Bibas Grandparents Spend Emotional Visit at Ohel, 770

Eli Bibas and his wife, Edna, parents of former hostage Yarden Bibas and parents and grandparents of Shiri and Ariel and Kfir Bibas HYD, visited the US this week.

During their trip, the couple designated a full day to visit the Ohel and Crown Heights, visiting 770, WLCC broadcasting room and the Rebbe’s room. While in the Rebbe’s room, they read the Tehillim chapters for Shiri and her children and prayed for Yarden’s full recovery.

Rabbi Nachman Schapiro, who was in the Rebbe’s room at that time, shared the following story to explain the powerful holiness of the room.

He repeated the well-known account of a general in the IDF:
“I served as a general in the Israel Defense Forces in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. This was when I was still a young man in my 40s. My battalion had over 150 Israeli soldiers. One day, during the war, we were ambushed and, in an instant, I lost 32 of my men. Many more soldiers were injured. This ambush was one of the greatest devastations of the Yom Kippur War.

As a general, I was responsible for the dead and wounded soldiers, including their wives, children, parents, and siblings. I worked constantly with the families and loved ones to ease their pain. The suffering of the families affected me on a very deep and personal level; I fell into a deep depression and could not find my way out of it.

A few months after the war, the US government requested a meeting in Washington with some high-ranking Knesset members and a select few generals. This was to be a highly classified, secret meeting. As a general who had witnessed one of the most devastating tragedies of the war, I was asked to join the group as well.

A few days before we were meant to leave Israel for America, I received a surprise call from my good Chabadnik friend, Reb Shlomo Maidanchik, of blessed memory. He said, ‘I hear that you are going to be in America in the next few days. Washington is not far from New York. Why don’t you go visit the Rebbe and discuss with him your depression and personal concerns?’

Until today, I do not know how my good friend Reb Shlomo knew about this highly classified meeting. However, I agreed to meet the Rebbe in Brooklyn after I finished my business in Washington. Reb Shlomo made all the arrangements with the Rebbe’s office for me. On the designated evening, I arrived in Crown Heights and was ushered into the Rebbe’s room.

I spent an hour and a half with the Rebbe. He strengthened and encouraged me with words of compassion and kindness. I was truly amazed by how the Rebbe was aware of the innermost secrets of the army—things that only a few select high-ranking officers were privy to.

At the end of the conversation, I got very personal with the Rebbe regarding my own internal issues that tormented me. I told him about my battalion of 150 soldiers and how we lost 32 in one swift ambush, including many who were injured and still recuperating in the hospital.

The Rebbe interjected and said, ‘I don’t want to make your pain and suffering any greater; however, it is not 32, but rather 34.’

I responded that I knew better since I dealt with the soldiers and their families literally on a daily basis. ‘With all due respect,’ I continued, ‘it was 32 and not 34, as the Rebbe said.’
The Rebbe did not flinch. With great pain and heartfelt words, he repeated that, unfortunately, it was 34. Together, we cried throughout the meeting. The Rebbe constantly referred to the soldiers who died as Kedoshei Elyon—exalted holy ones.

To be honest, by the end of the meeting with the Rebbe, much of my pain and suffering was relieved. However, I could not understand why the Rebbe insisted on that number when I, as a general living in Israel, surely knew better.

When I returned to Israel, I was shocked to hear the sad news that two more soldiers who were in the hospital had succumbed to their wounds. I now realized that the Rebbe was correct. The total number was indeed 34, and not 32.

A few months later, the same group of high-ranking officers was again summoned to Washington for a continuation of the previous meeting. This time, I did not wait for Reb Shlomo to call me. I immediately called him and requested that he arrange a second meeting. This time, I was very anxious to meet the Rebbe.

Once again, following the meeting in Washington, I headed to New York for a scheduled yechidus. This meeting continued where the last one had left off, with many new facts and updates on the Israeli army’s internal affairs. Again, the Rebbe cried with me and showed me the greatest love and compassion. He showered me with his blessings and prayers for a long and healthy life.

As the yechidus was coming to a close, I asked the Rebbe the question which had been bothering me. ‘Rebbe, I must apologize to you for disagreeing about the number of soldiers who died. Indeed, you were right. It wasn’t 32 as I said, but rather 34.’

I then asked, ‘But, how did you know this?’

The Rebbe began tapping on his desk with his index finger while saying the following: ‘Every neshama that enters this world, and every neshama that passes on from this world, passes through this room. That is how I knew.'”

The Bibas family has kept a connection with Chabad through their entire ordeal.

Candles for neshek were made with pictures of each hostage and given out throughout the world with the intention to spread spiritual light and bring the hostages home.

A generous sponsor graciously shared Rebbe dollars with the family for increased blessing. Yarden is a proud Jew, donning tefillin every day since his captivity.

Dear reader, Shiri’s birthday is 8 Iyar. Please do a special mitzvah in honor of Shiri who we remember with so much love. Please share your mitzvah in the comments and they will be shared with the family.