Ep. 38: When I Held The Door Open For The Rebbe with Rabbi Berel Levertov

Reb uplifted everything. It set the tone for the whole thing. It's it's it was so different when the Reb spoke about the AA and the kids and the love that ever spoke with the with the kids. Just how every every yid and every kid is precious and then [music] for sure we did this and for sure you could do this and the kids and in in school it was like why weren't you here and what were you what were you there? It was a little different. I'm not saying it was the school they were very good teachers and gerent and everything but still the whole concept of rather than sur like somewhat focusing on on the possibilities and the good it was like sort of a contrast like they were uplifted it was unbelievable I'm Yasi Cayman welcome to among an ongoing faban about life as aid our vibrant connection with the rebba and insp inspired living shaped by the way he teaches us each and every day. Right now we're at the very end of our annual campaign. If this podcast or anything that the provides to you and your family means something to you and you would like it to continue, please consider joining this campaign. You can donate today at campaign.com. That's d e r h e r campaign.com. Thank you for considering it. And now let's continue with this week's episode of Shalom. Rabbi, how are you? Shalom. >> Okay. Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate it. >> It's an honor and a pleasure. >> Okay. So um I happen to be reading just the other day uh before we get into uh you yourself like you and like many there's uh there's roots from where we come from. I happened to be reading a whole um write up about Russia and about and one of the things I read was uh various memories and recollections that your father had. So maybe we'll start talking about your parents and I know there's a lot of important things that he was involved with when he was when he was young but especially in the later years as aim and different things like that. So maybe you could tell us a little bit about him. >> So my father came from a family of he his grandfather was of Marash and they came from they came from Kmanuk and his father learned to lab his father who's who I'm named after Battle Kabilaka. It was known as better Kabalaka because I probably he probably stayed uh in Kabalak for like 25 minutes or something and he passed through Kabalak. So they got his name Kabalak better Lever. He was in Lubavich. He learned in Lavich was one of the uh lived in Moscow I and and Major Nev and he actually passed away. He was killed by the Russians and the Russian gulaks in 1947 when they escaped. Everybody escaped and he couldn't make it. My father came out of Russia in 1946. Tinv went to Paris and was finally came out came to Kan Heights. The Reb allowed him to come to Karn Heights in the Reb asks about if the if he came if he arrived yet. >> You're talking about the >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. Asked if he arrived yet. Came with five other from France and he was one of the Bahim who were there before. So in between is when the bakim who wrote and so on from the young who were there before >> he wrote things then that year right >> he recorded a lot of things a lot of stories and a lot of and a lot of is is based on his writings >> so a lot of the a lot of the history we know from that period is is from your father's writings Yes, he also wrote letters to Rabv and others who were still in in France or in England and he wrote what's and uh he yeah he we still have those those that he wrote down and the notes that he took. He kept writing even like to later years he wrote down Fabangans. He would sit by Fabangan sometimes and like even in the mems he would have write down the faban just to remember it as well. Uh my mother came from a a nonbavich family and her brother her name is Moscow and there's a Moscow family. her brother came to Lavich and then he brought the whole family in and she had early from when she was dating and earlier she had a lot of a girl coming in from Bakov very involved in and she would learn a lot of and she would also memorize some of the fabans and uh very involved in the early the early years. So they got married um in in New York. Your father's learning in 770 for a few years and they then they got married here. >> So my father was a in Pittsburgh in Gimmel. He went out there. It was a mashp to why does have have to tell me that uh you're not well. So he went there as a bah and then he came back from Pittsburgh and uh they got married and was kadush. He went back to Pittsburgh to be a mashpa and then he came back to New York. Okay. So um so he's back in New York. So I understand that I think he did diamonds, right? Is that correct? >> That's very good. He did a [laughter] he did uh he was a jeweler at that time. Um I know Mrs. Mrs. Gerelik says that he he was involved in Gashelik's uh shiddik and he convinced him because they weren't living in Pittsburgh and uh so that was that was a Pittsburgh time and then he has again he has letters from the Reb then and he comes back to New York and they they didn't have children for for some time but if the rebba the doctor said actually that they couldn't have any children and uh with the my mother actually had a had a pend appendix removed and said good something bad came out so something good should come in and um then they had my older brother Yas Leto >> he worked a lot like a lot of other lot of Jews they worked he worked in diamonds and she was a teacher preschool teacher she always loved children and she always spoke to the children and did crafts for the children she was very artsy and eventually so I live in Crown Heights. They moved to Crown Heights in the in the 60s in Topsh and then and I was born in Tshin Lammed and it was a really rough time Kron Heights when everybody moved out. All the Jews moved out of Crown Heights and it was a crimeridden and very challenging. We lived on Lefforts Avenue which was