's to my father. My mother was she was brought up in the depression years. So, she was very fetched and they had to move from one place to another. every every gashmi zika you know the it was very depressing for her. So, so my father once wrote to the Reb that my mother's so down. So there we wrote on the bottom something like that. >> Donus I think. >> What? >> Donis is that >> what? Donus. Yeah. How does she have this? >> Yeah. >> So then >> Yeah. >> Okay. Then I think it was the end of the youths was the Yiddish. Y the shame had the Yiddish and the English. So I don't know exactly why there was an editor for the English for whatever reason. So so she I don't know exactly how it happened. She became the editor from the English of the Yiddishim. So just like the talks and tales the same with the Yiddish the Yiddish was the English. So the Reb himself was mir side the talks and tales in English side the Yiddish in English. >> So your mother's the editor >> and the Reb is editing every >> every ishum. Yeah. >> Every ishum. So that means that every single English article indeed the looked over. Is that what it means? >> Every single every single article >> I think. Yeah. Then the wrote I think it was the is relying on her. >> Yeah. So are there are there are there any interesting or that your mother got because of the I think this was the reason People paid for the printing of the >> It's $1,000 each. >> Sen mention Zak mention. So one of the 10 was my mother. The Reb, everyone of these 10 people, the Reb gave a ta his these 10 people could make their own but the Reb the the one that the the Rebu's mother's name Rebana's name that was the Reb's >> so one of the hakoshas was for was for >> that was the main okay >> so the Reb gave the tasers the one with the rebbit's each one of these 10 people got got >> Oh you're saying that these people had their own hakasha also. Okay. >> Each one I have a look with the t what my parents printed on the name of my brother. So >> when he he was alive >> not >> he needed a foolish >> my brother they printed it [snorts] >> the but on the reb the one that the rebba gave the rebba inscribed every he wrote two or three shudas the lion of the shakatus And then he signed his name. So had potatoes. So So my father was once in current heights. He wanted to pick up the liquidator. So said, "My mother has to come get the then the Reb told my mother she should teach the Kalis Father Kasna." So it's like the Madria for the Kalis. So she had to come from Bronx to Crown Crown Heights. A train ride was not a very ride. could take at least an hour and a half, if not more. A car ride is a half hour. And the train itself, it didn't go through the Mosak Gishmaka neighborhoods. The train ride was an L train. It went through South Bronx. South Bronx is famous for mention history from New York. South Bronx was mafu and gans medicica as one of the worst neighborhoods in the whole America. The biggest slum areas. I mean I went to yeshiva also. I used to go to yeshiva. I went to betrandine every Sunday morning. I would take the train. So pass through. You pass through the south bronx. You looked out the windows of an L train on top. You looked out the window. All you saw was buildings. burnt out buildings for miles and miles with the windows wooded up look like a bonded out city m. So my mother was very uncomfortable. So my mother maybe the console she should be able to come with a taxi. So agreed to pay for the taxi for my mother to come to He to teach. >> He agreed for that. It must have been important. with your your brother wasn't well his whole life. What was the Reb's involvement with that? >> So, so here we have to go a little bit maybe to the because >> that was my next question. >> Okay. It has a that's why I want to say it. >> Okay. Fine. So, we have the Aline. >> Yeah. which I think was once the Jacobson he was an asan but he was a doer in fact when my mother asked the rebba about printing safer theness of my za. So or or the the story of the soul of the wrote I don't remember the exact lotion. It's printed the story of your grandfather. It is the story of >> Yeah. >> Kabadis. >> Yes. So the kids like I said before came and to he was also heavily involved with rescuing the he was a big heavy like if he was part of the vadon of Brownville he was busy in America [snorts] every in those years my hand was in the middle whatever Every Mes from the early years was involved. But Isaiah came to America. The only he knew then was Rabbi Simpson. So at the end of before before Sukus. So he went to Abby Simpson and he as simp I'll have one for you Isa Isa knew in in Italy there was a yid who supplied Europe with the like he didn't own the fields but he he was the one he lived in I forgotten which city but he there's letters from the rebuild He was the way people got yan in Europe. >> So contacted him contact I think even the yeshiva and vasha and he ordered the he got aim box of aim. Not only one he got a whole box. in the beginning had they get a sim grew wild. It's not there was no wasn't an orderly way. So they used to hire a to go to the fields to to the places where the sum grew and the cut the seum and sent to the yid he sent him to America. No one looked what this is. So the sum were you know they weren't exactly the shim. So like this as they started my zeta started more and more people started wanting yum. So my za started ordering more and more and he he bought you know what he paid a good price for them until the gazen as though something's developing here. So they started you know taking care more whatever. So twickled the whole thing when the came to visit America to sadik. So when he came in saddic so the also ordered this >> from >> no before then he ordered they should send from Europe a to him they came to my address because the address in America for was my address so the box of came also to my kachagen also came with the to America was a mutin my zeta whatever. So he stayed by my zeta a lot. So my zeda had his boxes of soach was by my in the house and he saw my so he tells my sob that's all looked at later I think went into the It's not goalless. We have we have >> Yeah, whatever. Whatever. There was a mafus with the my aunt. She was a small girl then. She was crosseyed. So they brought her into the fora. So when she they came in so the freed turned to my aunt. She was a small girl. I don't think she was even 10 years old yet. And he called her over. She should she should so he he walked she walked over to the freed told her cook. So she looked to then turn that she walked out healed the kids. So that was the mafus also told by Za should bring he told him that's how the whole thing >> that's where it comes from. >> That's where it comes from. that were mad to have the >> Yeah, >> that was very hard as a kid going to Alim trying to find one with the now. Now they come in packages. >> Yeah. So that's how that's how the thing started next year next. >> So >> and once came to America So the so once came to America so my visa supplied Bum I think from the beginning the rebu was the one who took care by the the choosing the minimum the reb took care of it. So yea was always working with on this on >> I think I believe so. So my supplied bas with the all the years I think Milan Italy was so he wrote to theb that go >> this whole issue of murkov began the whole >> the whole problem >> that's when he was mal the