Rabbi Lipszyc's story of the week #49
Dedicated in honor of Shneurs birthday.
In the last story, I mentioned the nature of the prison camp in Montgomery, Alabama where I was the contract Rabbi for about six years. In story number 13 (which I wrote, at the time out of sequence, in honor of Yom Kippur) I told an amazing story of how one of the inmates took on to keep the Shabbat, and in keeping with the Talmudic saying that “more than the fact that we keep the Shabbat, the Shabbat keeps us,” in the merit of his keeping Shabbat, the prison authorities inexplicably chose to send him home. As is the case with many stories, when it gets passed along from person to person, it tends to change beyond recognition. The real story happened exactly how I recorded it. However, I recently saw a printed version that had no relation to the true story. The reason I make mention of it, is that I believe an injustice and an unwarranted defamation of character had been perpetrated in that retelling of the story. Although numerous false “details” had been presented in that story (such as making the hero of the story seem to be a hardened criminal, which he wasn’t,) there was one particular “so called detail,” (again totally false) that brought to my attention a real detail, that I should have included in my telling of the story, but in remiss, I left out. A detail that I believe enhances the beauty of the story, and the specialness of the inmates whom I had the good fortune to get to know. As I mentioned, in my telling of the facts, each week, all the other Jewish inmates who came to my class, would excitedly tell me how the inmate trying to keep Shabbos was really working hard at it. During the week he would study the laws and whatever he learned during the week he implemented into action (or if warranted, inaction) in the coming Shabbat. But what really excited and impressed me, was the reaction of his fellow Jewish inmates when they were informed that he was suddenly released. One of the more respected inmates, let’s call him Josh, called together the whole group and said, “Guys we all just heard the good news that our colleague was unexpectedly released from prison, I think that deserves that we all thank the Al-mighty for this great kindness that He has shown. I think that we should all make a blessing together thanking G-d on this special occasion.” When Josh told me this, he sheepishly admitted that he really didn’t know what blessing was the appropriate blessing to say for hearing good tidings, so he just said word for word, with all of the inmates, the blessing Shehechi’yanu, which was the only blessing he knew by heart. Somewhat embarrassed, he asked if he was right in doing so. I told him that he has no idea just how much nachas he gave G-d at that moment.
And Friday night, their communal Shabbos meal was a celebratory goodbye meal in honor of the soon to be free prisoner.
Now Josh was really a very special and very sensitive guy. Let me give you a little history about him. He was a very smart and successful tax attorney, who without actually breaking any laws, would be able to advise his clients on how, using existing tax laws, to legally avoid paying mega tax dollars. Understandably, the IRS agents who dealt with his clients, were not very happy. So they threatened one of his clients, that if he doesn’t accuse Josh of giving him illegal, advice, so that the IRS can put him “away,” then they will go after the client big time! The client caved in and acted as the accuser in the case brought against Josh. Josh was actually a very honest and straightforward guy. He also was a deep thinker, and I enjoyed having him in my class. Not having much else to do, that would challenge his intellect, he would come to my weekly class. However, believing himself to be worldly, intelligent and a thinking person, he wouldn’t just blindly accept anything I said. Always with respect, he would challenge whatever Jewish concepts I would put forth. However, since I was basically just passing on the Rebbe’s teachings, I was pretty sure-footed in whatever I was espousing. I was, therefore, able to successfully rebut all of Josh’s challenges. Slowly but surely his tone changed from challenging to one of questioning and insightful, as he began to understand the depth of the Torah’s teachings. One day, after class, Josh and I were standing around talking when he suddenly said, “Rabbi, do you know how I start my day each morning?” So I waited for him to continue to answer what was obviously a rhetorical question. “I start every morning,” he continues, “by thanking G-d for sending me to prison.” Seeing the surprised look on my face, he continued. “You see, Rabbi, I was a conservative Jew who ‘paid my dues to Judaism’ by attending synagogue two days a year – one day Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur. Not for one minute did I believe that Judaism had a relevant message for the modern American Jew. And so I would have continued believing until my dying day, had G-d not sent me to jail, so that I could meet you and study the Rebbe’s teachings on the daily lessons that the Torah gives us. Only now can I appreciate what Judaism really is. And that’s why I start my day thanking G-d for sending me to jail.” With his lawyer’s mind and sensitive heart, it was no surprise that he delved into studying Chumash, Talmud, Jewish Law and Chassidic philosophy. And his honesty didn’t allow him to just view it as an abstract, interesting study. Whatever he studied, he applied to living his life by those very dictates. Let me share with you an anecdote that opened my own eyes. One of his favorite prayers was the opening paragraph of the nightly prayers said before retiring to bed and sleep. In this prayer we state that we forgive anyone who