technically even out of Kar is different other zip code. It's a 11203 not 1213 and there were like three four families on the on the block and it was pretty pretty challenging to go from New York from Lefforts Avenue to Empire. You have to go through and every street whether it's Troy, Albany, Kingston, Brooklyn, there's always big apartment buildings and there's people loitering there and it was extremely dangerous and scary. And it wasn't just phobia like scary. It was actually scary. A lot of breakins. You couldn't leave anything outside. You had to check right and left before you walked out of the house. You had a shredded site and it was difficult times. And but we, you know, we we managed. We used to go to 770 and there was an idea of the spoke a lot about keeping all the shors open. So my father was involved with the schul and he made sure that kept going and we would be we grew up on Leffort Avenue left avenue shaw with the mikvah but it was pretty pretty challenging those those years. Um >> yeah people I don't know if everyone realizes that there are people that if by choice they probably would have diamond in 770 but since the was promoting this idea of the they diamond to keep them going. I mean I mean they were existing they were from they were from before right and labavers are the ones that kept it going. They never wanted very strong at that at the all the SHs should stay open and they push to kept keeping there. I remember they still had like different and sometimes they would add a few things before might have I remember growing up there was like one the last guy left or passed away. They kept saying you say or something that we kept saying in at the end before before um we used to go for all the schos would come to 770 like a break and also of course for some after all the schos finished it would go to 770 but otherwise we we try to kept it kept keep the shaw going but as a as a youngster you'd go I would go to 770 a lot And especially as a baka once I was able to walk and not be afraid to walk to walk the streets of Crown Heights after uh 5:00 in the afternoon. >> Right. So let me ask you um two questions about your I guess one about your father and one about your mother. >> Okay. >> Maybe we'll start with your father. So I know that at a certain point he became very involved in Ezras aim which was doing secret missions for the Yidden in Russia. Maybe you can elaborate on what it is, what it was, when did it start and what was his involvement in it. >> So in tough men came out of Russia and he told them that there's a lot of stuck in Russia still. My grandmother was actually still stuck in Russia. Her husband was killed, but she was still stuck. And they said he told him that there's a possibility there's ability the Russians are allowing for people to send packages to their family it would be called. >> One second. So your father's mother was in Russia the whole time. >> Was in Russia the whole time. She came out. >> Wow. Okay. >> She came out so with her daughters my father's sisters. So my father and his father has who has one brother he's a had a father of all the other leaves and that's it two levers other ones are sisters and she was still stuck in Russia and he met came out and told like there's a possibility of sending packages pasilus and what they could do with the packages is first of all they could have it for themselves secondly they could sell them in the black market so you get a for a coat it's very valuable or jeans or other small things but it had to come from family. So they created this whole so he remember founded this or he urged at least to found and my father was one of the founders of Korf and there was a spalter involved there's others who who built this uh this organization called lishkas ezus aim was of very secret and it took place they it was run from underground literally from my basement from our basement in our house literally on the ground and they started sending packages and I still have the bills of Leaden the the the shipping bills where I think it's called Kaufman or something. So what they would do is they would create names that sounded similar to the names of the people they're sending to. They had up some list of names and they would create as if they're cousins and addresses and they would package them and send them some send them things. Some things got there, some things didn't get there moving. Um but it helped them a lot because they're able to sell things on on the black market. So as time went on they were selling more and more packages. That's where it started slowly and Roberto Levy was the main one who who traveled a lot to Russia on his own and he would give reports to as a >> he would go there for conscious purposes. That was his main objective. Right. >> I don't I'm guessing but I'm not sure. I I still I never found figured out why he would go a lot. He would travel a lot. He was the main the main guy who would so he had videos and he had letters. He was the main contact. >> Right. I I mean I thought that the way I understood it is that he had a reason to go for conscious purposes and that's why he got all involved with the with the with the Yiddish operations. But I don't could be I'm wrong. I don't know. >> I don't know. I I to to me it sound like he would go intentionally maybe use that as an excuse, but but uh but he definitely was the main the main person of the connection and he had had many conversations with my father and others. He was the main main person who traveled and then they started sending him packages and started sending him they they would get packages sendisha like muzas and everything they would send with different people were traveling some people were tourists some people were from the from Israel or something and diplomats and they started scaling up the operation more and more. I have a a letter from someone who was going from I have a d a report from somebody from going from the Federation of Connecticut or something and they said they turned to