problem. Originally when it was in wild fields so it was no problem but once the go started making you know fields dedicated for yen so then tree is a very weak one so they had to strengthen it your mark of it. So then the Reb told my za for and be every tree to make sure it's not a >> and have to have and the Reb told him he has to have >> two people should be bic every tree. So my zed started going every summer to Italy. At that time the Reb gave my Z money to be from the Holy and the S. Every year since then the Reb used to send out to my ZA and when my Z was nifa my father took over he sent out to my father every year $501 every year >> to for the travel to Italy. >> Yeah for the sut. I remember my zedic going to Ital when I was a young ber the hs my I remember we used to go to the country in the middle of the summer my father would disappear for for a month >> my father used to travel with my za my zi used to tell us it's a bush ess is a bush it's not a big tree it's a bush full of thorns and harov a lot of time was on the bottom even under the under the ground. So, and dig up if you see you could tell if there was like a little mound of earth. So, you had to dig with your hands until you can see where they're going. So, it was wasn't a big, you know, automated work. was it was like dark. So Isaiah had a flashlight to be able to see was doing every year the Reb would send out the beginning of the summer theat was in the business and then the Reb to all the >> Yeah. So every was a different amount according to how how many people was. So the order >> from other places >> no even from Calabria. >> Okay. But >> and he used to pay for it used to get for the sake was all in cash $100 bills. >> When did the Reb pay for it? So the Reb paid rightb cash. >> Yeah. So my father my father was show had stacks of $100 from the right. So when he wanted so was $100 bill from the >> and this is all the years >> it's paying cash and your father would go into the to receive it or was no >> what happened was so when it came when this when they had to give the so usually it was the night of so my father used to bring the Reba suitcases of a >> you you were part of it also. >> No. >> Her father would bring let's say 30 and in they put a long table the whole way through and my father would unpack the suitcase. than the Reb would I don't I'm not sure if my father was there when the Reb chose the but my father always had a with the with the Reb the Reb would had a those so they would ask him all kinds of things there a lot of things about what's doing in in Italy with the fields over there but a lot was private family things so that's when a lot of times my father would says the Reb about my brother. He needed special help. He was totally paralyzed. I think he had ALS. They call it MS or ALS. I forgot which one. I'm not sure what he had. But he was totally paralyzed. And the Reb used to tell him what give her what to do. I think it was my father always wanted revolt after the finished picking the so he called my father back in and my all the rejects my father would take all the rejects and pack them back in a suitcase so one time I forgot so after my my father packed it So the reb asked my father. So So my father said, "So the came out and I was standing ting the whole way." >> You cuz you were helping tak your father. >> I was going to sh it back to the car. >> So the threw open the door. He saw me. >> [laughter] >> That's the extent of my involvement. >> Okay. Uh but I'm Mama behind the scenes. You're involved also because there's also a whole business of selling a that's a whole thing, right? >> My father my father didn't come to Crown Heights to sell the sig. He used to hire people to to sell for him. Hold Satan used to sometimes sell the sum for him. my cousin Yosi old time. Then came a time he asked me to help out in the store. So for a while I started so I started helping out in the store not by myself. I just I used to go in but I didn't run the whole thing. I was busy in the you know was not >> which I'll talk about soon. whatever wasn't shy that I should take over a business. But then after my father moved to my parents moved to so then I took over the business. >> Mhm. So um to the >> and so my father used to go to Italy after my pet even before then my suffered a massive heart attack. So in the summer of the doctors didn't let him go already. So then my father went to Italy and mazar it started with I think mazar started with my zeta. He told me a lot of times he picked a sing with my za already >> cuz he was there you know. >> He was there. Yeah. >> Yeah. So he helped my zeta but after my zetas went stopped going. So my father Michel were the ones who picked us up in Lammed V. My father suffered a heart a major heart attack. So he the son of Lammed Vovv he couldn't go already. So then started going with Mishel Lazar. He was also lived in in what? He lived there. >> He lived in Milan. Yeah. Milan. Yeah. >> Right. >> Okay. So um >> so since then so were the ones who picked the forb all the years. He still goes on the field when he has but both of them trained their children in the clan. So they work together with you. >> Yes. Yes. >> So if you want to buy a from the place that has a you have to buy from it. Okay. Um business for business. But it's >> I said it. You said it. >> Okay. Okay. >> That's it. 1 plus 1 equals two. You don't have to. >> Okay. >> Very good. Um, so I want to move on a little bit to you >> to me. >> I think we're ready. So you're born in the Bronx. >> Born in the Bronx. I went to my father's yeshiva till I was about 11 years old. >> So what was the first? So you're not living in Crown Heights. What was your first uh like seeing the saying exactly the first time? >> I don't remember. >> I think I don't remember. Maybe I remember with my brothers. I'm not sure. >> Younger brother. >> My older brother. >> Older brother >> was born to Zion. No, I don't remember. I think I remember coming to 77. I mean, we used to come very often to my ZA's house for PE other times >> and he was living in Crown Heights then >> sure. >> Yeah. So, you grew up being around around the rabbis. What is your like your earliest times remembering the rabbi? >> Not a time I'm saying like what was the what was the what was going on? Fabian >> I only remember two mares very vague you know I don't have clear memories I remember domining in the clan all upstairs yontiff you know packed in the CL and I also remember a little in the shash I wasn't in the shalash I was with my mother. The vibr show was around the shellash goes down but around like where the where the building is the left side the apartment building. So the the women used to go around used to look down in the shellash >> like by by behind the gate. >> Yeah. So you look you they used to look down into the shellash. So I was with my mother I remember by think I was a little kid I don't remember I don't even remember what year it was my father used to fabangans >> so those years you were learning so I so that that those are your early memories from the >> okay my father used to slabas as a kid remember going to to the holes >> the fabang in the halls. >> Yeah, I remember I remember my father help me to hold that's all in the >> Yeah, in the I remember my whole title remember I remember I don't know some vague memory of title. >> So you're learning in the Bronx for the whole elementary you learned