has wronged us during the day, and that G-d should therefore not bring upon that person any negative consequences for the personal harm he has brought upon us. Josh found this idea of daily reconciliation with our fellow beings a most beautiful concept. Now, as I mentioned, Josh was a sensitive fellow. In that prison there was another Jewish inmate who had a really coarse upbringing. His language, attitude and demeanor all left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, as coarse as he was in speech and action, he had a real heart of gold and Josh recognized this. It really bothered Josh to see such a “heart of gold” act in such an uncouth manner. So he put his whole effort into being extremely friendly to Sandy, with the hope of helping to refine him. Sandy, on his part, recognizing the real love and kindness that Josh was showering on him wanted to reciprocate with his own love for Josh. However, his style of friendliness, being less refined, took the form of an abrasive type of friendly kibbutzing. One evening, as I was giving my class, Sandy was verbally poking and jabbing at Josh. I suddenly noticed that Josh, who was very uncomfortable with this, was muttering under his breath, “please Sandy stop it, you are making it extremely difficult for me at 9:00 p.m.” As this kept going back and forth, Sandy poking and jabbing, and Josh bemoaning how difficult his evening was going to be at 9:00 p.m., I was overcome by curiosity. What difficulty was Josh referring to three hours down the road? Finally, not being able to contain my curiosity, and being somewhat distracted from giving my class, because of this interchange, I turned to Josh and asked, “What are you mumbling about a difficulty at 9:00 p.m.?” His answer literally floored me. “Why Rabbi, what don’t you understand? 9:00 p.m. is curfew, and when I say my prayer tonight before retiring, I am going to have to work extra hard when I forgive Sandy for his annoying me this evening.” I stood in awe. Josh had no doubt he was going to forgive Sandy. But even more amazingly, he was worried at 6:00 p.m. that he had to gear himself up to work on it so that three hours later he would succeed in clearing the slate!?! I had to admit to myself, how often do I say these words by rote, not applying them to real case scenarios. And this student of mine, nay this teacher of mine, is already planning his efforts three hours in advance! What a humbling experience this was for me. Is it any wonder then, that his family as well has been positively influenced by Torah and Mitzvos. One son has opened a yeshiva and he has been a phenomenal mentor to others. His daughter and son-in-law also, together with their children have brought Josh nothing but uninterrupted Yiddisher chassidishe nachas. And now his third son is well on the way in joining them in keeping Torah and mitzvos. What a family!
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Dedicated in honor of Shneurs birthday.
In the last story, I mentioned the nature of the prison camp in Montgomery, Alabama where I was the contract Rabbi for about six years. In story number 13 (which I wrote, at the time out of sequence, in honor of Yom Kippur) I told an amazing story of how one of the inmates took on to keep the Shabbat, and in keeping with the Talmudic saying that “more than the fact that we keep the Shabbat, the Shabbat keeps us,” in the merit of his keeping Shabbat, the prison authorities inexplicably chose to send him home. As is the case with many stories, when it gets passed along from person to person, it tends to change beyond recognition. The real story happened exactly how I recorded it. However, I recently saw a printed version that had no relation to the true story. The reason I make mention of it, is that I believe an injustice and an unwarranted defamation of character had been perpetrated in that retelling of the story. Although numerous false “details” had been presented in that story (such as making the hero of the story seem to be a hardened criminal, which he wasn’t,) there was one particular “so called detail,” (again totally false) that brought to my attention a real detail, that I should have included in my telling of the story, but in remiss, I left out. A detail that I believe enhances the beauty of the story, and the specialness of the inmates whom I had the good fortune to get to know. As I mentioned, in my telling of the facts, each week, all the other Jewish inmates who came to my class, would excitedly tell me how the inmate trying to keep Shabbos was really working hard at it. During the week he would study the laws and whatever he learned during the week he implemented into action (or if warranted, inaction) in the coming Shabbat. But what really excited and impressed me, was the reaction of his fellow Jewish inmates when they were informed that he was suddenly released. One of the more respected inmates, let’s call him Josh, called together the whole group and said, “Guys we all just heard the good news that our colleague was unexpectedly released from prison, I think that deserves that we all thank the Al-mighty for this great kindness that He has shown. I think that we should all make a blessing together thanking G-d on this special occasion.” When Josh told me this, he sheepishly admitted that he really didn’t know what blessing was the appropriate blessing to say for hearing good tidings, so he just said word for word, with all of the inmates, the blessing Shehechi’yanu, which was the only blessing he knew by heart. Somewhat embarrassed, he asked if he was right in doing so. I told him that he has no idea just how much nachas he gave G-d at that moment.
And Friday night, their communal Shabbos meal was a celebratory goodbye meal in honor of the soon to be free prisoner.
