The New York Times reported the following under the title “Divine Intervention Is a Hope, Not a Horse, in the Belmont”:
Just a few dozen furlongs from Belmont Park lies the grave site of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh grand rebbe of the Lubavitcher group of Hasidic Jews.
Since Schneerson died in 1994, Jews from all over the world have made a pilgrimage to Montefiore Cemetery to pay homage to the charismatic rebbe.
Many visitors write notes on small pieces of paper and toss them onto his grave, believing that the rebbe will deliver the messages to God.
On Thursday, Schneerson’s grave had an unusual visitor.
Victor Espinoza, who went on to win horse racing’s revered Triple Crown aboard American Pharoah on Saturday, paid his respects. Espinoza is not Jewish. He does not consider himself religious, either.
Espinoza said he made his visit at the behest of a friend, whom he declined to identify but said was not Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah’s owner, who has donated heavily to Orthodox Jewish causes.
“I was just curious,” Espinoza said Friday outside the jockey room. “To me, life is all about learning.”
…
“You can’t win a race like this and make history and try to do something that hasn’t been done in 37 years unless everything goes right,” Zayat said. “You have to have the right trainer, the right jock, the right horse, the right everything.”
Which perhaps explains why Espinoza took some time last week to ask for a little help from above.
VIDEO: The visit on Friday
Yes it can be a very serious problem. It can be done according to Halachah, but you must use a Rav well versed in Dinei Momonos, need a shtar, etc. I am very familiar with the laws as I have had to do this many times. This is not the place to expound on this. I would caution one from doing any business on Shabbos without proper guidance.
YOU SAY THAY YOUR A RABBI, SO YOU MUST KNOW THERES MANY WAYS THAT POEPLE HAVE BUSINESS THAT RUN ON SHABBOS ( FOR INSTANCE HOTEL, OR CAR RENTALS ETC). IF YOU KNOW HALACHOS THEN YOU KNOW HOW ITS DONE. ITS A SHAME HOW SO MANY POEPLE ARE POSTING THINGS AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THEM
It can be a serious problem. But done according to Halachah it is do-able. Yes, you need a Rav who is well versed in Dinai Momonos, need to have a kosher shtar, etc. Unfortunately many who are in this situation do not know what to do about such a thing on Shabbos.
I’m mostly concerned about the million dollars profit he is making on Shabbos. Doesn’t sound kosher to me, and I’m a rabbi.
The Rebbe requested that I return from Eretz Yisrael and from learning in kollel for 8 years to do the Rebbe’s Shlichus through my training horses. I have won many races throughout the U.S. and it gave me the opportunity to meet and help many Jews who otherwise would not have contact with an observant Jew. During my over 30 years of Shlichus I have had the merit to help so many find their way to a Torah true lifestyle. Also, YES, the Rebbe gave many Blessings to non-Jews and they were fulfilled in miraculous ways as were the Rebbe’s… Read more »
one of the times the rebbe gave a brocha to gedaliah goodman the chassidic horse trainer on his shlichus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV1akI4OVq8
theres divine intervention on everything, even horse raceing
this horse is not frum
All the suffering and sickness of Jewish people who really need their prayers answering – and someone wins on a horse, and suddenly it’s the rebbe’s doing via divine intervention!
BS”D
the Rebbe has no control of who comes to him for a Brocho
Of course for a chassid its weak shmiras Shabbos, but the media is emphasizing how he didn’t drive bc of Shabbos and he slept in RVs , Im sure this will make many Jews think and DO positively in the direction of Shmiras Shabbos
l see this as a kiddish hasham,that the world should know ther is a g-d in this worldl beta the rebbe wanted this to happen for that very reason,may we finially open our eyes and see the geula!
bottom line media spoke of how he is not driving and keeping Shabbos…all media is positive. bottom line the concept of Shabbos and Rebbe in a positive light is seen by millions of ppl including many jews… many jews might think of Shabbos as a modern good successful thing to do , and if a goy racer can ask rebbe for bracha.. I surly can. ppl who most likely cannot be reached in another way
to explain #1 as Chsidim and Shluchim we have to bring the Rebbes message to all Jews…. AND>>> to non Jews to do their 7 mitzvohs and to spread goodness and kindness as the Rebbe spoke countless hours in the 80s. etc.. its explained in chasiddus that when we make a dirah betachtonim in this lowest world we elevate all worlds because when u elevate the bottom of a structure namely olam haze u elevate the entire structure. so , in olam haze alone we have all of creation Jews and non jews, so perhaps when we inspire a goy… Read more »
With all due respect , it is not adding any to the legacy of the rebbe ( and I used mild terms ….) that his name is solved into these kind of life, personalities, life style , questionable area of business, and what not… Just take a look at the human material there , and figure the rest …. It would be better if he had not showed up , or at least his visit would not be publicized.
BS”D
NY (anti-Semite) Times mentions-The NY (pro Israel) Post had 1full page and 1/2 of another page
“He does not desire (that we rely on) the strength of the horse…He desires those who fear Him, those who long for His kindness”
If this story brings more people to seek help from above in their worldly endeavors, it could be a kiddush Hashem.
THAT WHY THE REBBE IS MOSHIACH, YOU NEED FAITH, SOON WE ALL WILL BE LAUGHING AND THE EXILE WILL BE OVER,AMEN
This is a horse owner by an orthodox Jew used for gambling with is forbidden by halacha.
The ride was on Shabbos. So there was hilul Shabbos involved.
Why are we dragging the Rebbe into this?
כמו שאומרים בתפלת השחר ״ כי ביתי בית תפלה יקרא לכל העמים ״משיח נאו
If that’s the faith that a non-Chassid (a gentile) has in the Rebbe, then we chassidim have so much to learn from him! Kol HaKavod!