By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, the Klausenberg Rebbe, lost his wife and 11 children in the Holocaust, but he did not lose his spirit. Even in the displaced persons (DP) camps after the war, he was active in organizing classes for children and comforting survivors.
When he arrived in Israel, he rebuilt his community, which grew to the point that it filled an entire neighborhood and had its own hospital. There was even a newspaper, the Sanz Monthly, to keep chassidim informed about the happenings in the court, the Rebbe’s talks, and family celebrations.
Late one night, shortly after Shavuos, Binyomin Wulliger, a Sanz chassid who was also close to the Rebbe, received a phone call.
“The Rebbe wants to know who is in charge of Sanz Monthly,” the Rebbe’s secretary said. “If another person is in charge, he is asking you to pass along the message, and if you are in charge, he implores you not to publish such sharp language from the Rebbe’s talks.”
Mr. Wulliger said that he was not in charge, and that, since he always began by reading the Mazal Tovs and news from the court, he didn’t know what the Rebbe was referring to. “I did not get there yet.”
The secretary concluded the Rebbe’s message to the editor: “The sharp words dispirit people. Chassidus should inspire. Print words of encouragement, something that would strengthen people.”
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we heard this story a long time ago, and were told it was this Rebbe. Beautiful message. all about Chizuk, which we need to learn and be mechazek to others. Do as the Rebbe does
BS”D It is not clear which Rebbe called R’ Wullinger