all the different organizations asking them what they could they're going to Russia they're having a trip could they bring anything and people said that we don't know what to send we don't know the minute they called my father within like two hours or four hours had two massive suitcases with names and addresses to go and and distri distribute. So the Babage has it all. So that's they started they were sending people they started sending schlookim as well and my we there was a phone number they had as a sakim had a phone was registered under my father's name and there was a an extension that was in my house as well upstairs and I remember getting phone calls in the middle of the night because they would be able to call in order to reserve a call you had to call weeks in advance like to make an an international call and of course in The reason was because they always had to have an operator listening to the whole conversation. So they was limited. So they had to have >> calls from Russia >> from Russia. calls from Russia would take a couple of weeks. And so finally they would get call with phone calls and of course they would say the zeta said this and the zeta said that and um >> the za referring to the rebba >> the rebba they would ask questions and would get um answers about >> I was going to ask you do you know what the rebba's involvement was in this operation? The Reba was very involved especially with reports from from Berl Levi. My father gave a lot of reports to the Rebus. The Reb was limiting his his direct evolvement. It was dangerous. Anybody had any connection with the Reb was dangerous. So they had a lot of they had answers but it was I haven't seen that many like clear directives because was was very careful not to be involved and even in 1990s when it was already open the as had a mala the reb forbade them to show a video everybody was talking about Russia Russia was open and they wanted to show a video but the didn't allow it there was not was the opinion that it may still go back that if you look at the at the all the people who are go to who are in Moscow are listed as in Brooklyn and the word as wasn't it wasn't like no one wasn't of course that would be dangerous it was something like very vague of what they did so it was hard they had to raise money they had to send money and they had to send people and Um my father was but but they couldn't really say what they were doing. They it was limited what they could what they could say they were doing. My father was the one was the main the program director. The other people were fundraising. My father uh those who went told me that my father was the one who was really really making decisions. He was involved in it quite a bit. At a certain point he gave up in in tough shin mbees in 1982 he gave up first he was you know jewelry I was saying he gave up that and then he went he was working cahus for a little bit I was I helped move kahass into its new space where it is today it used to be upstairs 788 there used to be a kas showroom uh room 2 something 214 or something 784 and it's the same place where the Reb went up for for Nakshinsk Nakshin's display uh art exhibit. That's where the the gah was and then we in tough it moved over to the current space and I helped my father organize it and set it up and I used to hang out a lot at gass and then he asked the if he should go full-time into it was starting to get more involved more time the said he should go and that's when it really they started sending more and more and more and more youite couples would go >> right so all these couples that went Um they're all sent by you know throughout the mems and those years. Over the past few months I've been receiving constant feedback regarding a podcast. Each episode brings a different guest and hits home differently for a different person. Honestly, all of the feedback gives myself and the entire team at the kayak to continue. Right now, we're at the very end of our annual campaign. If this podcast or anything that the provides to you and your family means something to you and you would like it to continue, please consider joining this campaign. Every donation of $36 and above enters you into a raffle. If you'll be hearing this podcast at a later point, we will keep the website open so that you have the opportunity to participate. Tonight, we will be holding our final raffle drawing. If the orim means something to you, please consider helping us continue this work. You can donate today at campaign.com. That's der campaign.com. Thank you for considering it. And now let's continue with this week's episode of Among Sim. And we packed them. We packed them up suitcases. And it was an incredible operation because they couldn't send titus, but they needed titus. So they sent them. They got a hold of wool material like a whole bunch of sheets and they folded over and they said it's like tablecloths and then we got titus in a ball of yarn just one big ball and we put like a crochet needle in it and it was for crocheting and I remember we had to we had to send ink for say potatoes to fix say potatoes so we used to get shoe pallet and empty out the shoe polish into things. I used to have shoe we used to have shoe polish in our house. We used to have shoe polish in a cup >> because they had to empty they have to empty it down and fill it up with with you need to keep the shoe polish. You can't throw it out. So they used to have sho then we had when you had to haveim you couldn't just send you have to use it. You're using it for your own take sedum and some we traded it out for use. Otherwise we like pressure like made it used. We had like push put some coffee on it and uh make it look like it was used or break it a little bit to tear a little bit. You couldn't really hide anything because that was much worse. If you hid something and they found it, it means you were trying to hide it. So, you can't hide anything but it was it was used. And then uh I remember a story. I forgot who it was with. But he