by Malka Schwartz for COLlive.com
In honor of the Rebbetzin’s birthday-Chof Hey Adar, I would like present a story I heard directly from Rabbi Chesed Halberstam, who was the attendant of the Rebbe from 1971-1988 (the last 17 years of the Rebbetzin’s physical life).
“It happened sometimes that a phone call would come late in the night requesting brochos from the Rebbe,” he related.
“If the Rebbe was available, the Rebbetzin would relay the message. If the Rebbe was not available, she would say to the person on the phone, “The Rebbe is not available, but don’t worry, everything is going to be okay.”
When the Rebbetzin told them “everything is going it be okay,” Rabbi Halberstam would often find out later from the person who called that indeed everything had worked out just fine. He emphasized that the Rebbetzin only did this when the Rebbe was not available.
* * *
On the 25th of Adar, 1976 (5736), Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s birthday , the doorbell rang while she was having dinner with the Rebbe at their home on President St. in Brooklyn, New York.
Their attendant, Rabbi Chesed Halberstam, answered the door and was handed a bouquet of flowers which N’shei Chabad had sent the Rebbetzin along with a letter containing the names of people in need of blessings.
Rabbi Halberstam went to the dining room, presented the flowers to the Rebbetzin, and gave the letter to the Rebbe. The Rebbe told him. “It’s for the Rebbetzin.”
Rabbi Halberstam responded, “It’s for the Rebbe. It’s a letter requesting brochos.” The Rebbe said, “She can also bless.”
Rabbi Halberstam then gave the letter to the Rebbetzin in her holy hand.
After this, he thought to himself, “Yes, [I see] The Rebbetzin can give blessings in the zechus of the Rebbe.”
But the Rebbe then said to Rabbi Halberstam, “She can give blessings in her own merit.”
Rabbi Halberstam thought to himself, “Then what is the difference between the Rebbe’s brochah and the Rebbetzin’s brochah?”
The Rebbe then said to him, “Did you learn Derech Mitzvosecha?”
Rabbi Halberstam answered yes.
The Rebbe asked,”Which part?”
Rabbi Halberstam answered, “Shorush Mitzvas haTefilla.”
The Rebbe then said, “Surely you know the difference between memalei kol almin and sovev kol almin. When I give a brochah it comes from the source of memalei, which means the person has to do something for the brocha to be fulfilled. When she gives a brochah, it comes from sovev. Therefore, even if the person doesn’t do anything for it, the brochah is fulfilled.”
This aspect of the Rebbetzin, her being a source of brochah, has been mostly hidden from us; revealed only to a select few. On the last yartzeit of the Rebbetzin in which the Rebbe spoke to us, he publicly associated the date of her passing with the verse: “Through you, the Jewish people will be blessed.” It was understood that the Rebbe was inferring that the Rebbetzin is a source of blessing.
A few days later, the Rebbe said, “The 25th of the month, [the day of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s birthday,] is connected to the bestowal of all forms of blessings to the Jews.” In fact, the 25th of the month, chof-hei in Hebrew, relates to the instructions G-d gave Aharon and his sons regarding the Priestly Blessing, which begins “Koh (chof-hei) [in this manner], bless the children of Israel.”
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka embodied and was a conduit for blessing… so much so that it was evident both in the date of her birth as well as the day of her passing.
“And the living shall take to heart.” The Rebbe said this repeatedly in reference to Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka after her passing. With this he enjoined us to emulate her with our own lives. Let us embrace all aspects of the meaning of “blessings” in thought, speech and action and utilize it to enrich our lives as well as the lives of others.
Comment: The Rebbe initiated the Birthday Campaign in honor of the Rebbetzin. In other words not only is the Rebbetzin’s birthday fitting to celebrate, she is a catalyst for Jews around the world to celebrate.
This story is excerpted from “Through You Israel Will Be Blessed” Malka Schwartz, a partial biography about Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. It will be included in an upcoming expanded book about Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka in French, Spanish and Russian. To help sponsor by placing a dedication send email to [email protected] or call Ariella at +972-74-7016-770
Thank you
that was a beautiful and eloquently told story – yasher koach-it made this day so meaningful!
for sharing.