By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
Rabbi Avraham Levitansky, Chabad representative in S. Monica, California, would smoke, especially during the times of high stress. During the 1970s, when he was running the local Camp Gan Israel, he was often seen with a cigarette in his hand.
One of the supporters of the camp told him several times that smoking was detrimental to his health. Rabbi Levitansky was courteous but did not pay much attention to the comments.
Finally, the man said, “Listen, if you don’t stop, I will write to the Rebbe.”
“If you would like to, I cannot stop you,” Rabbi Levitansky replied, rather flippantly.
A short while later, around midnight, Rabbi Levitansky received a phone call. It was Dr. Nissan Mindel, one of the Rebbe’s aides. The Rebbe had asked him to relay a message:
“A report arrived here that he does not feel well, and that he does not take care of himself. This is very surprising, since he is an emissary, and an emissary is a soldier, and when a soldier neglects himself, it has an effect on the entire army…”
Rabbi Levitansky was surprised. “Physically I am feeling just fine. Perhaps the Rebbe is referring to my spiritual state?”
“I was just in the Rebbe’s study, and I can assure you that the Rebbe was not at all worried about the state of your spirituality,” Dr. Mindel said.
Rabbi Levitansky understood the message and stopped smoking.
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An examplary Shliach.
In all matters.
Shpould be a Gutter better for his family and for Klal Yisroel. He has that Zechus.
That’s my b.I. l. Avremel obm.!
Loved by all! Whoever-he touched!
Miss him so!