By Menachem Baron, COLlive reporter
Gila Gamliel, Israel’s Deputy Minister for the Advancement of Youth, Students and Women, attributes her success in her career and personal life to a U.S. dollar bill.
A few years ago, Gamliel, the daughter of a Yemenite Jewish family from the city of Gedera, visited the Ohel gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens, where she prayed, as she always does during her trips to New York.
She had just lost her seat in the Knesset, and after pouring her heart out to the Rebbe for his blessings, she left feeling lighthearted and confident.
In a store in Manhattan later that day, she detected Hebrew lettering on one of the dollars given to her as change. It read: “From the hands of C”K Admu”r Shlit”a Wednesday, 24 Tishrei 5752 after Mincha Maariv davening.”
There was a name written there as well. Gamliel failed to locate the owner – until this week.
During a tour in the Great Synagogue in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, she was welcomed by Shliach Rabbi Chaim Shaul Bruk and told him how lucky she was since receiving the Rebbe’s blessed dollar a few years ago.
“All that I asked the Rebbe for, were fulfilled,” Gamliel commented, noting that she had since married, had been reelected to the Knesset, was chosen for a cabinet post and had given birth to 2 girls.
Ask to view the dollar, Gamliel took the bill out of her purse and to both of their surprise, Rabbi Bruk identified the name on the bill.
“Shmuel Shteinberger is my childhood friend from Nachlas Har Chabad,” he said and immediately dialed his friend in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Malachi.
Shteinberger said he remembered when that dollar was given to him – a few months before the Rebbe suffered a stroke on 27 Adar 1, 5752. He said the dollar had been missing for a while.
Shteinberger then said he was honored that the Rebbe’s brachos were passed on to the Israeli lawmaker to succeed in her public service.
The two set up to meet upon her return to Israel. Shteinberger already indicated that he will allow Gamliel to keep the Rebbe’s dollar.
Wow amazing story so inspiring thank you col for posting this:)
If you should contact the email provided
How much r u selling them.for?
..with my rebbe dollar
Hi
I am selling Rebbe Dollars.
This hurts to do however i am doing this to to cover funds for living basics for my family.
The dollars have the date and the Brocha written on them including shlichos to Russia and many other stuff.
I would answer any question regarding the validity.
[email protected]
the whole time i read it, was receiving chills.
The power of a single Rebbes dollar!
nice story, may her good luck continue!