brought a khalif. You have to bring a khalif or so when it came to the border of course when it came to the border they would open them up and they would start interrogating them and asking what's this for? Take it out. And it was a whole process of what the border agents would take. Sometimes they would just shuff away stomach because they wanted it. Sometimes they ask and sometimes the would put things back into their suitcase. It was a whole process. What did they take? How much they passed by? Like I I think it was with my with the label Rabbi Label Shapiro. He went with his wife and they had four pairs of fillain and the agent at the place said, "Oh, these two are for you and these two are for you." He's referring to his wife. So they understood that the wife also needed two pairs of times. They used to leave of course at Fillain over there and they would come back with old ones but and a lot of times they wrote down exactly what they're taking what they took and they would they would be afraid to leave anything. It was it was nerve-wracking and every every single step of the way Darren went he had major stories as well. Um so one time they came to the to the border and they saw the kaliff and they asked him why do you need a khalif for? He says it's to cut my salami. You see I have salami. They ask him but why do you need a long one? He says because I cut the salami the long way [laughter] not the not the So my mother was very involved in it and my mother created a new way a way she figured out a way how to how to send meat and she got a canning machine something I never saw and ever it's a little machine that you put you put meat say she cooked meat put into cans and sealed it and that's what they had uh they would take it it would last a long time some days it worked out some days it didn't work out didn't work out but she it was her project herself voluntarily she made meat for the yidden in uh in Russia and for as well. And Rab Lazar tells a story that one of the times he went they uh they were packing it up and my mother came down and said they came to the basement and that's where they think was happening. She came with a few candies. She said you're going to kids give them candies and the men said what's stopping candies? Who needs candies? There's more thing more important things to put in there. Why do you need candies? Okay. So that the candies go. They left and he came to the border and he started taking out his stuff and they find a pushka and they asked what is this? He says every day I give charity I want to put pushka. He says fine. And he started shaking the the the pushka and he said what what's in there? And he got all scared cuz you not bring in any money and not hiding money. >> So he opened it up and it was the candies that he had a good laugh and mother snuck in the candies. Anyways, because you know those days it wasn't so they weren't so mbed about the weight or we paid extra for weight. They didn't care like it was heavy heavy suitcases. Of course we paid overweight whatever. It wasn't a matter. So it wasn't about the p the weight. It was about the the spaces. So she cared about the chocolates for the kids or the the candies for the kids. >> Mhm. >> So she got involved with us. There was somebody who came out of Russia told me that my father told us my father there was somebody who had to go through some operation and they needed to have the equipment like of a kit like for for a knife and scissors and other things a whole kit and that's what they needed in Russia. They couldn't get it. So my father got a no one was able to help. Okay, forget it. You can't you can't find it. My father went around called different hospitals and finally got a hold of a doctor and they finally got this kit and he took it apart and he sent bit by bit with different and over there on the other side they put it together and they they were able they made this whole kit and they were able to do this operation and save saved his life. >> Yeah. So it's like all the needs it's the the kadusha needs it's physical needs whatever whatever the in Russia needed >> and gashmas and uh very very involved that's where berazar came got involved he went as a as a bakr and then he he when he after he came back he realized that the bakim are going they're not really continuing the connection and they're not they're not being they're chosen by these younger or people who run the organization don't really know the bahim so he got involved instead for volunteering spent and he said my father gave him a desk and he said here's a a desk and a phone call make as much as you want call call rush then it was starting to get a little open it was 89 already or tin 89 and it was at least a dollar a minute at least maybe even more to call but my father said don't worry just make any phone call you want to Russia and organize anakani him with to to they got involved and they really revamped it. They expanded and got more bakim involved made a whole system and uh it expanded operations. So as you're saying that the whole in Russia was basically when it was when it was not safe to run it there and it was being operated from New York was basically aim was was doing it and then until until the bah became established in in Russia itself. Absolutely. Sakum is a main main part of the Babage in Russia. It's the foundation of the Babage in Russia. The reason they were able to operate once it opened up is because we were there the whole time. They had connections. They had a whole network of people and they were part of sending stuff and money and and stuff to sell on the black market, cameras and gashm every the point was that they would refuse nicks. Anybody who applied for a visa to leave Russia especially to they would immediately lose their job. So they had to get have to be in a black market. So they would go that they would pose as tourists and go do tourist things and they would take pictures bring cameras expensive cameras. I remember those cameras and they would