Rabbi Yisroel Besser, Contributing Editor of Mishpacha Magazine and author of several best-selling books, shared the following story he heard from a Lubavitcher chossid. He told COLlive.com he vouches for the story as the chossid asked to remain anonymous:
This Lubavitcher chossid was traveling to his family in the Catskills for Shabbos. It was Friday and he left a little later than he was planning to and found himself in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Route 17. He played with the different routes on Waze, but realized that his entire trip was completely backed up and making it to the country for Shabbos would be tight.
Suddenly, an accident sprang up in front of him, making the route even more impossible than before. He realized that there was no way for him to make it to the mountains for Shabbos. He turned off the highway on Route 130 and started making his way to Kiryas Yoel for Shabbos.
He called his wife and children and told them the disappointing news, all while driving straight to the main shul in town in order to make it in time for Shabbos.
With no clothing or plans, he davened Mincha, Kabbolas Shabbos, and Maariv with the community. He then and lingered afterwards as people began to leave. One Satmar chossid approached and engaged in conversation with him, asking where he was from and where he would be eating that night.
When the Lubavitcher replied that he had no plans, the Satmar chossid invited him to be his guest for Shabbos.
They had beautiful seudos together, with lots of singing and divrei Torah, enjoying each other’s company. On Motzoei Shabbos, the Lubavitcher chossid remarked, “I have to tell you something amazing. When I was a bochur, I came to Monroe on a Thursday night to teach Tanya. After gathering some people to learn with, a few Satmar men came and kicked me. One guy even picked up a bench and hit me with it.”
The Lubavitcher continued, “Now, you so graciously invited me for Shabbos and we spent the whole time talking about Chassidus. Previously, I felt such a clash between Satmar and Lubavitch, but now I feel like we are brothers! What a long way we have come!”
The host looked at his guest and asked him to repeat what had happened to him.
The Lubavitcher related again that he had come to teach Tanya, but had been asked to leave. When he refused, a man picked up a bench and hit him.
Tears filled the host’s eyes and he said, “I am the one who picked up that bench. Three times a day for the past 15 years, I davened to the Ribbono Shel Olam to send me the person so that I can do teshuva.”
“Are you moichel me?” he asked.
Needless to say, the Lubavitcher said that he forgives him.
I just got such chills reading this!!! What a story!!! Just wow.
Me too
chills thru the spine
Reading the beginning I was telling myself OK nice there’s nice people out there but when I finished I said to myself G-D has his ways G-d definitely has his ways.You got to stand strong through all the ups and downs And know that he cares and he’s listening to us
What am amazing story! And in Elul too!
Stories of forgiveness are so moving. Thanks for posting.
Truly everything is in the hand of heaven except the fear of heaven. Amazing hashgocha
This just proves that going to the country is pointless and just causes heartache
One of the biggest dimyonos in the frum world today
But again amazing story
Whoever knew a dimyon can be so expensive
“This just proves that….” how in the world does this prove ….???!
Unreal !!!!
Wow!!! Wow!!!!
What an incredible story! Perfect timing too, being that Rosh Hashana is so close……As it says “Teshuva is still possible even if the a person is in his dying bed”…. Bh🙏
Thank you
absolutely amazing!
Moshiach’s tzeiten!!
Along the same line. The Mashpia Harav Hachosid Reb Pinya Korf ZT”L, who was just Niftar, had his beard cut in Willaimsburg by some Satmerer fanatics, who objected to his coming to Williamsburg to teach Tanya. The interesting fact is that he was Niftar many years later on the same day his beard was cut many years earlier.
Interesting
For purposes of accuracy:
His beard was cut on ט”ו סיון.
Not true about the date.
This story is also not fresh from this year, but really a beautiful story.
The story printed here is no less amazing and inspiring.
אין יאוש בעולם כלל!
Amazing example of God’s [email protected]
Emina
Wow … Powerful I have tears in my eyes …. What I found brilliant that this guy asks hashem for 15 years and never give up ….. And look with what good felling heshem arranged the forgiveness… If he would only find him and ask him forgiveness his subconscious would still feel bad…
נסתרות דרכי השם !!!
Hashem made This man to leave late on Friday just for him to meet this Chossid.
I guess this Chossid really did a true תשובה.
Thank you for sharing
Amazing! What Hashgacha pratis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This story is a very old story. But it’s always good for a reminder to think before you do or say something bad.
Maybe one day there will be peace world wide
Many old timers might remember the ruckus in Williamsburg on Simchas Torah. From both sides of the hot-headed bachurim there were punches delivered on Rodney Street. Well, friends, alls well that ends well. Two folks I know, one who had been a Satmar hothead with quick fists and one who had been a Chabad bachur with equally strong fists were meshadech this past year – Satmar son and Chabad daughter married happily. What a simcha for Klal Yisroel…we might be gowing up as a nation.
Do not know what “ruckus” on simchas torah you are referring to? if you mean the “ruckus” at the TAHALUCHA of SHVEIE SHEL PESACH (1977), then it must be noted that lubavitch did NOT hit back as the REBBE was so proud of his chasidim and made mention of that fact the following day at the ACHARON SHEL PESACH farbrengen. a כוח”ט לשטו”מ בגו”ר to klal yisroel. MOSHIACH NOW!! a “kid” eye witness to the above sholom dovid geisinsky ps for thorough understanding of the diyuk haloshon “tovah u’msukah” see likutei sichos vol. 14 page 453, as the REBBE also… Read more »
This story is amazing! I am so impressed that a man should do tshuva so wholeheartedly, 15 years is a long time. When he did whatever it was, he was probably a teenager going through a teenage faze… He could have found excuses as to why he’s not so guilty… I am so impressed, & warmed takkeh that his tshuva was so sincere that the mechila happened in such a special way…where he was able to host & be kind to the person he hurt. On an aside if you ever have to get stuck somewhere & you’re around Satmar… Read more »
What a wonderful story , just shows that people can change .