there. >> Yeah. So you didn't go to Bedford and Dean. >> What? You didn't go to bed? No. Your father's >> Yeah, I went to I went to to betim I think I believe >> when you were already >> 11 years old 11. >> So you basically grew up it's like it's like a basically like like you're growing up in the Bronx. There's no other kids like >> like like kids grow up today like that that type of thing. >> Yeah. weren't a lot of from we lived in a neighborhood where there weren't a lot of yidden >> right so you end up going to bed and dean at 11 years old >> 11 years old I went to bed my brother was already in bed before me >> so and then you're learning in the then you had your mitzvah you're already in the misgus >> yeah and for I imagine Yeah. Is anything that you want to anything from those early years when you were younger that that's worth sharing? >> I don't remember anything any I don't remember any before my father. In other words, not for a kid to say. >> Mhm. It was my father sat with a pen. You know those days he wrote it out on on paper 20 pw written pages. was so the rebard me on the So the rebug is given. So I tried to answer you know question till I got stuck in my father was embarrassing me I was going to golf all I remember is that that's all I I think he said >> you didn't know what that meant then >> at that time. >> Yeah, >> probably not. >> Uhhuh. >> That's all I remember from the mitzvah. >> Okay. So I imagine once you're in uh whatever they call it high school in Bedford, you started becoming a little more. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Whatever. I think you told me that you listen to Yeah. tapes you listen >> later on. Okay. But this is this is so I said we used to come a lot of times to my fore. So like this I used to go every shabas used to go back home to the round for Shabas. Once in a while I I stayed in Crown Heights for Shabasim when I was after mitzvah. A lot of times I would stay for shabasim by not every shabas but but a lot of times I didn't understand the fabings was over my head completely. I do remember that. >> Yeah, I remember the sell was right. >> The whole story. Yeah. >> Story. >> Okay. That that was forgot. I forgot what year was. I remember from the like Remember [snorts] when the Reb said the Ma I forgot they said I forgot somebody only knew one. I remember that was >> so you're starting to uh >> So then also I learned in Bedford every Sunday already was a mifa Every Sunday Rabel used to the whole mifa would sit around the big and would >> for the for the kids >> for the kids. Yeah. So when he used to the rashis you know he used to he used to so we we'll be able to [laughter] hop. So later when the Reb said the by the fabers so the the rashes were already easier to follow you know kash >> you're saying you got used to the style >> you got used to >> we were able to understand it yeah >> so so then we I so then I start we started understanding the already I feel you know was easy to follow wasn't started and I was already getting older. So we already learned by the real officially >> in Bedford. >> In Bedford. So like were you by that time you already >> I would say much more. Yeah. >> So were you like were you like part of were you like going to Khaz? Were you doing that type of thing right away or are you still these things take time? >> I used to go to I used to go to >> Yeah. >> Okay. So what happens afterwards? You you I know you were milk chicken. No, I'm saying I know you're in [laughter] >> I know you're in Melbourne. That was >> a lot later. >> That was after you're learning 770 already. >> Yeah. >> So So just give me chronologically what happens. You you was my last year in Bedford. I learned in Newark. >> And that's when you were uh listening to tapes of of previous years. >> No, that was in Betin Bedford. Still in Bedford. >> What happened? So I had two who had tape recorders. In those years a tape recorder wasn't the little tiny cassette. It was gigantic machines with reels >> real tore. >> Real tore actually had three Arank of Golding from Ann Arbor. So, so he he had the tapes from his father from all the old years >> from the Yuds >> from the Yuds. Well, who had tape recorders, but Mav had a tape recorder. So, I borrowed the tape recorder from Mav in the dormatory and the tapes I borrowed from Any. He gave us tapes. So, Thursday night Lights out was officially 9:30. So after there was a dormatory, council, whatever. So after lights out 10, 10:30, I used to take the machine go down to the to the basement where the kitchen was plug in the tape recorder tapes. Then there was no there weren't kadesh all the was it was partially unavailable. So I used to write I used to write the I couldn't write as fast as I could. I started writing the fabings. >> So you're getting used to the >> what? >> So you're getting you're you're training yourself. You trained yourself forever forever >> to to write to write a little bit >> infas and faban I used to go to a table to sit was much higher than but I took a pad and I wrote pashb spoke >> during the week >> yeah was during the week I wrote pashm as fast as I could for >> so you were just doing this for yourself because you wanted to understand because you wanted to understand That that that's basically what you what you were doing and the the reason why you were listening to the Y was for no reason was because you had that's what you had available. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. There was I used to sit sometimes till 6:00 in the morning push it six hours straight listening to Yeah. >> It wasn't available those you know those years everything was >> okay. So >> this was we came to 770 >> and then the whole Australia happens >> and yeah at the end we learned in 770 in the in the middle of the winter. I forgot exactly when [snorts] I get a tap on my shoulder. Benyon in Klein calls me out of that Australia. My brother was from six. So this was so said was the rabbit climbing. >> See? >> Yeah. >> He you have he's asking you to put your name on that and you have no gaz problems whatever. >> So I said yes my niggle was cap from Baltimore. So he was also but called each one separate when the tra is only so officially we didn't know each other we learned together but the whole winter when was >> without speaking to each other about it. >> Yeah. So just looking at the the t the tension. >> Mhm. >> So we understood that we're both under the same tension. and so always the the day after the grace of so it's So the bim were pushing but in mo I was standing there. So gives me a tap on the shoulder to go into Kadakov's room. Soakov tells him that foreign Australian >> yeah green. So he also went he saw he said he saw it settle with the rebar. So the reb had a shim of all the he said he saw I think if I remember correctly he said he saw the reban on the settle whatever so this was we had to get visas what happened was the first went on tours visas so when they wanted so the government there you know once so they want us to come on Student visas. A student visa was much more >> complicated. >> Complicated. So it took time until the visas came. L we left. No was Thursday. That Thursday lip brought us safe potato from Morocco. Maka he brought it into the reb's minion and we so we rolled into I rolled into 770 for I come into the hallway and I see in the hol of the bank came down this was up. Okay. >> And after then it was the