leave it there and they the people there would sell it. Um I know kahass went also they there was a book fear Jewish book fear or something and they would bring there and they would people would steal it from them they knew already that what they're going to do um very very dangerous times and what's interesting one of the reports that I read in 1984 they write that that you know we we imagine that things got slowly opened up. It got it it was hard and it got slowly slowly opened up. Finally, it opened up in 1990. The truth is it wasn't that way. In 1984 there was there was this two successive people who who running Russia the the presidents of Russia who were who died um and they were there for a short time and one of them the report writes that it's been terrible. The people are reporting that the arrests have been made more people are being interrogated and arrests and they're clamping down on all the Yiddish kite more than before. So it first got worse before it got better, >> right? I think people's narrative is that like, you know, in the the 30s, in the 40s, you know, 50s it was terrible and then they they forgot about you're saying that in in those itself there was ups and downs. >> There was ups and downs and it was the same year from if I remember correctly, it's the same year Gimmel the Reb spoke about in Petber would speak on Rashashana and would mention different ministers in Petber who should remain and who should not remain and that's what happened to them and the Reb mentioned just this story on on Rashashana and actually the guys who were in charge pagot died and th those were terrible people it was actually getting worse and I heard that when professor Yimanov met with Gorbachev, Gorbachev asked him who is this rabbi who said that it's going to get that that it's going to be become it's going to open because I myself wasn't planning to open it. I don't know what happened. He says somehow I I I was motivated to do it. So it wasn't like it was a plan. He was actually going to plan to make it worse. Garbage of and So it's clearly the Reb's working over here in this. So that's as the was amazing amazing um again answers and and connection you know reports to the deba all the time and then when it opened up it was there were major containers were going the schmearings were involved with containers from Switzerland and the the Ronald Lauder and Israel Singer and Bronman and it was there was trying to send matzas and hundreds of thousands of dollars are going through like to really start pumping in and rebuilding kite in in Russia once it opened it up once it opened up. Um you remember Kogan came in tough mv and he stayed at my house he was a tadik of undergrad because we knew him. My father gave took care of him when he was in Russia. When he was in Russia, they that was the connection to to the Reba. Um, so that was amazing amazing of really really helping and finding out and debriefing and connecting to watching all these go and and uh I I remember that me correctly when we used to put down mashka for shabas to take and everybody so but theans at first they would so anyways but the reb would give mashka from from thean mix from his into the mashka if anybody was doing a polar that week. So and they would have to announce what they're doing but the when the went to Russia they would take what they wouldn't announce >> you know they shouldn't say what what they're doing >> right >> okay um so and these things have been documented I mean has written an article about the and uh he actually had one about the mentioned Shakogan, we had one about him, but there's a lot more that I don't know what a lot of these things sounds like they weren't documented, so it's, you know, it's hard to collect, but uh it's a lot of fascinating um anecdotes that should be recorded. >> Um >> one of the fascinating things I had one of the das of one of the and I sent it to him and he says, you know, I don't I never kept a copy because it was special dangers. We weren't allowed to keep a copy. I sent it to that was the only copy. So they as a sakum kept a copy I guess but uh yeah classified stuff >> there's no question they were listening listening to the telephones and they they were wa they were watching >> right okay so I want to ask you about your mother so one of the things your mother is famous for she was the famous uh mikvah lady in Crown Heights and because of that the um the rabbi used the the mikvah that the rabbi used was was the the mikvahites and I understand she would prepare the mikvah for the and there was evolvement so maybe you can uh tell me a little bit about that >> yeah that was something that was uh very amazing and she again she started working there in tough megiml that's a mikvah in union and Albany and of course the women used the mikvah at night so the rebba use the mikvah when he went before he went to the every time and every single time before the rebba went to the mikvah the reb they would do a phone call rabbi groner or rabbi kle would call and ask as the rabbetan to make a mik so we would know the night before if the reb is going to theel so they would the times tough uh you know goes of the month and then other that were very very known then it started becoming every Sunday and then it moved to Monday it was kava I remember getting a phone call after faban the gang and afteran like 11 12:00 at night a phone call came in asking if the could use the mik tomorrow when we already knew for sure that I was going to use the mikvah. So that was an again the courtesy that every single time the rabbi made sure that the asked to ask if if he could ask what if we could use the mikvah >> and the night before >> the night before sometimes the wanted to go to to the aisle right away. So it was that day. Now, the way they did the the mikvah there was they would empty out the water and they would put in fresh city water every single day. So, it wasn't like filtered the same water, but it was new water. So, until you put it in until it heats