This past Friday night A very special person and a personal friend, one of my first and staunchest supporters when I moved to Michigan, Dr. Reuvein Starr was niftar. He was an einikel of Reb Zushe Anipoli. This week's story is dedicated in his memory.
THE MESHALAIACH CARRIES THE BURDEN
The first six years, in Birmingham, had to be spent in building the credibility of Chabad in the eyes of the Jewish establishment. In order to do so, a broad scope of programming had to be implemented, yet, to finance these projects, we had to go outside the Birminghamcommunity, for they would not support us until we "proved" ourselves. Unfortunately, although Shluchim of the Rebbe Shlita, we still hadn't figured out how to be in two places at once. We still were not able to do programming in Birmingham, while raising funds elsewhere at the same time. To cover the deficit, therefore, we relied heavily on loans. Of course, in order to keep getting loans, one has to have credit, and in order to have credit, one has to pay back on time. Thus began a period of time known as "the borrow from Pinny to pay back Peretz principle." [Every Chabad House director knows that this method is madness and is to be avoided at all costs. Every Chabad House director has been warned to stay away from this method at all costs. Every Chabad House director, for some inexplicable reason, had to learn this lesson on his own, and, ultimately, pay the costs!] It was Friday of the intermediate days of Sukkos, 5745 (1984) and all was not well. Months earlier we had given a post-dated check to cover a $7,000 loan. We gave our word that the check would be able to be deposited no later than the upcoming Monday. The balance in our checking account was less than $7. All day Friday was spent in trying, every single contact, in order to borrow the needed funds. I Did not even manage to borrow $100. Ten minutes before Shabbos set in, I knew I failed. Shabbos night I would have to call the creditor and ask for an extension, which I knew would ruin my credit with him, in regards to any hope for future loans. Definitely not a way to begin a joyful Shabbos. Yet, it's not just any Shabbos, it's Shabbos in the midst of the holiday of Sukkos, Z'man Simchaseinu, (time of rejoicing.) How can I not rejoice? But then again how can I rejoice with this shadow hanging over me? With tears in my eyes, I pictured the Rebbe Shlita in my mind, and said: "Rebbe, I know that Chassidus teaches that "Moach Shalit Al Halev," (the mind is capable of controlling the heart,) but I personally am not on such a level of service of G-d. However, Rebbe, you are! Therefore, if you take back the responsibility of your organization for the duration of Shabbos, it's not going to effect your joy in the slightest. After Shabbos, if you want to return the responsibility to me, I'll gladly take it back." That Shabbos was the most joyous Shabbos that I ever remember having. Shabbos night, I had just finished making Havdalah when the telephone rang. "Rabbi Lipszyc, this is Dr. Starr. I had a most disturbing Shabbos. In the Shul where I Daven, (the Young Israel of Southfield, Michigan) each Shabbos a different person has to give a D'var Torah, and this Shabbos was my turn. So Friday night I sat down to prepare, by studying one of the Sichos of the Rebbe Shlita. In the particular Sicha that I studied, the Rebbe Shlita stressed the importance of not turning down a person's cry for financial help. I immediately thought about your phone call on Friday. How could I have turned you down? The next morning, as is generally my Shabbos morning custom, I sat down to learn another Sicha on the portion of the week. In that Sicha too, the Rebbe Shlita stressed even more the importance of giving, when asked to. The Rebbe exclaimed, “How is it possible that when a Jew asks another Jew for help, that a Jew can possibly turn him down?!?” Again, I was disturbed, how could I have turned down your request? At that point I turned to G-d, and said: please dear G-d, I promise that right after Shabbos I will call back Rabbi Lipszyc and loan him the $7000, only please don't let the rest of my Shabbos be disturbed?!" Dr. Starr then continued, "G-d willing, first thing Monday morning I will wire $7000 into your account, but you know what's funny? It was only when I heard Krias HaTorah in Shul, later that morning, that I realized that, with both Sichos, I had mistakenly prepared the Parsha of the following week!" [Note to Dr. Starr: For sure you are now sitting by the feet of the Rebbe hearing Torah studies directly. I am also sure that when the Heavenly Court showed you the film of your life’s accomplishments this story was included. So now you can fully understand what happened that Shabbos. At the time I was too embarrassed to tell you that I was at least partially responsible for disturbing your Shabbos. I apologize!] [Note to the readers: I really did not want to tell this story which glaringly points out my personal weakness. How could I, even in a moment of stress, give back the Z'chus of my responsibilities to the Rebbe Shlita, even be it for a short time? I only included this storyto show how the Rebbe Shlita watches over his emissaries even in their moments of weakness. Nay, especially in their moments of weakness. And the kindness of kindness, that the Rebbe Shlita returned to me the future responsibility of the organization, after having taken care of the immediate problem in such an open and manifest way.] To receive Rabbi Lipszyc's Story of the week via Whatsapp add the number 513-456-7595 to your phone contacts, and then send a text to with the message "Join". Please feel free to share this story. 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