beginning of Nissen. Then this the kitchen was in 7:49. That's where the yeshiva kitchen was. But from the was close. So how so where did the B meet? There were buses that took the B to bet and Dean three times a day to eat breakfast, lunch and supper. The bus driver was his name was Pearlman. I think Pearlson I forgot his name. was where her name was. After dabbling used to go into the Reb came out from the Reb's room with a bottle of wine vine. So brought in the bottle of wine to the Z and told. Meanwhile, this palish guy, he was sitting bum g you know he was trying to the boss to get breakfast to go to bed came running out of meas. So we stayed in the Z upstairs in the gate was sitting under windows facing Kesh. So the is around and sat down next to go from the vine. That was Thursday morning. in the afternoon. So they told us we were going after Shabas to Australia. So we're going told us the get ma so we should prepare paper bags to to put on the mat. So after we all went into into the Reb's room was by his desk said the is printed already. And then the Reb said we should take matzah. The didn't give us matzah. The box was in the back of the room. Then the reba gave us guilt in Australia. He gave every one of us a 20, a 10, a five, and a one. $36 >> in American currency. >> American currency. Yeah. This was Thursday after I remember and gave him to the Reb was Thursday afternoon. Thursday night was officially from the so the Reb gave out the in time for the sh there was mish like seven eight wines of marmis on the on the gishim >> [snorts] >> The callous is ready. >> The first words. So for He said what the sun is. But was this I always like when the on the said of Australia. I remember. as as a so officially we went for two years. We're coming home after two years, >> right? name. There's no such thing temporary. >> So before we go back to Australia, I forgot to ask you something. I just want to move back a little bit before we continue to Australia and there was a story that you had with um I think it was inis about about with yourself. Can you tell me about that a little bit? >> Yeah, I wanted my parents wanted me to finish high school. My mother mainly I wanted to quit English. Oh, which year was it? I think it was it was the summer of I asked the I wanted to quit English but my parents don't want. So the Reb said I should talk with my I learned then by Yank he spoke to them but he didn't get anywhere then was he was in the Nile heapel with a m The next year there was a whole geft I was it's a question of skipping a class because the yeshiva wanted to take half the ka and skip them a class somehow my if I stop going to English he'll be able to skip Hey so pale that's what happened. So I didn't finish English so I skipped out of English. This was going into that was the that's the whole my >> that's what happened. >> That's what happened. >> That's interesting. So um let's go back to Australia. So you had the rabbis with the Musco >> and then you went to Australia. We went to Australia. >> You were there for two years. >> Two years. Yeah. >> Anything you want to mention from that that's important. You were there. You learned you were with the >> learn. Yeah. There were six bim and they all the the other bim weren't in the yeshiva. There was no official rash yet in yeshiva. So every B from the six B each one learned taught three or four B nigla and cameas whatever there for two years we came back right before Nissan we had an interesting story coming back in Australia there was a yid Klu Gant. He was the Reb's cousin. Klu Gant was from the Hanovski family. I believe he had an older brother Mayer who was left in Russia. But they had a a pair of fillin when went out with all the the so this pair of film was by his older brother Mayor >> in Russia >> in Russia when left Russia so his older brother said he doesn't want to keep the tin here because well who knows what's going to be he so he gave it to him to take out of Russia so this pair fill was by then his older brother was nif in Russia. So he this happened right before we came back. So he decided so he decided he's going to send back the film with us >> to send the film. But so our heshel greenber was he was the elder of he was like the from all of us. So he so he picked him and told him I'm making you a to bring the to the but he told him that he wrote to theb he wants that. So we came back. So we wrote to the wre theb wrote back it was the next day in the morning the went to the ale. So told us we should all be waiting before goes out to the hill. So you were all standing there. Then was the time when the and the spoken So we came of from he gave each one of us the of the from the and the reb was standing in the doorway of the reb took a step forward towards us but he kept his foot that the door should not slam because when gave the so the reb took the tomb with two hands so he didn't want to use one hand to keep the door so he shouldn't have to open the door with the handle with his hand so when he after he took the tomb he kicked the door back open with his foot and he went in with the tomb that but what happened was when we were coming to New work. So we stopped in Hawaii. We went through customs in Hawaii. So we went through customs. We all had our trill in our handbag and they looked they checked our handbags. So when by the customs he made everyone open up the trill bags and open up take out the from the diamonds the only tr that they open was the soon I think I read somewhere that it was like the bak were able to look at it >> what >> like for a day or two it was like sitting it was like the bak were able to look at it >> I don't remember >> I read that somewhere I don't remember that. >> Mhm. I remember film. >> Oh, maybe I'm mixing up. >> Alter's film I believe was there was a from Montreal. His name was Zurich and he brought from Vaultist film then the from the VA and you were able to get stuff out of out of there. in a museum that you're able to get it out. That's why there was there's a lot of kadesh from from thebot. It was taken from there from he brought the film. I believe it was the rebik. I think it was after and he said I forgot who was holding him. He said so after there was a long line that I remember I was a bet. >> I mixed up. Okay. But I don't remember. >> And those are in the library. It >> was in the library. It's in the library. Yeah. I remember to there was a whole thing with the shin on the on the shr the t of the shin was different than the way the suffering used to do it. So they were brim who had took aluminum foil to make you know to press it on the film to be able to make to get the se of the shin. There was a bot in Montreal. I forgot his name. And they sent it to him that when he makes the shin nowadays. >> So that's the shin that we uses based on that. >> The was in the in the bottom of the shin. A mole first there was like a V, an upside down V. And from the from the bottom from the top of the V they made but but also like like this but it was a very long rego and well it wasn't a long rego. It was like it didn't come to a point down. >> It was like flat on the bottom. It was like a upside down box like this. The bottom was flat. >> So not pointy. >> Not pointy. But now the bottom of the shin is a was a long it's a longgole, >> right? >> So you you come back from the So this is the surprise for >> surprise for bringing I think. >> Yeah. It's