Brave Chabad Girl Kept Her Cool As She Faced a Home Intruder

By Danit Schusterman – COLlive

This past Thursday was just another day for 14-year-old Laili Bialo, a student of the Nigri Shluchim Online School, which she attends from her home in Portland, Oregon.

“At around 2:00 PM, while taking a break from my online school class, I saw the opportunity to sponsor a Tehillim program through Meaningful Minute,” she told COLlive.com. “I’m not sure why, but I had this strong desire to do this special mitzvah, so I took $360 of my own money and gave it to Tzedaka right then and there.”

Laili is the daughter of Rabbi Dov and Chani Bialo, Directors of Chabad at Reed College and Southeast Portland. The family is used to coordinating Mitzvah campaigns and hosting numerous programs in their home and their Chabad House, which is right next door.

Still, she was excited about this specific Mitzvah that she had fulfilled. About an hour later, Laili needed to get something from the basement of her home. “My father was next door and my mother was out picking up my siblings. It was just me at home,” she said.

“As I walked into the playroom in the basement, I noticed it was very messy, messier than usual,” she recalled. “Cabinet doors were open, clothing was on the floor and things were all over the place.”

As she took a closer look, she realized there was a man sleeping underneath the table.

“At first, I thought maybe my father invited someone to come over, but it didn’t make sense that he would be sleeping under the table!” she said. “I immediately turned around, ran upstairs and out of my house and called my parents.”

Rabbi and Mrs. Bialo immediately called the Portland Police Department. Officers quickly arrived with dogs and entered the house from all sides. Moments later, the intruder was apprehended and taken into custody.

Her parents and police officers praised Laili for keeping her cool and her quick response in calling her parents. Thanks to her, no one was hurt, they said.

In a search following the arrest, police found weapons as well as many of the intruder’s belongings in the basement.

While this was a terrifying experience for her, Laili said she credits the Tzedaka that she gave an hour earlier before she found the intruder for the happy outcome.

Laili’s bravery follows the lessons she has been learning and teaching others on her podcast and WhatsApp group “Elevate Yourself.” In daily clips and messages, she interviews Jewish thinkers and personalities and inspires people with the message that if you elevate yourself, you elevate the world.

VIDEO:

Laili Bialo interviews Rabbi Shais Taub – Part 1

Laili Bialo interviews Rabbi Shais Taub – Part 2

Laili Bialo interviews Nachi Gordon of Meaningful Minute

Laili Bialo interviews educator Dena Gorkin

Laili’s Podcast:
https://youtube.com/@chanibialo

Laili’s WhatsApp broadcast:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KaenKOCatxw5RVe8ARumNU