The Goodhearted Donor

By Rabbi Michoel Seligson

Hachossid Reb Menachem Nochum Preger was born in 1922 in Brisk to Horav Hachossid Reb Moshe Yitzchok and Mrs. Krusa Risa Preger.

Over the course of the years, the city was the center of the Brisk dynasty and was led by famous Rabbonim; Reb Yosef Ber, the Bais HaLevi; his son, Reb Chaim and his grandson, Reb Velvel. Reb Nochum’s father, Reb Moshe Yitzchok, was one of the community’s shochtim and beloved by all.

Family Ancestry

This profession seemed to be a tradition in the family. Reb Moshe Yitzchok’s father, Reb Binyamin Dovid, was a prominent shochet in Brisk during the years that the Bais HaLevi, Reb Yehoshua Ber Soloveitchik who relied on his shechita, was the Rav.

Reb Binyamin Dovid’s father, Reb Chaim, was the Brisker shochet before him and was known as someone to whom people with problems could turn. The sefer Minchas Yosef relating to the laws of Shechita, was compiled by a member of the Preger family. Reb Binyamin Dovid was a Slonimer chossid. After his Rebbe’s passing, he became a chossid of Reb Nochum of Biolystok associated with the Lechovitcher Chasidic dynasty.

The Connection to Lubavitch

Reb Nechemia of Brisk was a brother-in-law of Reb Shmuel Gurary, the Rashag’s uncle. His son Yankel, was persuaded by Reb Michoel Dworkin to study in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch. He came to the yeshiva in 1910 and became a big oved.

Although Reb Yankel did not spend many years in the yeshiva, he was a fiery Lubavitch chossid. Later in life, he returned to his home town of Brisk, and sold Yanover esrogim, in order to publicize the Chabad custom of using an esrog from Calabria, Italy.

Reb Yankel convinced his second cousin, Moshe Yitzchak Preger, to study in Tomchei Tmimim. The administration of yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim had a very stringent policy regarding the acceptance of students. Reb Moshe Yitzchok needed the recommendation of a reputable person in order to enter the yeshiva. Reb Moshe Yitzchok received a letter of recommendation from Reb Chaim Brisker. When he presented it, the Previous Rebbe who was the acting principal, discussed the letter with his father, the founder of the yeshiva. The Rebbe Rashab said, “Being that he was sent here with a recommendation of Reb Chaim Brisker, we will accept him.” Reb Moshe Yitzchok arrived in the yeshiva around 1912.

Before Reb Moshe Yitzchok’s trip home to Brisk, the Rebbe Rashab gave him specific guidelines regarding the shechita profession.

In due time, he found his shidduch, the daughter of a Kotzker chossid in a neighboring town. When his son, Reb Nochum reached yeshiva age, a family friend Reb Gellerstein, one of Brisk’s wealthiest Jews and a Lubavitcher chossid, convinced Reb Moshe Yitzchok to send Nochum to Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Otwock, Poland.

Going to Otwock

Reb Nochum needed a recommendation, as did his father before him. He received it from Reb Simcha Zelig, the Dayan of Brisk. Attached, was a copy of Reb Chaim Brisker’s letter recommending his father as an appropriate student for Tomchei Tmimim.

Nochum was accepted as a student. When he left for the yeshiva in Otwock, his older brother gave him his winter coat, right off his back. In Otwock, he formed a bond that was never broken, with friends who later went through so much together. When WWII broke out, the Previous Rebbe arranged visas for the students to leave Poland for Vilna. They left at just the right time and were among those whose lives were spared. In Vilna, they established a Lubavitch yeshiva.

When Nochum’s mother heard that a pogrom had broken out in Vilna, she went to check on her son. The non-Jews in Vilna reported her activities to the Russian authorities. She was subsequently jailed and treated harshly but fortunately was released after a few days. When she recovered from her ordeal, she took her oldest son Yeshayahu Leib and bribed the guards to allow him to cross into Vilna. Later, by miracle, he managed to reach Israel where he settled. Reb Nochum’s parents, two younger brothers and most of his family perished in the Holocaust, with the exception of a small group of close relatives and his older brother, Yeshayahu Leib.

From Vilna to the U.S.

One of his friends in yeshiva, Reb Shimon Goldman, recalled Reb Nochum’s appearance when he first came to the yeshiva.

“Nochum was different from the other students in that his dress was respectable. Coming from his parent’s home, he was dressed properly. He came with a nice size suitcase and it was obvious that his parents looked after him. Brisk had not been bombed. Therefore, its habitants had the mindset to care for their children and think of things such as clothing, etc. The other students from Otwock were wearing torn clothing, and had just managed to escape from the Nazis. Nochum and I shared a room and became very close friends.”