a surprise for bringing >> and you stayed in 770 till you got married. >> I stayed in 77. Yeah. >> So >> So what do you want to share about? So, so that's when the made so the mat the made them that we should learn after summ from 9:30 to 10 to 10. That was something that you were involved in in starting >> that was to this thing. >> I don't remember >> something about um the 10% from the >> was >> 10% from the Kashim. >> Oh, that was something. We'll soon get to it. >> Okay. What was that? >> One second. >> Okay. And this was so we learned it was became a big but that's how began from this learning start I forgot So, and we stencled it. I don't know if I explain what a stencil machine is, a blue stencil, a blet. And we used to Fernand throw the blood on the tables in 770 through the summer. So from this, so there was a We're best at our so type and we wrote a we wrote the Reb that we want to print from all the and we gave to the Reb a copy of the shallot of the of the of the cover the Reb as of course that's all. So the >> that's why I changed >> and I know it said $600. So the wrote 10% from mosquitoes was from the Mes. Yeah. Many meas. Yeah. So is that how you got involved in this? Yeah. What? What are we talking about? >> What? >> Which >> when like what is it? Which is that? >> Gimmel was okay. The started from braces being ma I used to I was close with so I used to >> was already doing >> was already in the already >> he's older than you >> what >> he's older than you he was he was younger man he was a bakim he was a younger man already >> okay >> I think so I'm pretty sure yeah yeah I think he was already younger I was surely a booker. So I used to whatever. because he he felt that we need a new in order for the start wanted to be able to focus on the bench, right? forgot whenever stopped being I think it was stopped for a few weeks but then the started again forgot exactly how it happened that's when he they offered him the the Roshiva in Miami. So the question was he like he couldn't be with the ken zak if I remember correctly he said if he has summon a door some health then filthy I can tobe them so that's when I went into the so I they asked me to come work in the vat work on the sus Bak still gimbals in the middle some giml but what happened then later on in lab so then there was a void official void so that's how I went came into the sudar >> that's how you became you know very involved. >> I'm g >> So what's the job of what do you have to do? >> So what does that mean? >> So you had all the of all the years. How do you do it? Yeah, of course we had we had we had we had of certain other words we had like you can use this. >> So the the vad would make these durselves. We forgot how the rishim started. saw and you saw a that that's not printed. It's not muggi yet, but it can be used for certain. So became bigger and bigger. >> So is to take the take a what? So could you describe to me like what what the processes of uh of this of the system? >> I can't describe it. No, >> you can't. Meaning you won't or or >> I can't. >> You can't. What does it mean? >> I don't know how to describe it. >> Okay. If you can't, you can't. So what was the >> I'll just give you one small word a simple observation of Abdul I'm saying let's imagine Albert Einstein came into a classroom of of teenagers and he he threw a sentence And that sentence is in physics or whatever it was. But he said as a sentence that a teenager could can repeat it. And let's say the teenager, someone has a good mind, a good and he writes down the sentence is whatever it was, whatever it Imagine you have a call and he says this one line is what's leaked in them. That one line in order to understand what that line really means. So first you have to learn the and then that that line can have layers and layers. I'm just trying to explain it in a way that you should be able to understand what I'm You're saying this is the function of the >> Yes. A transcript was g but try to understand So again on a hurdle one layer deeper than the simple whatever said that was one of the the grave that So write it. Yeah. Like name. So I used to say again and again. this. >> So, and that was a big part of of the >> So, that's the that's the first line. You want a description? I can't describe it. I'm just explaining one small >> right before we could even start preparing >> and asking the questions was often. >> Sure. Even though this could have been from years before. >> Yeah, sure. >> Mhm. And what what was the process of um there was how many like can you take me take me through the basic process of how >> that was every two times. It's hard to describe nowadays what a typewriter is. It's like telling people what a dinosaur is. I used to type up type up the you look in sikas kish now old sik k skish. So you see what a typewriter looked like. So he used to give him the sika double space a lot of space between the lines so I would edit it. So he had a lot of space in between on the side of the paper. That would be the hag number one. After the reb was m the first time the then it went to the printer. It was type set. In those years type setting was not like today when you print say for you everything you do on a computer. You had all the graphics are on the computer. In those years the machines for printing were called lintop lino type machines. Linux's machines was based. It was hot metal like burning hot soft. And when you typed it imprinted a piece of metal, one line on that one line, it imprinted whatever you typed in. So one line at a time, one shoot at a time was typed. So let's say your page, you had columns, you type, let's say a whole column. But when you typed it, it was one thin column. So a let's say is eight pages. Let's say eight pages. Every page has two columns. 16 columns. But in the original it was one long 16 columns. One long one long thing of six of 16 columns long of of of type. So in order to proofread it if there were mistakes on the typing. So the printing shops had a machine that it would it would take this long long let's say 16 pages one long 16 page one column and would come out on a on a long sheet of paper a thin column a long column this was called gollies that's what it used to be called this was all all books printed that way at that time. So, so when you proof read it, you read through that long column, if you found a mistake, so there was a mistake on that line. So, how do you correct it? So the printer had to re retype that one line and then he had to go through the metal all the metals find the line of metal that had the mistake, throw it out and replace it with the new one. And then obviously he made another one to see maybe when he retyped he made a mistake. That was the second proofreading. So the reba was after this after the the was type set. So first we proof read it ourselves and simple typos were corrected and then another one was made until it was clear from all print typos and then it went into the reb for a second type. the goalies a set of goals of the whole sika the sik itself with the mm is separate the rebu would then edit a second time the sika this wasn't for proof reading the proof reading was done already and here's a lot of times the reba the second time would write holy yonim that weren't on the first go that was the second a lot of time the would write a piece for example short, concise and kadesh and he would say to