Lubavitch businessman Levi Goldstein met a group of Missionaries in Crown Heights on Tuesday, and the meeting had unexpected results.
Goldstein says he noticed the group handing out Missionary materials, so he approached them and explained to them that they are targeting the wrong neighborhood.
“I told them, no disrespect to you, but you’re in the wrong neighborhood. Many orthodox Jews live here, and they are just not interested in these materials,” Goldstein told COLlive.com.
Then Goldstein asked them if any of them were Jewish.
“One man, named Julius, said, his mom is Jewish, but he did not think that he is really Jewish,” Goldstein said.
“I asked him if he knew what Tefillin are, and he said yes, he may have put them on once in his life.”
So Julius put on Tefillin on the sidewalk right there, and the group celebrated a little Bar Mitzvah, with a lchaim and some cookies.
They then promised they would head out to another neighborhood, Goldstein said.
A real kiddish Hashem!!!!!!
Amazing, they came to get us but we got him instead. I can only wonder the impact this moment had on him. Levi was so polite and used the best words too, he was born a Jew and he will die a Jew. This is awesome. Keep it up!
Maybe they’re better off in a Frum neighborhood where people aren’t interested, vs. a non-frum neighborhood where people might be more susceptible to their narishkeit
I guess that’s one way how to get rid of them>
I am very impressed that the Missionaries were not disrespected, and were politely redirected in another direction instead. What a Kiddush Hashem! Perfect middos.
Levi Goldstein is one of the hidden Tzadikim in our neighborhood. Always there to help someone in need. Proud to call him my Friend..
so true he is the best person
Beautiful. The Jewish guy didn’t know what hit him. But his pure precious Neshama has so much pleasure at this moment.
🙏
If the guy is truly Jewish, then it’s amazing that he put on Tefillin. Unfortunately, I highly doubt they are leaving this neighborhood. I met them yesterday and even though I screamed at them, someone else talked to them for 10 minutes and explained that this is the wrong neighborhood. They agreed to leave and they walked off. I was pretty impressed and reconsidered my approach and thought that maybe there is a way to talk to these guys. This morning at 9:00, i walk out of my house and there they are, one block from where they were yesterday… Read more »
you’re right, they dont need to like us. but truth does not equal yelling. in the past yelling at missionaries didnt accomplish much. at least a yiddishe neshama had a taste, even if it may be the last time.
Well done Levi
You are the perfect person to make such an impact which led to a Jew having a Bar Mitzvah.
The young man is changed for ever and you neutralised a missionary threat without creating antagonism.
Gevaldig!
Wow amazing thank you for sharing Levi. Goldstein keep up the good work
i appreciate the putting on tefilin on the guy, but on the other hand to make as if what theyre doing is good just that it is the wrong address, it sounds to me very problematic, because doing it in a place where they have not frum people who might pay attention is even worse, and is something completely ilegitmimate and illegal to do.
so i think we got a be careful what we say and publish…
You shall not bear affection for him… (Devarim 13:9)
A meisis is someone who tries to persuade other Jews to idol worship by telling them how great it is. We are not to engage the meisis in discussion or befriend him in any way as doing so only perpetuates his idolatrous missionizing.
Does putting tefillin on such a person override this negative mitzva?
It is quite clear that this yid grew up with no Jewish education whatsoever. The Rambam rules that these people are considered tinok shenishba, and must be brought back to yiddishkeit in a warm and loving manner. Additionally, the Rebbe mentions several times that the Frierdiker Rebbe would often be mekarev people who had the halachic status of “moridin v’lo maalin” (i.e. deserving of death). He explained that we should first worry about observing other halachos before worrying about this one. May we merit the geula speedily, when melech hamoshiach will show the world that Christianity, Islam, etc. are false,… Read more »
Thank you Levi. May Hashem continue to shower you with brochos and keep giving the Rebbe nachas.
Bh
The rambam states the while reason officials existence of Christianity and Islam is for people to become aware of the one and Only God. Maybe some of them are interested in mitzvot bnei Noach
Brilliant Levi this is the way of a chosid.
best unckle!!go levii