Shanghai

After a short period of time, the Nazis advanced further. Reb Nochum and the other yeshiva students were forced to flee to Japan, where they stayed for six months. At that time, they were unable to obtain visas to the United States, so they traveled by ship to Shanghai where they remained until the end of WWII.

Due to their restricted diet, the Tmimim in Shanghai suf fered from Beriberi disease, with painful sores on their tongues. Dr. Seligson, who served as the physician to the Yidden in the Shanghai ghetto, discovered that the students had a vitamin B deficiency and prescribed foods containing the necessary vitamins.

The Rav of Shanghai, Reb Meir Ashkenazi was a Lubavitch Chossid. Reb Meir and his Rebbetzin were very dedicated to the Tmimim and their needs. They helped cloth and feed the bochurim, and later on, assisted a few newly married yungeleit to begin their lives. The Ashkenazis acted like parents to the Tmimim, all of whom had left their respective families behind.

One of Reb Nochum’s close friends, Rabbi Mordechai Bryski may he live and be well, recalled. “In Shanghai we did a couple of projects together. We organized a Chinese printing house to print Tanyas. We also published Kol Korahs and distributed them.” In later years, their friendship developed into a steady Shabbos morning shiur studying Likutei Torah.

The ages of the students in Shanghai varied. Reb Nochum was a member of the middle group. Naturally, the older Tmimim had more information as to world events. Reb Nochum, an energetic person, managed to keep current with the news and was the link between the younger and older Tmimim. He also had a very close relationship with Horav Ashkenazi’s household, and served as a middleman between the Rav and the students.

After WWII, Reb Nochum was among three Tmimim who traveled to the U.S. by plane. The remaining Tmimim came by ship and arrived some time later. In 1946, they were all finally reunited and able to see the Previous Rebbe. Some of the students continued their studies in the Lubavitch yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York and others went into business. Reb Nochum became involved in business and was successful. Every day of his life thereafter, he was thankful to the Previous Rebbe for arranging the visa that saved his life and enabled him to come to the United States

In his first years in the U.S., Reb Nochum heard that the Previous Rebbe did not have air conditioning in his home. Although Reb Nochum did not have much money at the time, he contributed a significant sum to purchase an air conditioner for the Rebbe

Tzedoko & Pillar of Chesed

Reb Nochum was known to be a pillar of chesed. He helped whoever he could in Shanghai and similarly, in a greater measure in the U.S. Those he was able to help were not necessarily Lubavitch Chassidim or people that he was acquainted with. Everyone knew that if they needed a favor, they could ask Reb Nochum and without any hesitation or condition, they would receive the money they needed. In his humble manner, he helped many Yidden without publicizing or making a point of his actions.

Reb Nochum excelled in the mitzvah of Tzedoko. Particularly, he practiced the form of Tzedaka known as matan bseiser, contributing anonymously. He also did not differentiate between those who came to him. Regardless of dress or religious observance, Reb Nochum gave to all.

After Reb Nochum’s ptira, letters of consolation were sent to family members from pillars of the community.

Mrs. Zelda Nemes, a prominent educator, whose daughter also married a member of the Greenwald family, wrote to Mrs. Preger. “Your tragedy is not only a tragedy for your family, but a tragedy for all of Mosdos Chabad and all of Anash. Indeed, it was a loss of a true friend who accomplished many things and who was a very generous person. And perhaps, who as you knows how every day of his life was utilized for the benefit of Klal Yisroel?! And who like you, saw the pride and satisfaction that he had in his public communal affairs and in his private life’s activities”.

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who was very close to Reb Nochum, recalled. “Reb Nochum was a rare and loving person. He was a true askan, and he took the Rebbe’s kovod to heart. To Reb Nochum, the Rebbe’s happiness was of paramount importance. He became involved in Crown Heights because he believed that it would bring the Rebbe nachas. Reb Nochum was an ‘askan’ of the ‘amol’- of the good old days. Anyone who came to him was sure to walk away having been helped. He had a heart of gold.”

Rabbi Zalman Posner, the Rebbe’s shliach in Tennessee, wrote the following. “Reb Nochum was a very close friend of mine. He was a blend of a ben Torah and a chossid, with a contributing heart and a pleasant personality, as is described in Chassidus and Musar sforim”.