translate this into Yiddish was not word for word >> but you know to expand it should be written out they would say to a lot of times you can see on the first sometimes they would write a short piece he would leave like a little circle on the The circle always meant that was going to go over it again a second time. A lot of times whenever wrote a mim wrote a mazal and he didn't write the mim but he would leave a little circle to fill in the mim and then after after the hag we didn't understand something we would ask the rebba and sometime would a third time >> not always >> what >> not always >> not always sometimes in other is sometimes the Reba just answered the question. But sometime after the Reb answered the question. >> So that caused that whole priestess had to be rewritten. >> Right? So if nothing needed to be rewritten then >> nothing had to be rewritten major. So then >> right >> then but if something major had to be rewritten so we could ask the Reb a third time and Sante Mia a third time certain pieces at least. >> Mhm. Um, and you were only working on the on the not in the >> No, only the >> only only look. >> Yeah, only look at the >> you were involved in in writing. >> A little bit. Sometimes I certain times I wrote certain I I wor I worked I worked a little bit and sometimes some I wrote cyhelish and cyhel a little bit very very little bit once in a while um so I want to so I want to ask you maybe specific uh sikas so first of all there's of um ta with something to do with the rabbit >> I don't remember some when the spokesson had a injury >> I'm not sure could be when theson fell and then it was the wanted to be my I forgot which year it was. So it's connected to the >> why. Yeah. >> Okay. Um and also so you doing this as a bak but then you got married in the middle. How did how did you end up uh doing this afterwards? Well, I worked then again the reb but the Reb said in the beginning. So we started in the beginning every week we printed a built did this. >> Yeah. What was interesting a lot of those after Shabas the leot was printed the Reb sent out the leot with a hashm a new on the >> show I give to them >> even though it was built in mug but the rebb added on the sikhas Now later years we use a lot of these for the >> later on lady. Yeah. >> So >> so so at the end of when it came to so we decided you're already a younger man at this point. What? >> You're already a younger man at this point? >> Yeah. I got married. Yeah. >> And it was a question if you should stay in the or >> when I went into I asked if I should go into I was a dropout like I said because because of the so I was I I didn't keep siddha because I was already in working full-time on the sikas. So what happened was to go into the cable you needed a settle from that daughter. I wasn't ashamed of his daughter very mental told me I'm going to give you a settle anyway that say should take me into when I went to I as if I should go to kale the didn't answer me what was my sh my shil was because if I didn't I didn't write it clear to the but my was that I go into the c I should stay in the sikas Even though so that was the premise of the sh so grand that was the way I understood it. I never went into >> straight to the >> I stayed with the so >> to start >> what the reb should be again. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. And the rebel no on he just started being mik gave him there was killed on so that's when I started again working on the snow from to there was no heick Can >> every single week? >> Every single week. >> The last >> that was the last one. Yeah. >> It was always interesting to me to look in. Sometimes you can see that the Reb references something in the that's touches upon something that's in that week's like some once in a while you see such things. >> Yeah. Does that make sense? What >> sometimes in the fabangans you can see something that's connected to >> sometimes >> to to so very interesting thing the rebba has fabans every week there's new fabangans and there's a whole >> a separate a separate a separate line of >> yeah it's like a separate line of the coming out also every week >> I think um that was also a every week there's there's from theb >> what can you tell me about the hashkar that you saw the putting into invaded. The reason why the stopped at the end of was because it was taking too much was taking too much time. You would be faded. The years that I was in Los Kadesh originally was very very very a lot of Hagore. You saw Bashmi I think it was much more than in the later years. I think after after the Reb stopped being mir twice to I think not 100% sure >> stopped being >> stopped twice only once I don't remember clear. So you're saying that it took it took uh it took took a lot of the's time. >> Yes, that's there's no question. And how how quickly would the like what was it say that how quickly did the was was the >> a lot of times they saw the taking taking it home at night and coming the next morning with the week. So he was up a whole night. I don't know how many hours. >> There's a time >> in the later years whenever. So they saw those were standing on the would come out in the middle of the night and put out in the middle of the night 2 in the morning. Yes. Sh will tell you. >> Yeah, we had him on >> what? >> He uh >> we had him interview. Okay. I think there was a time like on I don't know if it was the he he wrote it wasn't on the m it was on the I believe the said >> give me You ded human. >> Yeah. >> About about making us human. >> Yeah. No, not about the see. So here the whole see it says she's saying that was done on tishov. Oh >> so one of these her orders. >> Mhm. >> Forgot which one the sent out >> after >> what? after >> remember he was >> never happened before >> and >> but I remember he was he was he was so he told us stories then I remember he told us he he worked inudnat. He told us then about one time a countis came out aunt from aunt of my modem and the reb sent him to bal >> the printer >> to print for print but the kudum was weren't ready yet could have his hand on him >> yeah and The Reb told him to wait till he'll soon have the kitsum. The Reb gave him the kitsud. He said, the kitsud the wrote his likebud, >> right? >> I remember he told us I remember clear. So those are >> he wasn't like he was he was such and his spiralist from the the sent out. So he told us >> so that's >> so he told us that the kitsum the reb gave the ksurim it was typed but the hagos the rebba was with you know added it and with >> was it was it written by theb >> I don't know I'm just saying this this is what I remember >> right >> was written by the I I think I heard people people people theorize that I don't know >> they theorize it but he said that whenever gave it to him to to bring to the printer the on it was like rewrote pieces besides there was also sometimes that the asked certain to be prepared for right >> what I mean for example there's like a on >> like on an Indian like um about not getting operations before uh before Shabas. Yeah. >> It's it's in it's in the back, right? >> But it's not it's not just a regular format to look at. Is that something that the Reb asked the to prepare these type of things? A lot of those things were prepared for ham or hapard. >> So that was done by the vad. >> No reveal used a lot of used to prepare these things >> like in >> right [clears throat] or the