up and so on. It takes time. So, sometimes they would get a phone call like Mikah. So, sometimes it was a rush. she would have to rush to the mikvah scene and put everything together, set it up, clean it up, you know, the women would use it the night before, so it wasn't wasn't always ready. Uh, and a once or twice there was something wrong with the city plumbing and the water was coming in was very dirty and she tried so hard to get it clean and finally she said it, "I'm sorry, but the water is not ready." So that went to to Kidamika a few times that I went >> 7-Eleven Eastern Parkway. Seven years. So a few times it was something was wrong with it was there was black water was coming in for whatever reason and it wasn't enough time to >> so even in the later years some it happened a few times went to the mikvah. >> Yes. Yes. Later in the later years talking about like noon and alf like really late I mean and it was not possible but at that time they were doing construction in the mikvah. That was a famous saga of the construction of the Mikah which took incredibly amount of long time and there was that a lot of that wasn't happening and the Reba sold $770 um to in order to to get raise money for the mikvah if I if I remember correctly it was for $10,000 I don't know but I but I remember going down I was working Americas and I saw some I went down to look at the registry of uh the deeds and it actually says a certain time and it was sold and and and it was bought back in the end the 770 itself if I remember correctly it's under America's >> the 770 >> I believe so um in any case >> I think it's under sorry 770 is under but 788 and 784 is America yeah you're right um So, so the mikvah. So, so my mother would now went to the mikvah. When they went to went to the mikvah first and like I said there was a major construction going on and it was very bothered by the lack of movement. There was three bas that were being bu put put together was the original one and then they were building they were expanding two more and it was and the scream and it was it was very very heartbreaking to see. It was just going very very slow for whatever reason. And uh finally they opened the other one and it was had cracks and had leaks and had to start again and it was really really challenging. But my mother there was no specific time that I went to the mikvah. So my mother would have to would go there. It was after after 10:00 with after potato after dinging from then till the went to the mikvah anywhere in between let's say 10:30 until 2 3 4:00 there was no specific time and she would spend a lot of time there special waiting there was no uh you know c she couldn't like just sit and watch she had to she was doing things she had to do and she would d every few minutes to see if the deb was coming and And the reba would come klein would drive the reba from eastern parkway come down albony and usually turn into turn into union street backwards the wrong way. >> You would drive in straight the wrong way. >> The wrong way. Yeah. Right. Straight and turn. I would come up the stairs from the front upstairs. Um so so there was there was one or two times that the came up and she hadn't you know she walked away she was doing something and that had to you know either be recle himself ran up and rang the bell one time rang the bell himself because it wasn't open yet you know she wouldn't she didn't want to keep it open but she waited upon him the would give to come in and the would uh give first it was $10 then it was $20 and uh my mother would would leave leave the building and >> I would pay the fee every time. >> Every single time $10 or $20 >> and like in a pushka like in a >> put it down on on a chair. They will put it down on a chair. >> And um there's one time that so if my mother couldn't do it for whatever reason, my father would sometimes did it. And a few a few times my father actually had something to ask about Russia. So he went to he opened he opened the mikvah and he asked it about something about a question he had about Russia as well. Um there was one time so and then there was lot there was construction sometimes they went from the side from Albony Avenue. So I remember it was like my mother asked me that if I could hold the door if I could open the door downstairs for the to come in from Albany because there was upstairs and downstairs and she wanted to stand upstairs and she need someone to open the door downstairs. I was planning I was I looked at it. I was planning to when that came to open the door and walk away. You know what am I supposed to be? I wasn't planning to be there. This is like after a parade. I think it's Tash Zion. And I was planning to open the door and just walk away. And so I see the Reb's car, the people are walking down Albony Avenue to all the way down to the park down on Troy. And then the Reb's car pulls up to Albony Avenue and I see the Reb is coming out. So I immediately open the door and start walk away. All of a sudden, the door starts closing and I realize there's a spring. >> There's a spring. I mean, the door's going to shut. I can't just leave it. So I'm standing over there. I I was like mortified because I I wasn't planning but I held the door open. It was a sea that I'll never forget. They held the door open for the Reb said and uh went inside. And another time my my parents wanted to leave. It was in the summer. They wanted to leave for for for the day and they couldn't get anybody else the other mikvah ladies to open up. So they asked me if I could open I said I'm not really don't feel comfortable opening the mik of the but they said if if you don't open then we can't go on this trip. So I said you know what okay I'll do it for them. So I stood there one day I I stood there and I opened held the door open for the Reba. It was it was uh to watch I mean not not but to watch the Reba come up the stairs. You're standing in The Reb is walking slowly up the stairs and and I'm opening the door and uh you know being being in being in in the building yourself with the Reb um as he goes to the Mikah very powerful moment and when the Reba left the Reb said uh good and tug >> I I didn't know what to say what what do you say when there tells you good and tug? They said I like whatever. Um, of course I went to the mikvah right after that after I was that was that was the real I was able to do it. At one time I I noticed that >> is brought to you by we live in a chaotic world. A world where for us is a we do not have the ability to hear and see the on a daily basis. [music] Yet we know that the is very much with us and is alive and thriving [music] more than ever before. One needs to only tap into it. provides you and your family with the tools necessary to tap into all of this. 