Remedy for a Thyroid Problem

Reb Nochum merited to special kiruvim from the Rebbe. In the early 1950’s, Reb Nochum suffered from a persistent thyroid problem. Upon being consulted, the Rebbe suggested that Reb Nochum visit the pharmacy and request a list of different ingredients, including what the pharmacist referred to as an “odd ingredient”. After Reb Nochum filled the prescription, he never suffered from the thyroid again.

Shidduch

A shidduch was proposed with Tova Abramowitz, whose father’s and mother’s families had lived in Jerusalem and Chevron, respectively, for six generations. Before Reb Nochum traveled to Israel to meet her, he went into Yechidus with the Rebbe. He told the Rebbe that he wanted to donate money to a mosad. The Rebbe said, “By Mir iz Uforatzto”, for me it is Uforatzto. He instructed Reb Nochum to give $1,000. In the late 1950’s, one thousand dollars was a huge sum of money, yet Reb Nochum gave without hesitation. The Rebbe then encouraged him to get married. After their wedding, the couple returned to New York and raised a chassidishe family.

Mosdos

In 1965, Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson founded Yeshiva Hadar Hatorah for young people who had no background in Jewish education. There was a desperate need for funding to establish and maintain the yeshiva. Reb Nochum was one of the few that Rabbi Jacobson was always able to rely on.

During the Acharon Shel Pesach Farbrengen in 1969, the Rebbe initiated a campaign to strengthen the shechuna of Crown Heights. The Rebbe spoke on this topic steadily and encouraged the community leaders in their work. The organization CHEBRA, which later developed into the Community Council, was created. Reb Nochum was one of CHEBRA’S founders and continued to work within the organization to build the shechuna.

In addition to his involvement in the local mosdos, Reb Nochum extended his support to shluchim working in various cities. This became public upon his ptira, when public condolences were posted by the mosdos in the newspapers.

In the early 1970’s, FREE, Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe was established to assist the Yidden who had arrived from Russia. Reb Nochum contributed to this vital mosad

In the spring of 1976, the Rebbe initiated the Shnas Hachinuch Campaign, in which he urged everyone to participate in registering Jewish children in yeshiva. Rabbi Yaakov Bryski then founded the Yeshivas Chanoch Le’naar for young boys who had little Jewish education. He told one of Reb Nochum’s grandchildren: “Without your zayde, I would never have been able to open the Yeshiva. He was the backbone of the Yeshiva.”

The Rebbe had given specific directives to Rabbi Bryski regarding the establishment of the Yeshiva Chanoch Le’naar. The yeshiva should have a board who would handle the financial concerns. Reb Nochum was chosen to head the board, and he helped Rabbi Bryski select additional board members. Reb Nochum would accompany Rabbi Bryski to raise funds for the Yeshiva. Reb Nochum’s involvement influenced people to give
generously.

Chai Elul, the yeshiva opened with a total of 18 students. Rabbi Bryski brought the students to the Rebbe’s Farbrengen hoping to present the Rebbe with the key to the yeshiva. The secretary told him that presentations were made only during the 11th of Nissan Farbrengen. Rabbi Bryski told the secretary to ask the Rebbe if they could make the presentation on that day, Chai Elul. The Rebbe agreed and Reb Nochum presented the Rebbe with a golden key. The Rebbe told him that whatever sum he had thus far given, he should double it.

Colel Chabad is a mosad in Israel which helps many families with practical necessities. Reb Nochum involved himself in an exceptional way, contributing energy and money to this organization. He once cut short a family trip to Israel for a simcha, to return and work on the Colel Chabad melave malka. A wing of their building in Tzfas was dedicated in his name.

The Rashag, the Rebbe’s brother-in-law, who oversaw the network of Lubavitch Yeshivos worldwide, would hold an annual fund raising dinner for the Yeshiva in Brooklyn. In later years, the number of Anash attending the dinner decreased. The Rashag asked Reb Nochum to encourage people to come, since Reb Nochum had a unique reputation and his request would be honored. The Yeshiva Oholei Torah was another mosad that Reb Nochum supported in a significant way.

The last-years of his short life were dedicated exclusively to Tzedoko. He became involved in Bais Rivka, among the other institutions that he helped.

Reb Nochum was instrumental in securing the Lefferts General Hospital for the school. The task of converting a hospital to a school was enormous and Reb Nochum received great encouragement from the Rebbe. Day and night he worked to rally support for this project. Finally a dinner was planned to publicize the purchase and the eventual conversion of the hospital to a school.

Several days before the highly successful dinner, Reb Nochum suffered a heart attack. He never made it to the dinner. His friends continued his hard work and today a beautiful, new building stands on the corner of Brooklyn and Lefferts Avenues, with more than 1500 students.

