Intercessor & Redeemer
Healers come in all shapes and sizes – some wearing angel wings, some the long black cloak of a holy leader. The Avner Institute presents an amazing story told by Rabbi Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky, a major founder and builder of Chabad in America, and documented by famed Chassid Rabbi Refoel Nachman (Folle) Kahn, author of the popular series Shemu’os VeSippurim — of a long-distance miracle performed by the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, and the recovery of a paralyzed philanthropist, proving that charity saves from death.
In loving memory Hadassah bas Shneur Zalman
“Angel of One Thousand”
In the early 5700s (1940s), Rabbi Shmaryahu Gourary, of blessed memory, who was married to the eldest of the Rebbe Rayatz’s three daughters, was sent by his father-in-law on a mission to Toronto along with Rabbi Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky. They arrived to find the city completely shut down by a blizzard. Snow had buried practically everything, and storm winds blasted through the streets. Since no transportation of any sort was available, they were forced to take refuge in a hotel.
A number of Chassidim and “friends of Lubavitch” found their way to the hotel in order to pay their respects to their city’s distinguished guests. Among them was a certain local rabbi, who related an amazing story:
Not so long ago, a member of my shul fell seriously ill. When his family realized that one of his legs was paralyzed, they rushed him to the hospital.
As soon as I found out, I rushed over to visit him. When I arrived at his floor, I encountered members of his family who had stationed themselves in the room next to the patient’s. They told me the frightening details of his condition: he could not move and he could barely speak.
Their mood, naturally, was solemn. The serious condition of the family patriarch would have been reason enough; but, in addition, his son had had to postpone his wedding because of the sudden development.
They warned me not to enter the room. However, the patient heard my voice and asked the nurse to call me in. So I entered.
As soon as he saw me, he managed to say, “I heard that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is in the United States.”
“That’s true,” I replied. “He came in 5700 – 1940.”
“Please!” he rasped. “Write to him on my behalf! Ask him what I can do to save myself from this horrible illness!”
Express Message
Of course I agreed. I dispatched an urgent telegram and the Rebbe’s answer arrived, also express. I was instructed to tell the stricken man that a branch of the Lubavitcher Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva was being established in Montreal, to which he should donate one thousand dollars.
“For tzedakah saves from death,” the Rebbe interjected, quoting the maxim. “Specifically one thousand, because the angel of a hundred is incomparable to the angel of a thousand, as I written (Job 33:23): ‘If a man will have an interceding angel – one of a thousand accusers, to speak of his uprightness on his behalf, then He will be gracious to him, and say, “Redeem him from going down to the grave; I have found expiation for him.”
The Rebbe’s letter concluded: “In this merit he will recover and have full use of his legs.”
Quick Deliverance
I hurried back to the hospital with the Rebbe’s letter in hand. The man’s relatives were still there. When the patient’s wife saw me, she exclaimed, “What! Did you you already get an answer?”
I nodded and told her what the Rebbe had said. Her brother, who had also come to visit, overheard and made a sarcastic comment.
I didn’t bother to respond. Instead, I went directly inside to the hospital room.
I told the patient what I had written and then I read to him the Rebbe’s reply. When I finished, the man addressed his son, who had been standing next to the bed the whole time.
“Child!” he cried, with sudden vigor. “I want to live! Please take one thousand dollars and deliver it to Montreal, to whatever address the rabbi tells you.”
Without hesitation the son, the one whose wedding was postponed, did exactly as his father requested.
New Treatment
Several days later, the patient’s doctor, a leading specialist, arrived to perform a routine examination. The room was cleared for him and he remained alone with the bedridden man for some time.
Finally the doctor emerged, face contorted in fury. He marched directly to the patient’s relatives, who were maintaining vigil.
“Who gave you permission to bring in an outside doctor and for him to initiate treatment?” he thundered. “And without my knowledge, no less. This is outrageous!”
The relatives stared at one another and then back at the doctor. Finally one of them answered, “Please, sir, we don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Didn’t you consult with somebody?” the doctor demanded.
“No,” the other answered. “We hadn’t consulted with anyone else. We don’t know what extra treatment you’re talking about.”
The doctor exhaled. “If that’s so,” he said in a voice calmer though still tinged with suspicion, “then a miracle has happened here.”
The relatives gathered closer in great interest.
“The patient’s condition has changed radically,” the doctor continued. “There are no longer any internal signs of the disease.”
Shaking his head, he added, “I can’t understand it. But . . .” and he announced with a smile of relief, “if his present situation persists, we will discharge him very soon.”
And that’s what happened. Shortly thereafter the man was released. Although he initially needed crutches to walk, it wasn’t too long before he could discard them. His condition continued to improve rapidly until he was fully recovered.
The rescheduled wedding was celebrated with unusual joy.
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