raum. >> Mhm. >> So it was printed the first time in hapardis. Which had >> you say that you say this the big the hadum the famous haden >> the l I think >> but it was many years later >> many years later >> like me I think >> it was printed in me >> Mhm. But but it was no it was the first time it was it was it was in day >> then >> yeah come out short. >> Mhm. >> So that was uh so this this is a different Indian that wasn't that wasn't part of the vat. But there also >> I think the onam there's a whole story if I remember correctly. So he he he made an on the and he gave him to the >> on his own >> I think. He was a bak. He was a I don't know if he's I don't know exactly the issue [snorts] a couple of times more than two times [snorts] there's but then the reb was only revealed Sugi great the ones for Rambam. Here's the >> onib >> the beer and the ones. >> Not the whole thing. Not the one was the first big. So then so we added the the piece on the end of the ram and the so we added that and was then that's that's when the kus came out haden >> you also did some noi >> what >> then the kadi >> that was the only Yeah, I don't remember doing any other. Why did I do the I don't remember >> the famous the every >> Mhm. >> Why did you end up doing that? >> Why I end up do I don't remember I push don't remember how it happened. >> Maybe not remembers. >> Okay, we'll have to ask him. What's interesting about is added, but the main thing was on in the so wrote that was the >> the getting back to >> right and that and that's the >> so the said that was the >> yeah the when the rabbi gave out the gave it out >> and with all the all the memor from the >> in there so miss it. Um, was there anything you're able to see that the Reb invested into the Fabangans before? >> What is there? Or was there anything you're able to see like how the Reb invested into the Fabangans before before the Fabangans? Something that you saw in the >> that you have to ask people who knew what was doing by the Reb in the house on the Simmon. Okay. So, I want to ask you a question. Um, a lot of people ask me this. What? Not a lot of people ask, not me. A lot of people ask what's the what's the I I I asked Shapiro about this, but what's the the kadesh or yiddish? And then then it changed. Was there any like I I I heard there was no from the about it but was there >> wasn't they had there was a bush didn't understand there was a big a big demand. >> So therefore it got changed. >> Okay. So the the last thing I want to ask you about the is that a number of people told me that in the later years specifically I don't know nalif that you used to do and that a lot of people I interviewed somebody who bal didn't even speak English then but he went to your in English that was that that was the best. So, how how did that start? >> I don't know how it happened. I'll be honest with you. I don't remember how it happened. >> And specifically in English, like like >> I said, I don't remember how >> someone asked you. >> I forgot. I forgot how it happened. I have no idea. I don't remember these things. >> Okay. So, besides besides working on Besides working on, you also um did the every week. Okay. So I want I want to ask you um some personal things. So first of all moving away from the back to the other things. So you lived in 706 Eastn Parkway. Yes. For many years. >> So I heard that uh there with the Revitson 706. >> You know the Reb was the Rebson was close with Rebson Rifken. You know that >> barriker. Yeah. He lived in the building. >> Belken lived in the building on my floor. Gra a few a few a few doors. So when when passed away and she was sitting Shiva the Rebbitz came to seven walked >> the Rebbitson. >> Oh the Davidson came >> the came to not the Reb the Rebbitson. I was punk walking out of the building and the reverson came. So she stopped me and she asked me if I know where where the rifkin's apartment is. >> You ever spoke to her before? Never. >> So I said and I went so I went into 706. [snorts] I went with her in the elevator to the third floor and I and I showed her which door it is. That was the extent of the of the after we got married got married in Kislv and remember was Shabas Khan. So, Lil Shabas. So, I So, we were going to 770 for Cababola Shabas. So, I was walking with my Revson out of 706 towards 770. It was very quiet. So, I don't know. And I don't know. I got the feel. So, I turned around. D was coming to show behind me. [crying] for he walked on the side. I think this that once our kids were playing in front of the house >> front of the building >> in front of the building with a ball and someone threw the ball at us and was rolling on the street and the was coming to 770 and the stopped it with his foot. That's what she says. I don't remember the story. >> That mom stopped the ball. Um >> okay. So 706 my bedroom my bed was to Eastern Parkway. So whenever used to come we all had windows along Eastern Parkway. We also had windows on Brooklyn Avenue. So when the used to walk to 770 we could see the coming from Brooklyn Avenue and coming down Eastern Parkway. I remember my shri was once in the house with my aunt with her aunt with her sister Reson Gorellic they were in the house could be a song the third her third sister was also there remember they were how they were running from the bedroom to the to the front of the house to see the reb going you know >> what I do remember is the famous shabas So >> second time. >> Yeah. The second after I was washed out. So So after used to come home. So I remember that chabas after. So I came home and I lie down. After an hour my window was open. I hear a big tuml. So I open the window. I say what's happening? So somebody was a says 770. I came in the middle. By the time he came, >> so you're uh you lived he of 770 basically. >> Location, location, location of English. >> Yeah. >> Um there's a story something happened when um when was uh was not wellb. Yeah. had was >> Yeah, they he once came to New York to Sloan to be in Sloan over here. He had to be here for Chavis. Well, Pale, there was an apartment. It was in the middle of the winter and there was wasn't proper heating in this apartment and he caught pneumonia and what with with the chemo so his body couldn't fight it. See, Mameish was like fell Mish into a coma. >> He's in Manhattan. >> What? >> He is in Crown Heights. He's in >> No, he was in Manhattan. >> He the first time they caught by him was many years earlier at that time. So, I wasn't I wasn't it was I wasn't even married then, you know. I don't know who went to the rebba his brothers sisters maybe and after that whatever we went >> you weren't married >> no I wasn't married >> okay >> this was way before I was married >> okay >> as a velomatess whatever >> okay >> we went over to the Reb. Then I think I went with >> You say when he was with pneumonia. >> Yeah. Went to the Reb. months later I went we went to visit him when he was already but he was home already for a short while. So he went home to visit him when he was home. So he told us then told us that when he was in that coma he felt like you know you have these after death experience >> out of body experience >> out of body you know you're falling into a a dark hole. He said he felt he was falling a fault on a fault. He saw the I forgot. He said the Reb told him and he woke up. Oh, he told us that was in Kis later. It was in Nissen. In the beginning of Nissen, he contracted menitis and he fell into another coma. The doctor told my get out of this coma. So again, we went over to the Reb again. The Reb gave this. >> Yeah. So we went for Pes to Pittsburgh. I remember I went out of we went we flew from PES. So I remember we we came to Pittsburgh. So someone had to say so in the hospital remember I brought the mat he had machinery you know he couldn't so I figured gave him matzah. I came to the second. So I told him, so I told him the second night I told him, "How was I allowed to bring bring I had to carry the mat and the motor? bring. So on the spot he tells me This was after a coma. Getting up from a coma for this week on Thursday >> of >> and they went you went to the before before then. >> Yeah. or forgot the day before I was in New York before I my she used to write maybe hour on hour to the every hour and another settle. So she remember I went over the answered for >> to her. