By Rabbi Yaakov Wagner
I would like to share with you the following “Bal Shemske” story that just happened with one of our students.
Gabriel Illoz grew up in Brazil in a non-observant home, and for high school went to Yemen Orde, a dati-leumi school for Brazilian students in Israel. Upon returning to Brazil in 2013 (5774) he began spending more time by Chabad with Rabbi Eliyahu Stifelman, and after several months Rabbi Stifelman encouraged him to attend Yeshiva for the remainder of the year. In Adar 2014 he enrolled in Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim of Morristown NJ, where he began to improve both his English and his skills learning nigleh and chassidus.
The summer came and went, but Gabriel, by then being called Aviv Aharon, wished to remain in yeshiva. He is currently still learning in yeshiva, expanding his knowledge and skills in Torah, while simultaneously earning credits – through yeshiva – towards a Bachelors degree.
On erev Rosh Chodesh Kislev Dov Ber Immanuel, a shliach in Tiferes from Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon of Los Angeles, approached Aviv Aharon as he was poring over his Gemara eagerly waving a dollar bill. “Check it out,” Dobi told him. “This bill has your name on it ( – Illoz). Can you read it?”
Aviv Aharon took the dollar and read the words that were written on it in Portuguese with excitement. “Received from the Rebbe Lag B’omer 1990 for Rachel Illoz.”
“That’s my grandmother!” Aviv Aharon exclaimed. “Where did you receive this dollar?”
“I got it as change from a purchase I was making in Shoprite,” Dov Ber responded.
Aviv Aharon resolved to investigate the matter further. He sent a picture of the bill to his parents, but they were not aware of any further details. They wondered if perhaps there was another Jewish woman with the name Rachel Illoz for whom this bill was intended. Aviv Aharon’s father sent the picture to his two brothers, one of whom travels to NY each year for Gimmel Tamuz with the shliach Rabbi Daniel Eskinazi. When Aviv Aharon spoke to his uncle he was told, “I personally did not receive this dollar from the Rebbe, but I have no doubt that this is a gift for you from your grandmother. Hold onto it while I look into it further.”
Several days later Avi Eskinazi, who is currently a student in Tomchei Temimim of Morristown, approached Aviv Aharon and asked to see the dollar. “I recognize the writing,” Avi told Aviv Aharon. “Can I take a picture of it and send it to my father?”
After sending the picture to Rabbi Daniel Eskinazi he received a swift response. “I am the one who wrote that, and my mother received the dollar from the Rebbe on Rachel Illoz’s behalf!”
Aviv Aharon’s grandmother (who has since passed away) was ill at the time. Rabbi Daniel Eskinazi’s mother, who was a close friend of Rachel Illoz, was visiting her son who was living in Crown Heights. She received this dollar from the Rebbe on that particular Sunday and asked her son, who wrote on the bill the date when it was received, to specify in writing that it should be on behalf of her friend Rachel Illoz.
Twenty five years later, with revealed hashgocha protis, the dollar reached her grandson Aviv Aharon, a 19 year old bal teshuva studying in Yeshiva in Morristown!
On this yom segulah and yom geulah may we all find our way back home!
go brasil!
go avi!!
que historiaaaaa emocionante!!
What an inspiring story.
Thank you for sharing.
I just got back from the Ohel and saw the Askenazi boys there
celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Avrahom Alpern.
What a delight to read this incredible Hashgocha Protis
The Rebbe takes care of all his people.
The 1st picture is from 11 yiar 5750, a week before the lag b’omer sunday that this story’s dollar happened.
On that 18 yiar, the rebbe came back from the ohel late at night, and distributed dollars downstairs in 770 (thus being 19 yiar already…)
I believe there are no pictures, but there is a video of it.
Go Avi go! Best bochur in Lubavitch!!!!!!!
Your a true chossid, just know the Rebbe MHM love you very much, your bringing all of your friends like myself so much nachas and joy seeing you grow