By COLlive reporter
Aviva Shalit, mother of the now released Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, placed a phone call Monday to Chana Canterman, a Chabad Shlucha in Jerusalem, to update on her son’s health.
“He’s fine! He’s fine!” Mrs. Shalit joyfully said.
The connection between the two who live in the same country but spend time in different spheres began when the Shalit family began campaigning for their son outside the prime minister’s residence.
Sgt. Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas terrorists on 25 June 2006 in a cross-border raid via underground tunnels near the border with Gaza.
Chana and her husband Rabbi Eli Canterman, the Shluchim in the Talbiyeh neighborhood in Israel’s capital, were one of the volunteers who provided meals for the Shalits in their protest tent.
The Cantermans had the Sunday shift and have since become close friends with the Shalit family, visiting them often and praying together for Gilad’s release from Hamas captivity.
Chana would spend hours shopping and cooking beautiful meals for the family, a friend of the Cantermans said.
“Slowly they had to bring larger amounts of food each week because everyone would visit on Sunday because they loved her cooking,” the friend said.
CLOSE BOND
Naturally, they became close friends with Aviva and her husband Noam Shalit, providing not only food but emotional and psychological support during this time.
“When I flew in to New York for the annual Kinus Hashluchos convention on 24 Shvat, I asked Aviva what I could bring her back from the U.S.,” recalled Mrs. Canterman in an interview with COLlive.com.
“She told me, ‘All I want is Gilad. I don’t need presents.’ All she thought about was her son.”
The Cantermans also made sure to come by for holidays, in addition to the Sunday visit. For Purim, they organized a festive meal for family and guests, and brought them Matzah on Pesach. During Lag BaOmer day, children came to the tent to say the 12 pesukim (holy passages).
On April 17th, the day before last Pesach, Chana Canterman brought a special gift to Aviva Shalit along with her meal: a dollar bill that she had received from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that was to be given to a worthy charity.
“Take this dollar,” said Chana, “and may it be a Segulah (merit) that Gilad be released this year.”
Aviva accepted the dollar gratefully and carried it with her wherever she went.
“It was a very depressing period for the family,” Canterman recalls. “We wanted to give them an opening of hope and strength to continue waiting for the healthy return of their son.”
SUDDEN PROGRESS
On the same day the Shalits received the dollar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Shalits he replaced the official mediator from Chagai Hadas to David Medan.
Miraculously, Medan began to receive messages from the Hamas with signs of Gilad Shalit being alive and in stable condition.
On Rosh Hashana, Rabbi Canterman came by to blow shofar for them. A week later, they heard that Gilad was going to be released on Tishrei 20 – on Chol Hamoed Sukkos.
The next day, Mrs. Canterman texted Aviva Shalit asking her if she can check the date written on the dollar from the Rebbe (Chabad chassidim often write on the bill when it was received).
Mrs. Shalit excitedly replied that the date on the dollar that Canterman received over 20 years before from the Rebbe, was Tuesday, 20 Tishrei, the date that Gilad Shalit was released by the terrorists.
And the year that dollar was given? 5751 – the Hebrew year chassidim spelled out as “the year we will see wonders.”
The Cantermans are such wonderful shluchim! I ate by their house many times and they were very gracious to me. Such an amazing story!
This is such an inspiring story! We see the wonders of the world and the Rebbe looking down on us yidden!
I really believe in this . wow amazing.
yes , you’ll find the answer in the sefer “Yuman Arenu Niflaos”
where we discover the uniqeness of that particular Tuesday, when after maariv, a sicha was said highlighting the fact that Tuesday is the day on which twice Ki tov was written in the Torah, and also spoke on the significance of having increased joy… The Rebbe then proceeded to give out two dollars to all those present. See sefer for more info.
G-Dly Idea!!
I even found a photo of myself on Chol Hamoed (18 tishrei, 5751) on chabad.org!
u by any chance from BCM? cuz we were discussing that… anyone have an answer?
I do not think there is one Yid in this world that has not been touched by The Rebbe’s Love and Brochas! May Klar Israel continue to be the guiding Light unto the World! and thru Achdus and love of Torah, Peace and Blessings will come to All!
the Rebbe gave out dollars on chol hamoed? on Tuesdays?
amazing people doing amazing work!
saw them in action over purim.
so proud of our dear friends!
miss u all ,
love,
Mendy,Dena and kids.
And thrilled Gilad has been returned to his family. What a beautiful and miraculous story.
Don’t overlook the power in the many chassadim (kindnesses) the Cantermans did for the Shalit family. Hashem has to be smiling down on such beautiful actions of Jews helping Jews, sharing their Yiddishkeit with such love! Of course their tefilos (prayers) were heard!
The tunnel of belief
Great story!
i just heard this story on onlineschool.
The Rebbe gave dollars that year on a tuesday, not sunday, and on chol hamoed sukkos?
Please clarify
chanale you were a great and inspiring teacher may you have continued hatzlacha in your shlichus,
I have seen so many miracles from anyone who I gave a Rebbe dollar to – incredible amazing miracles from these dollars bH
אפשר תירגום לעברית או צרפתית
i now it wes right
Amazing story. And miracles are taking place all the time. The true nature of Judaic teachings are pouring forth now. Who but Israel would offer help to the Turks after being rebuffed and THEY ACCEPTED. May the tide of public opinion be turned and may our rescue teams be safe from harm. So happy Gilad has returned. Irma Rochlin
AND PUBLISH IT WORLDWIDE
HOLY SHALIT!!!!