After the conclusion of the Farbrengen on Acharon Shel Pesach 1980, the Rebbe was distributing Kos shel Brocho. When Reb Nochum approached, the Rebbe handed him a bottle of wine, saying, “Thank you for your beard, and it should not be just a sefira beard”.

The “Rushed” Shidduch

Every Thursday evening, Rabbi Sholom Mendel Simpson, one of the Rebbe’s secretaries, would enter the Rebbe’s room with letters to be signed. Once, when he entered the Rebbe’s room, the Rebbe asked him, “What is happening with your daughter and Moshe Yitzchok [Reb Nochum’s son], in regards to a shidduch.” Rabbi Simpson told the Rebbe that his daughter was a counselor in a camp in Vancouver, and Moshe Yitzchok was working in New York. The Rebbe said, “She should come in tomorrow (Friday) and they should write in on Sunday [asking for a bracha] to be engaged.”

Although, the Rebbe answered fewer letters on the fast day of 17th of Tamuz, in this case the Rebbe answered their letter. He gave a blessing approving the shidduch, and for them to become Chosson and Kallah. The Rebbe set the wedding date for the month of Elul.

It became evident after Reb Menachem Nochum was nifter on the 21st of Tammuz that the Rebbe had rushed the engagement, so that Reb Nochum would be able to partake in this joyous event.

One of Reb Nochum’s grandchildren cited an interesting fact. “During the Farbrengen on Shabbos Pinchos, prior to zayde’s ptira, the Rebbe expounded on the Pirkei Avos that was being studied that Shabbos. The mishna states that after 120 years, it is not a person’s finances that escort him but his deeds. It was quite clear a few days later, that the Rebbe was referring to Zayde OBM”.

Reb Nochum was a family person. On the evening of his ptira, he phoned his children and had a long conversation with each of them.

Reb Menachem Nochum Preger passed away on Thursday the 21st of Tammuz 5741. At the Shabbos Farbrengen following the ptira, the Rebbe spoke a Sicha which referred to Reb Nochum

In Parshas Ki Tetze (21:22), it is stated, “When there will be a sin which leads to a verdict of death, one should be hung on a tree.”

The Rebbe noted that the Arizal explained this verse at the eulogy of the kabbalist Rebbe Moshe Cordevero. He explained that the word `cheit’, sin, also means lacking. He alluded to this verse as follows. A case of “cheit mishpat maves”, means that a reason was lacking for a verdict of death. It was decreed that one be nifter, though he had done no wrong.

It must then be, “vesolisa oiso al haeitz’, one should be hung on a tree. The verdict of death, came as a result of the sin of the tree of knowledge, when Adam ate from the tree. This introduced death for generations to come. Resultantly, everyone, including the innocent, must eventually depart this world.

When Rabbi Yosef Weinberg reviewed this Farbrengen on Motzoei Shabbos for his radio listeners, he commented that it was obvious that the Rebbe was referring to Reb Nochum, an outstanding individual and a big ba’al chesed.

Reb Nochum and his wife, may she live and be well, merited to establish a fami ly that learned about chesed, and continue to emulate his deeds, practicing Tzedoko and chesed. His life continues through the generations’ his children have brought into the world, including great-grandchildren. To eternalize his deeds, Ten Simcha and Chasdei Nochum were established to assist the families of chosson and kallah, in a genuine dignified manner, with beautiful gowns for the wedding.

Reb Nochum is survived by his wife, Mrs. Tova Preger; his son, Reb Moshe Yitzchok, his daughter, Mrs. Krusa Risa Greenwald, his son, Reb Meir, his daughter, Mrs. Miriam Greenwald, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Various mosdos carry Reb Nochum’s name with honor.

Yehi Zichro Boruch! May Hachossid Hatomim Reb Menachem Nochum, a legendary Chossid who was committed to love a fellow Jew in an exceptional manner, who had a unique pleasure in assisting another Yid in many different ways and who always utilized his fullest energy to come to the aid of the many Torah mosdos; serve as the inspiration to be sincerely devoted and committed to the well being of a fellow Jew, especially those in our midst, to assist them with a spiritual or a physical favor, in order to enable them to eventually stand on their own and to be able to contribute in turn, to others in their environment.

We should speedily witness “The ones who dwell in the dust will awaken and rejoice” with Horav Hachossid Reb Menachem Nochum among them.

The Monday Torah program with Rabbi YY Jacobson, which airs on COLlive.com this coming Monday will be in memory of Reb Nochum Preger.