Now Josh was really a very special and very sensitive guy. Let me give you a little history about him. He was a very smart and successful tax attorney, who without actually breaking any laws, would be able to advise his clients on how, using existing tax laws, to legally avoid paying mega tax dollars. Understandably, the IRS agents who dealt with his clients, were not very happy. So they threatened one of his clients, that if he doesn’t accuse Josh of giving him illegal, advice, so that the IRS can put him “away,” then they will go after the client big time! The client caved in and acted as the accuser in the case brought against Josh. Josh was actually a very honest and straightforward guy. He also was a deep thinker, and I enjoyed having him in my class. Not having much else to do, that would challenge his intellect, he would come to my weekly class. However, believing himself to be worldly, intelligent and a thinking person, he wouldn’t just blindly accept anything I said. Always with respect, he would challenge whatever Jewish concepts I would put forth. However, since I was basically just passing on the Rebbe’s teachings, I was pretty sure-footed in whatever I was espousing. I was, therefore, able to successfully rebut all of Josh’s challenges. Slowly but surely his tone changed from challenging to one of questioning and insightful, as he began to understand the depth of the Torah’s teachings. One day, after class, Josh and I were standing around talking when he suddenly said, “Rabbi, do you know how I start my day each morning?” So I waited for him to continue to answer what was obviously a rhetorical question. “I start every morning,” he continues, “by thanking G-d for sending me to prison.” Seeing the surprised look on my face, he continued. “You see, Rabbi, I was a conservative Jew who ‘paid my dues to Judaism’ by attending synagogue two days a year – one day Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur. Not for one minute did I believe that Judaism had a relevant message for the modern American Jew. And so I would have continued believing until my dying day, had G-d not sent me to jail, so that I could meet you and study the Rebbe’s teachings on the daily lessons that the Torah gives us. Only now can I appreciate what Judaism really is. And that’s why I start my day thanking G-d for sending me to jail.” With his lawyer’s mind and sensitive heart, it was no surprise that he delved into studying Chumash, Talmud, Jewish Law and Chassidic philosophy. And his honesty didn’t allow him to just view it as an abstract, interesting study. Whatever he studied, he applied to living his life by those very dictates. Let me share with you an anecdote that opened my own eyes. One of his favorite prayers was the opening paragraph of the nightly prayers said before retiring to bed and sleep. In this prayer we state that we forgive anyone who has wronged us during the day, and that G-d should therefore not bring upon that person any negative consequences for the personal harm he has brought upon us. Josh found this idea of daily reconciliation with our fellow beings a most beautiful concept. Now, as I mentioned, Josh was a sensitive fellow. In that prison there was another Jewish inmate who had a really coarse upbringing. His language, attitude and demeanor all left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, as coarse as he was in speech and action, he had a real heart of gold and Josh recognized this. It really bothered Josh to see such a “heart of gold” act in such an uncouth manner. So he put his whole effort into being extremely friendly to Sandy, with the hope of helping to refine him. Sandy, on his part, recognizing the real love and kindness that Josh was showering on him wanted to reciprocate with his own love for Josh. However, his style of friendliness, being less refined, took the form of an abrasive type of friendly kibbutzing. One evening, as I was giving my class, Sandy was verbally poking and jabbing at Josh. I suddenly noticed that Josh, who was very uncomfortable with this, was muttering under his breath, “please Sandy stop it, you are making it extremely difficult for me at 9:00 p.m.” As this kept going back and forth, Sandy poking and jabbing, and Josh bemoaning how difficult his evening was going to be at 9:00 p.m., I was overcome by curiosity. What difficulty was Josh referring to three hours down the road? Finally, not being able to contain my curiosity, and being somewhat distracted from giving my class, because of this interchange, I turned to Josh and asked, “What are you mumbling about a difficulty at 9:00 p.m.?” His answer literally floored me. “Why Rabbi, what don’t you understand? 9:00 p.m. is curfew, and when I say my prayer tonight before retiring, I am going to have to work extra hard when I forgive Sandy for his annoying me this evening.” I stood in awe. Josh had no doubt he was going to forgive Sandy. But even more amazingly, he was worried at 6:00 p.m. that he had to gear himself up to work on it so that three hours later he would succeed in clearing the slate!?! I had to admit to myself, how often do I say these words by rote, not applying them to real case scenarios. And this student of mine, nay this teacher of mine, is already planning his efforts three hours in advance! What a humbling experience this was for me. Is it any wonder then, that his family as well has been positively influenced by Torah and Mitzvos. One son has opened a yeshiva and he has been a phenomenal mentor to others. His daughter and son-in-law also, together with their children have brought Josh nothing but uninterrupted Yiddisher chassidishe nachas. And now his third son is well on the way in joining them in keeping Torah and mitzvos. What a family!
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".
Support Rabbi Lipszyc's work by Donating at https://chabadcrimeaorg.clhosting.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2511910/jewish/Crisis-Relief/lang/en or sending checks to: Chabad of Crimea World Friends, 1601 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11213
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