Chanukah Miracle In Snowy Communist Russia

By Rabbi Moshe Gurkow

When I was still a boy of 6 years old in my home in Communist Russia, I went with my Uncle, Rabbi Michoel Teitelbaum, who later founded the Lubavitch Educational Institute Oholei Torah in Brooklyn, to light the first candle of the Chanukah menorah in an outdoor setting in an effort to publicize the miracle. All of a sudden from out of nowhere a policeman appeared, wielding a huge knife, with which he attempted to kill us!

My uncle and I ran for our lives. We came to a gigantic snow pile and plunged into its snow, but the policeman with his deadly knife was still at our backs. He thrust it deep into the snow; the knife's sharp blade literally reached the throat of Uncle Michoel when he suddenly bit the policeman's thumb, causing him to drop the knife to the ground. In the midst of the commotion my uncle and I fled the scene. We returned back to the place where we started out only to find that lone, first Chanukah candle still burning joyously.

Rabbi Hirschprung & The Lubavitcher Rebbe

Many people assumed that because Rabbi Hirschprung was a Talmudic giant and expert in all areas of Jewish law, his connection to the Rebbe was purely intellectual. After all, the Rebbe had described Rabbi Hirschprung as "a living Torah scroll." Perhaps Rabbi Hirschprung was only impressed by the Rebbe's scholarship?

Nothing could be further from the truth, as the following stories illustrate.

Rabbi Hirschprung always attended all of the Rebbe's major farbrengens (gatherings at which the Rebbe would teach for hours with breaks for soulful singing of Chasidic melodies). After the Rebbe's heart attack on Simchat Torah, 1977, Rabbi Hirschprung feared that the Rebbe would not be well enough to speak at the annual gathering on 19 Kislev, the "New Year of Chasidut." His joy, according to Rabbi Meir Plotkin, who accompanied him from Montreal to New York for the farbrengens, was indescribable when he found out that the Rebbe would farbreng after all.

On the way back to Montreal, Rabbi Hirschprung spoke continuously about the great privilege everyone has of attending one of the Rebbe's farbrengens. "Only a fool could go to sleep after such a farbrengen," Rabbi Hirschprung said. "One should go out into the street and dance from joy, that we merited to have a farbrengen with the Rebbe so soon after what happened."

"What have you seen in the Rebbe that you didn't see in anyone else?" Rabbi Plotkin once asked Rabbi Hirschprung.

"There are two things which set the Rebbe apart," Rabbi Hirschprung cited. "The Rebbe's Torah knowledge and that he is the true leader of the generation. Pinchas Hirschprung is not impressed by the title 'gaon' [Torah giant]. He knows who deserves the title. And I am telling you that there is nobody like the Rebbe, not only in our generation but even in earlier generations. I was with the gaon Rabbi Meir Shapiro in Lublin, with the gaon Rabbi Menachem Zemba, and all the gaonim of the previous generation. I found no one comparable to the Rebbe's greatness in all areas of Torah."

A few years ago, Rabbi Hirschprung's wife became ill. Upon being examined, the doctors told her that a malignant growth had been found and that she would have to undergo an operation to remove it. The doctors said the situation was critical and it was doubtful whether the operation would help.

Rabbi Hirschprung was broken by the news. People were shocked by the change in him. Gone was the active, energetic man. In his place was a debilitated, lifeless person. He stopped coming to decide points of Jewish law at the Rabbinical Court and did not speak to anyone at the yeshiva. The only thing he did not neglect was the general class that he gave, but even this was given without his usual enthusiasm.

A short while later, Rabbi Hirschprung was back to his old self. Months later, Rabbi Hirschprung's daughter related to one of his students the cause for this turnaround:

"My father is a great chasid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Not only is he a chasid, but he is connected heart and soul with the Rebbe. I don't know if you can find a greater chasid than my father! Even though my father does not follow the customs of Chabad, nor does he use the Chabad prayerbook, I am sure that there is no chasid or mekushar (one who is connected) like my father.

When my mother's health was precarious, my father's state of mind was terrible. One day I was with my parents when a letter from the Rebbe came in the mail. My father was sitting and learning. When I told my father that a letter had arrived from the Rebbe, he got up and went to the kitchen to wash his hands. he put on his hat and jacket and then stood and read the Rebbe's letter.

"My father hurried to my mother's room and told my mother, 'I just got a letter from the Rebbe. At the end the Rebbe added a few handwritten lines which say: "Regarding what you wrote about your wife - it is only the counsel of the yetzer hara [evil inclination] who wants to weaken you. Therefore, don't pay attention to this, for it isn't true at all but the claim of the yetzer. He and his wife will merit length of days and good years." '

"Father stood near mother, and said, 'Thank G-d there is a Rebbe and the Rebbe says you are well. So, you are well, and there's nothing to worry about.'