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You can be part of deher through your financial support as well through visiting our website deher.org or through contacting us to setting up a meeting. Thank you very much. Enjoy the rest of the podcast. >> That this chair that I was using is not a good chair and uh those days you know after the with the foot in in Tashv so people more sensitive about the about things. So I I asked him like why can we get a a better chair? So we're trying to figure out what kind of chair whatever finally from they brought from 77 they wanted the red chairs the reb's nice red chairs and they brought it to the mikvah and that's what the used after that and then they kept it there and it's still there and it's like the the women it's a the chair is sitting a red chair in the middle middle of of the mikvah. Um after construction they finally got the last third mikvah ready and it was and and they wanted to use it. They never use it and after the gave a message as that if a woman who has heart sensitivities, heart problems, it may be hard to go up to the step. So that because that mikah was a little deeper for whatever reason and I I think that was saying that it was he didn't want to use that one anymore because it was a little it was harder. So they didn't give him give him that one yet other time. Other time the way it worked is that all the Mikas had water in it every you know every time >> they had but they wanted they they switch this is a new mikah that that just they just finished construction and finally they had the rain water and finally everything was fine. So the first one to use they want my mother wanted that should use it first. It was a big you know like the ladies to to go into the mik that used afterward was at night. So they wanted to inaugurate it you not and they never used it but then the like sort of asked not to use it again. One time uh my mother got a message that the clocks the clocks should be weren't updated. There was daylight savings or the clock was broken but the clocks were not because they gave a message the clock should be done. I remember once my mother I don't know why but my mother gave me and told me the reba left his un his gartle his undershirt garle not the regular gle but the under shirt the under his gle and I had it I remember holding it and it was like the about like a 3/4 in and it was full of nuts terrible knots like naughty you know and I I had a big dilemma like should I should I buy a new one and return it or should I return this like what's the maybe they left it that doesn't want anymore and it was a big messian but I I went and I brought it back to uh Rab Klein I said that ever left this I mean so I I didn't keep it >> um my uh my nephew who's involved with uh one of the found I think one of the founders of of >> Meni Lever. So he was born from Abra and he was born in the 200 years of >> he always uh pride himself that he's from the mems. >> Exactly. Exactly. So it was it was a big it was a big miracle and my father opened the door. >> See they didn't have a few for a few years. >> Didn't have children for a few years. It's a pass. It's a story. You can ask him about it. And they had and he was born and my father went to open the mikvah and [snorts] my father told the said, "Oh, and gave him a bunch of my father was too overwhelmed to remember the details of the braas, but I gave him a lot of a lot of brahas then and one time the reb went to the mikvah and came and and he noticed that it was like a lot of garbage for like for construction or somehow they didn't pick up the garbage and and the was very bothered by it and spoke about why there was garbage by the mikvah. At one point there was a display that they made. Mrs. the very bushan was involved inhabad and they made a whole turning display of of mikvah about the old mikvah about marriage different little with little dolls and so on and they set it up for the and they want the show to the Mrs. Habashan was there. >> It was a display that was like going to be housed in the mikvah. >> I think it was meant to travel like to go around and have like a turntable like a turning thing. It must have been like 4t wide or 5 ft wide. I believe they showed it in different areas of plug it in and it was a very nice handmade hunt hand made water and uh so she came there and when the deb came she explained what it was and it showed it and I think the it was going a little too fast the hel stopped it with his hand to make it slow it down and then the reb saw the the scene which had a was a photographer and there's a asked where's the where's the rav And there was a few other comments that the Reba made about that but the Reba was very happy to see the whole display over there. >> Um so that was a very very special time. Yeah. >> Thank you for sharing with that. That's very interesting not often spoke spoken about >> topic. So let me remember like I remember a story. I don't know why I was getting something. I had to get something from my mother. I came to get something and whatever. And all of a sudden I I I see that I was coming. So I ran I was I ran upstairs. There was there's a second floor. It was empty. And I stood in one place. I didn't want to make any noise. I stood in one place and like for 30 minute for 30 minutes like holding my breath just to be there. Oh, and have and and then I had amazing story with a story with me. >> One second. I think I think I know the story, but I want to talk about you. >> Okay, fine. >> So, so and >> so, >> well, yeah, put a put a placeholder on that. I think it'll be it's part of your story. Um, so you said you were born in Taf Lammed. >> Tammed. I'm from the 660s. Ah, >> 1969. Um, there's something from the Reb when you were born. No. >> So I was born and my mother went to the hospital which is now BUfka Campus Kamish on Lefforts Avenue. Everybody was born there and it was Shabas morning. I was born 8:00 and then so my father sent my brother to go tell the Reba when the Reb came from his house that uh his mother had a baby. I think there was like I think there was some type of seder that people would do that. