By Dovi Scheiner
The flight from JFK to Boston’s Logan was about as short as they come. The cabby was friendly, and after a few right turns and a few left turns, informed me that we had arrived at 45 Portina Road. Before exiting the car, I stared at the home. Simple, quiet, unassuming. Little did I know…
She was just a girl on a train. A bright, opinionated girl, from Israel, on a train in Boston, where she was a student.
When she saw him, the man with the beard, her mind began to race.
She thought of societal rifts, of cultural discord, of needless enmity, of the inability of two people, who have so much shared history, to connect in any meaningful way.
And then he smiled.
It was a smile that would change her life. But for now it shattered her preconceptions.
She approached him. She began to blabber. About societal rifts, cultural discord, needless enmity. He listened respectfully. He smiled kindly. Before exiting the train, he handed her a piece of paper. She stared at the paper. There was an address. 45 Portina Road.
When I heard how my uncle Leibel would spend his Thursday evenings, my eyes opened wide with wonder, and my heart filled with awe.
On Thursday evenings, Leibel would head to the local supermarket. He would take out his mini pad, the kind with the coils at the top, and write on page after page: “Rabbi Leib & Leah Scheiner, 45 Portina Road, Brighton, (617) 254-8240”. Then he would walk the aisles, find Jews, tear off a page, and invite them for a Shabbos meal. He was once spotted roaming the supermarket aisles with an empty cart. Someone asked what he was up to. He replied, “I’m shopping for Jews.”
And they came. Students and teachers. Fathers and daughters. Brothers and sisters. They came because they had caught a glimpse of something extremely rare, and they wanted more. They had seen truth. Where does one find truth these days? 45 Portina Road.
How did Leibel Scheiner end up on Portina Road? The Lubavitcher Rebbe sent him there.
Leibel enjoyed a special relationship with the Rebbe. Once, the Rebbe lamented at a Farbrengen that no one asks him questions on his Sichas. That night was a busy one for Leibel. He ran around the house, pulling out all sorts of Seforim. He composed a letter. That Shabbos the Rebbe mentioned that someone had asked him questions.
Once, Leibel asked the Rebbe how much Chanukah Gelt he should give his children. The Rebbe told him that each night he should give each child a quarter, a dime, and a nickel.
And when you’d ask Leibel a question in Halacha, he’d tell you that he had to look it up. Once, a student called his bluff. “But you know the answer,” the student insisted, “you should trust yourself more!” Leibel nodded in humble affirmation, “Yes,” he admitted, “that’s what the Rebbe told me.”
But now it was time for me to exit the taxi and enter the Shiva House. My uncle Leibel had passed away.
I never knew how great he was. So long as he lived he made certain that no one spoke of him. But now the stories flowed, a healing salve on an open wound.
One week before Leibel passed away, the doctors informed the family that he was in his final hours. He recited Viduy and asked for a Shulchan Aruch. Slowly, painfully, as it hurt him to speak, he began to recite the laws of Aveilus, lovingly imparting to his children how to observe his passing in accordance with Halacha.
I am so saddened by your post. I was zoche to be a guest in their home many, many times over the years I lived in Boston and considered Leah a true friend. Though I haven’t seen them in many years, my heart is always lightened when I think of them. Their open hearts and home were spectacular models for my own so many years later. Reb Leibel will be sorely missed. May Leah and the rest of the family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.
Does tremendous work on all ends of the spectrum. Tzadik
Thank you dovi your cousin Rivky and family
Thank you dovi your cousin Mendy
I have memories of Rabbi Schiener in 770 often asking-discussing shaylos in halacha with Rav Marlow OBM a true chassid yorei shamayim and laman.
Thanks Dovi
You did a perfect job, it made me cry
bayla k
Thank you for writing that. He was my teacher too in elementary school in Boston — and as described, a gentle,emesser chossid. I too went to be menachem avel, and was awed by the stories I was hearing — so much to so humble an individual. Moshiach NOW!!
I was his neighbor a couple of doors down…I lived next to chassidishe royalty
He sounds like a real emesse Yid.
If only I knew him…
Great article Dovie.
Met him over thirty years ago At Dorchester and D Street. Was a wonderful man!
We need more like him. Doing what he is supposed to do and not making so much noise about himself.
well written, I thoroughly enjoyed!
A website has been created for the many people to share their stories.and encounters with Rabbi Scheiner at http://www.rabbischeiner.com The family hopes to print a book from the many beautiful stories that are shared.
Very well written, for a very special individual. The world lost a human angel.
Thank you Dovi for sharing those incredible inspiring lessons from your uncles life. I never knew him but I know his 2 daughters Rivki and Dini, tzu lange Yaren. They have definitely internalized the lessons their father imparted through his behavior and are role models of Hatznea Leches while being warm and caring in their own communities.
To the extended Scheiner family: Hamakom Yenachem eschem bisoich Shaar aveilei Tzion ViYerushalayim.
Simie Schtroks, Surrey,British Columbia
I so appreciate this article! Rabbi Scheiner was my teacher in Boston Lubavitch as it was known when I was in high school.He was kindness itself , exuding warmth and goodness always.This most humble man made the strongest impression.May his wonderful life partner, Mrs. Leah and family be comforted.Bassie Fogelman Levin
Such a beautiful and inspiring tribute. Thank you for sharing.
I was blessed to know him and he always had a smile on his face. He was a true chosid, Yirah Shamiem and a Lamdan. May he storm the geavens on behalf of Klal Yisroel. The article shows that its not the color graphics that does the job its the Ahavas Ytisroel.
I was a student in the supermarket shopping when Rabbi Scheiner asked me if I was Jewish and I wondered how he knew since my cart was empty. He invited me for a very memorable Shabbos meal. May his family be reunited with R’ Leibel very soon with the coming of Moshiach!
Dovi, keep on sending us inspiring articles!
He was a real Shliach who did his shlichus without publicity.
An incredibly powerful piece of writing. Thank you for sharing.
From Robin Garbose
thanks for sharing. very moving and inspiring.
reus chaya
very well written, and what a special Shliach!
truly inspirational, something to look up to and try to emulate!
we cry and cry again ad mosai?
I had Rav Scheiner in 4& 5th grade in Boston Lubavitz Yeshiva during his first years in Boston. Among many of his virtues, he carefully watched & listened to our class during davening every morning. During that time, he didn’t daven, mark tests or learn Chitas. He politely reminded us to daven looking into the siddur. The Scheiner family moved to Crown Heights in the summer of 1968. The Rebbe sent them back to Boston in 1974. I last saw him in shul during my 2013 visit to Boston.
WOW!
I know him as a humble man. What I don’t know, is just how humble. This story illustrates how much he did that nobody knew about.
Rabbi Scheiner was my teacher in high school in Boston Lubavitch or new England Herbrew Acedemy as it was called. He was more than a teacher, he cared about every student and that special interest showed. I can just picture him going down the aisles handing out the papers as decribed in this great article,. Seema Edelman Goldstein
This was so touching and inspiring!