Doesn’t matter. The year before, same Hebrew date. It’s still relevant. The Rebbe, as usual, knew.
I wonder how many people noticed that during that sham of an interview, Gilad mentioned that he KNEW all along that he would get out. How could he know for sure in tose conditions? Maybe the Rebbe or Eliyahu Hanavi…?
to #41: wow!
We see the hand of hashem guiding us in all areas of life and shluchim have that extra connection to the Rebbe which guides them in their work! So many pieces of this story show us that it was meant to be, Gilad was meant to come home at that time. The fact that the Cantermans “happened” to meet the Shalit’s was no coincidence! The Rebbe was guiding them to be able to show them Ahavas Yisroel between one jew and another.
Chanale we are all so proud of you over here.
Your former teachers
PLEASE ensure that it is posted all over the world ,in Hebrew -language newspapers too. Am Yisrael needs this encouragement and it surely brings them closer to Yiddishkeit
When i hear the story it made me proud to be lubavitch.
Go hasmo london
I heard it from a boy in school.I told it to my class mates and they where amazed.
Hasmo, london rocks!!!!!!!!
The story gets even more interesting: The blessing the Rebbe gave to Mrs. Chana Canterman when he gave her the dollar reads: “ברכה והצלחה בכל העניינים” (blessings and success in all aspects), when you add up the numerical value (Gimatriya) of the words “ברכה והצלחה בכל העניינים” it will add up to “668” Now you add up the words “גלעד בן נעם שליט” (Gilad the son of Noam Shalit) it equals “668”. Now you draw your own conclusions. Rebbe just keep those miracles coming. Thank you Hashem for the miracles and the insight you give us into your powerful hand… Read more »
wow
Two new Maamarim were printed for Sukkos. One by Kehot, a preview of the newly typeset Siddur with Chasidus by the Alter Rebbe, and one from Lahak, a never-before-published Maamar by the Rebbe. In explaining the meaning of the joy of Sukkos that follows Yom Kippur, both Maamarim cite a parable of a son who is released from captivity, and the father’s subsequent joy!
WOW!!!!!
Mistake. The Sicha you posted is from 5750, not 5751.
Interesting: The day the Rebbe gave that dollar, the Rebbe spoke about leaving captivity: http://www.chabad.org/554869/ Listen at 19 minutes in.
It says the date the bill was received was 20 Tishrei, 5751. That’s Tue, 9 October 1990 according to hebcal.com’s date calculator.
I know Chana Canterman and her husband Eliyahu – they are two truly amazing people. Chana has an influence on her students and girls/women all over the world who call her for her wisdom and advice. She is a true dugma chaya. As a couple Eliyahu and Chana are top class Shluchim of the Rebbe. This is just but one story…. With admiration from melbourne, Australia
Please provide the exact date the Rebbe gave the dollar, so we can ask our archivists to search for the video.
Chanale – you are a tremendous inspiration! from a former student at Lubavitch Senior Girls School in London
amazing
Kudos to the thoughtful person who shared this inspiring story with everyone 🙂
Delighted to read your wonderful story. May you always be a part of such amazing stories. Hatzlocha Rabbo in everything
Toebe potash
The rebbe is truly Stil giving us brochos from above
This is truly amazing, so is the mesiras nefesh of the shluchim to give away such a treasure as the Rebbe dollar to help this family in their trauma. With these sort of acts we beg Hashem
to send Moshiach Now!
i already heard the story but its a very good story
wow hearing stories like this help me build a better connection with The Rebbe, THANK YOU!!
it is always good t hear stories like this. B”H it all ended up good and i hope the family is enjoying themselves!
Dear Chanale, what a blessing to be part of such a story! Great catching up with u at Kinus,
Shternie, sydney
Amazing!
OMG, I got the chills reading the end of the article! It’s amazing and such a great Nes!! If you also look in the Chumash portion of the day he was returned, on Tuesday, his name is there too!!
So special
Thank Hashem that Gilad is home
tehei shnas niflaos erenu
Definition of capture: To take captive, as by force or craft; seize
keep up the good work Chanale, may your work only bring more miracles, in Isreal.
old freind C.C
everything happens in the right time and place. Hashem wanted the bill to be given at that specific time, no earlier, no later. This is why He ‘organized’ that Chana would give it to the Shalits at the time she did.
This is all part of Hashem’s master plan.
ya i didnt really get that??????
: /
another chizuk for us all !
don’t say captured when he was kidnapped
just curious if she would have given the dollar earlier would he have been released earleir
Eliyahu is a good friend of mine. He really is very sincere. And a great dugma chaya!
Keep up the good work!
amazing story
amazing
thats amazing!!!
Don’t overlook the power in the many chassadim (kindnesses) the Cantermans did for the Shalit family. Hashem has to be smiling down on such beautiful actions of Jews helping Jews, sharing their Yiddishkeit with such love! Of course their tefilos (prayers) were heard!
cool story heard it already though
this is beyond beautiful… you really see the Rebbe’s connection to every miracle
from a former British classmate
i just got the gose bumps!! omg!!
nisim ve niflaot!
this seriously gave me goosebumps!
THATS PRETTY AMAZING!!!
thats amaizing!!!!