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Like what? >> Like whatever. I forgot already what the answer was. >> Too much. >> So I figure where was this? This is >> I went after when going back >> and you said something to the >> I said something to the Reb I don't remember even what that >> no more >> then he passed away right afterwards >> what >> he passed away right afterwards >> a day a day day or two later >> but lance the Last answer for the Reb was to my was I remember we were sitting in the hospital and uh the blood pressure was going lower and lower label was Yeah. >> Whatever. >> Mhm. >> No, >> you had a >> You want your personal stuff? >> Yeah. But I have another I have another one. You You had a story when your wife was going going into labor. >> What? >> With your wife going into into labor. >> That's what happened. [snorts] So she gave birth in my man in Borak. So Shabas morning it was Shabasel. So on the way to Crown Heights It was such a mig that if you had a baby on Shabas, you would tell the Reb, right? >> Yeah. Sure. >> Yeah. >> So I thought, but this was my So I when I came to Eastern Park, I did it was coming down Brooklyn Avenue already on the way to SH. So I ran to 770. Now what happened was so Friday night she went into labor Tuesday or Wednesday and so going to and nothing was happening. So Friday night was already Friday night. So I told label so lupel he went in after Friday night I came home an hour later so he already went to the hospital. So shabas morning I told the reb got the maid so the reb asked right away if it was if it was a Syrian or not. Yeah. >> Then the Reb said, >> asked that question. >> Yeah. >> What was the Lion the Reb used? >> I forgot. I have it written down somewhere. I forgot the way, but I forgot the said and what was the name? What? Yes, I gave the name Hana. My bust was sure I gave the name [laughter] of whoever gave a name. >> Yeah. >> So you got a letter like that. >> Yeah. >> If you if you did after the Reb's you got what >> if you named after the you got you got >> or Yeah. Whatever I got. Yes, I got that. Yeah. >> Uhhuh. Okay. So, I want to I just want to ask you um in the last uh few decades you also been very involved in and >> how did you get to that from >> Well, it started on the telephone after. >> Yeah. So then that's when the to makeus on the telephone >> saying people we can't go teach them so we have to make >> we can't go can't go there person you know face to face so with a telephone >> hotline >> what >> hotline >> oh yeah whatever >> 7187357333 >> yeah so so there was a vod you know to take care of it. The letter to the Rebel signed it Weinberg and Bor spoke about so somehow I became involved in managing the thing. The project. >> What? >> The project. >> The whole project. Yeah. The wrote It's a good idea. We need a >> you need a man the mitsus was there was no one person who pony on top of it. So it started me giml maled but after 3 years it mama frizzled out. There was no money for the telephones. There were 100 lines, 100 telephone lines and had to pay people to run it, whatever. There was no money. So, I took it over. >> You had time. I did whatever I could but I found >> this is before >> this is me >> started she started to fund raise >> started to fund raise >> okay >> so first I found someone who who undertook to pay the telephone bills I thought the 100 lines I forgot how much it was a month. I divide into divide and ask each one to give at central from the remember I needed $12,000 in >> a year. >> No, for the to pay the >> there was a of $12,000. >> 6,000 was for the telephone company. Another 6,000 was for the other hat source. Rabiel Gashaf Susan Dolan. Forgot his name. A younger man. I can't remember his name. >> An from an >> Yeah. He's from the but but the real asked him to give money. He gave money. So, so after so on telephone was reun rejuvenated at that time it worked on a tape recorder. Tape recorders you put in a tape had a system where the tape recorders was able to connect to the telephone lines. But then it came I forgot which year it was me. You know me. >> Eastern Parkway. >> What? >> From Eastern Parkway. >> Yeah. Then he lived in Montgomery Street. So we used to go to the country together. So one tells me you know label nowadays you can make this whole thing computerized. I said good. He says so he wrote a program. This is ready to basim a computer price program where you can you can he wrote it and we had to buy hardware and software. Then it was it was the thing then to make cost about was about a $36,000 project. I won't tell you how much it costs today. >> I'll give you an example. >> Today, a telephone line doesn't cost anything. >> I'll tell you what what the hardware cost. >> That time we wanted to put them all in. So, you needed a hard drive that I forgot how many megabytes you need. How many gigabytes you needed? Four gigabytes. four a hard drive with four gigabytes cost $8,000 then that was the I remember out of four gigabytes we had to get a hard drive of 4 gigabytes $8,000 we had to pay for it today you buy a gigabyte of >> for nothing yeah although it's going up now by the way >> it's going back uphon but Yosel Gut think gave a big swarm of money >> for that. >> And so so so we had the computerized system. So from the telephone which was made specially so from that >> in bar park >> and now there's other it became a whole model >> and that's also why I started doing >> what was the idea of mu a person can sit in his house. >> So is basically having someone teach you >> what >> it's having someone teach you. push it. You shouldn't have to come walk into a into the into the center to hear the he can sit at home and learn this. >> Yeah. >> The light to help me. So they came up with this concept >> and that's the same thing with the afterm. So then we went into Tanya after we finished with if we went into so there was a demand to make on the same style >> and has become a major major tool of but also for for ourselves too saying >> I wasn't meant for it but >> I had a mashia that taught us like mifa already then came out some of them he told us officially it's for I'm telling you it's for you guys too like you could benefit from it also >> the side benefits >> okay so I always have there's a famous brings it in. for about the Mhm. The show was for a vacation. Oh, there's a house. I have to eat. >> That's the same thing with that Nash using >> [laughter] >> I don't put any labels anywhere. Okay.