By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
When Reb Yisroel Leibov’s father suddenly passed away, he was forced to work in order to support his family. He quickly became a successful soap manufacturer, and donated any surplus money to charity.
Rabbi Mendel Futerfas, who headed a clandestine Lubavitch cheder, recalled how Reb Yisroel would hand him money weekly, concisely stating, “For Jewish children,” before walking away.
In 1944, Rabbi Yisroel Noach Blinitsky, a Chabad activist, asked Reb Yisroel Leibov to purchase tables and deliver them to several homes. Rabbi Blinitsky wanted to create an educational program for Jewish teens from non Chabad homes. The plan was for them to receive a fresh, hot meal and study Torah for several hours.
Reb Yisroel was unconvinced. He asked: “What’s the point in going to such great lengths, if the children will be returning to secular homes devoid of Jewish life?”
Rabbi Blinitsky quoted the fifth Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Dovber (paraphrased): “Even one verse or good word that exits a person’s mouth is of value.” That was enough to persuade Reb Yisroel to help with the program.
Years later, Reb Yisroel met a man in Israel who had studied in one of those teen groups. The man had maintained his connection to Judaism into adulthood, despite the many obstacles to observance in the Soviet Union, and he credited the group with inspiring him.
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