"I couldn't believe my eyes. In an instant, my father had changed from one extreme to the other. He immediately got back to himself and became the enthusiastic, active, lively person he had been before.

"In the weeks that followed until my mother's full recovery, things were upside-down. We were the worried ones, while you couldn't tell from my father that his wife wasn't exactly well.

"Even on the day of the operation, when they wheeled my mother into the operating room and we were all so concerned, my father didn't have a care in the world. He simply didn't understand why we were worried. 'The Rebbe said that she is healthy,' he kept repeating.

"And when the doctors said that they didn't find any growth and we jumped for joy, my father didn't understand what the commotion was about. He had already known she was well."

A Miracle In Front Of The Pope that Saved The Jewish Comunity

Once, there was a wealthy man whose daughter had reached marriageable age. As befitting his station, he sought a groom who was a great scholar, and he travelled to one of the famed Torah academies to find such a young man.
The head of the academy recommended a worthy young scholar named Rabbi Yaakov, and upon meeting him, the prospective father-in-law was very pleased. The young scholar, however, made three conditions before agreeing to the proposal: he must have a room where he could study undisturbed; his wife must allow him unlimited time for his studies; and he would have permission to leave his wife for a year to take care of some important business.
The wealthy man agreed to the requests, but he returned home to obtain his daughter's agreement. After her father described the young man's excellent qualities, the girl agreed, and the couple was married. The groom studied Torah day and night, and his new wife was impressed with his character and his behavior. Indeed, the match was right in her eyes, and she was content.
After the first year of marriage had passed happily, Rabbi Yaakov reminded his wife and father-in-law of the promise they had made to allow him to travel on business for a year's time. They accompanied him to the outskirts of town, and he continued on his way to Rome and to his mysterious mission.
In Rome, the ruler had an intelligent son whom he had betrothed to a foreign princess. The princess was also bright, and she stipulated that she would only marry a man who was well-versed in all the knowledge of the world. She proposed that he undertake a course of study before their marriage, and she would do the same.
She began to study under the tutelage of a priest who was vicious anti-Semite. The priest instilled in the girl such a hatred of Jews, that she asked her future father-in-law to force all the Jews to convert, or else to expel them from his realm. He considered her request, and in addition, decided to invite the Pope to deliver a sermon against the Jews at the royal wedding.
On the very day that the royal wedding was announced, Rabbi Yaakov arrived in Rome. News of the arrival of a Torah scholar of great repute spread through the city, and even reached the ears of certain notables close to the Pope, who mentioned it at the Papal court. The Pope became curious to meet this young scholar, and summoned him. The Pope was very impressed with the depth and breadth of Rabbi Yaakov's knowledge. Soon, word of this wise Jew reached even the royal court, and he was summoned to the king.
Rabbi Yaakov received favor from everyone who saw and heard him, and of all the scholars in the kingdom, he was selected to instruct the betrothed prince. This was, of course, the mission for which he had come to Rome.
Elijah the Prophet at times reveals himself to certain select Jews, and now, he appeared to Rabbi Yaakov, saying, "The Pope is a secret Jew, a descendant of Marranos." Elijah told him where and when he could find the Pope deep in prayer, wearing his talit and tefilin.
When Rabbi Yaakov appeared at the door of that room, the Pope was filled with fear. Immediately, Rabbi Yaakov calmed his fears. "Elijah the Prophet has sent me to you on a matter of great importance to the Jews of Rome. You will be commanded to deliver a sermon attacking the Jews at the royal wedding. You must not speak until I come to you again."
The day of the wedding finally arrived, and guests from every realm filled the great halls of the palace. As word spread that the Pope himself would soon deliver a sermon, excitement began to build. The Pope, however, did not appear, as he was awaiting Rabbi Yaakov.
Suddenly the renowned Jewish scholar appeared before the guests -- in the company of the Pope -- carrying a closed bag. He summoned the prince, and in front of the entire assemblage, he announced that he would like to show them a wonder. He bid the prince put his hand into the sack and withdraw from it whatever he would find within. The prince put in his hand and withdrew a beautiful, gem-encrusted crown. The crowd cheered.
Then, he asked that the princess come and do the same. She was happy to oblige, but when she withdrew her hand, she was grasping a frightful snake, which at once entwined itself around her neck. She uttered the most horrible cries, but everyone was rooted to their place in terror.
Rabbi Yaakov began to speak, "The prince has received what he deserves, and the princess has received her just reward as well. Princess, if you order the annulment of the evil decrees you have instigated, you will be saved, if not, you will perish."
Needless to say, the princess acquiesced to his demand. Rabbi Yaakov then departed; not a soul dared approach him. The King arose from his throne, still enthralled by what he had just witnessed. Before all his subjects and before the prince and princess, he vowed never to harm the Jews of his realm. Rabbi Yaakov, his mission completed, returned to his home and his happy wife.