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. That's what I understand. >> And if you had a baby on Shabas, he would go >> and tell the in the morning. Yes. Yes. That was common. That was that was that was a thing. [clears throat] >> Um so my brother went but he didn't want to didn't want to tell the rebba. So he asked my grandfather my mother's father to tell the rebba. And >> your mother's father lived in Krenites. He did not live in Kronis. He lived in the Bronx and then in Burough Park. So I guess he came for maybe some reason he was there and he told the Reb and the Reb said oh and the Reb said oh. So I knew that my father said he knew that this is going to be because because >> so that was uh um so growing up in it was it was an incredible time of course to be by the reba you know it the se the experience that you remember is there weren't that many kids and it came from the people who were living there came from all these people from all the that they had in Eastern Europe whether it's Russia or or they were survivors and uh the teachers weren't we still was in the mode of teaching of teaching with uh not all the teachers were the most loving people let's put it this way soap you know like we were troublemakers so We we got what we deserved. But it was it was it was amazing. Like the sort of was was the kind the kind one like the spoke and the Reb encouraged the kids and was involved in our lives. It like uplifted everything like it it covered over it overcame everything all the challenges. Like I said living high was challenging. I mean I think they never kept us in boot camp if you will. I mean cuz anywhere outside of Khak was like going to be better. It was difficult. I mean we wake up with nightmares. We had people in our house. There was muggings and everything. People were killed. I mean Baka was shot killed making a phone call. It has an effect on the kids. There's no you can't walk in the streets easily. You're afraid every time you see somebody. So but the encouraged and inspired and just uplifted everybody. It was a may and he came to Fabian and especially when it came to the mems when was hem and the pash like gave the kids you know looked looked to the kids and gave them such power and and spoke directly to them you know the said that tried speaking to the el now I'm going to speak directly to their kids everybody's going to try directly there's a says that they're going to direct to the kids forget about the parents turns to speak to the kids. I mean, we were we went on with Tankistan. My brother was a Tankist. He drove one of those bread trucks, you know, the Wonderbread trucks that was the tank and I was part of it. I remember Topshin melation with the with the tanks. It was the really like gave the kids amazing like uplifted the kids especially in tim. I remember we were part of the choir. But for B there was by there was a choir and we was Hashem and we had >> that was it was a hashem choir choir >> later became >> first it was first it was and then it was z of Marsha Rosenberg and it it was amazing they had music and we had a choir and I think we were planning to either like just for like two hours or something and ended up we were the whole we stood the whole stayed the whole kasha and at the end the rebba like turned the turned and like led the whole the whole choir there's a special video there's a video of the saying of doing it was like >> standing and and and singing in a choir I'm curious to why they never did it again the rebba I mean they didn't was was for Um >> it wasn't only labav kids right >> right so I remember Dax was part of it and williger these big singers and um but mostly but mostly Babel to kids were >> so you could have been a singer also >> exactly even that mamesh um yeah that was that was really good and like mish took care of the kids and gave us inspired with the with the withm did a lot for for us You're saying something important. You're saying basically, you know, the the system, everyone likes talking about the system. The system might not have been the best or people might not have had a good experience at all, but the reba was the oasis that was uh that was higher than the system that >> uplifted everything, set the tone for the whole thing. It's it's it was so different when the Reba spoke about the AA and the kids and the love that ever spoke with the with the kids just how every every yid and every kid and every is precious and then for sure we did this and for sure you could do this and the kids and in in school it was like why weren't you here and what were you what were you there it was a little different I'm not saying the school there were very good teachers and Gent and everything but still the whole concept of a rather than sur like somewhat focusing on on the possibilities and the goodness. It was like a sort of a contrast like that was the place where the reb and in in a way like sort of like as a kid it also bother why does talk about so much about the goodness and sadik and what about like you know not everybody's from not everybody's is is doing all these good things they were uplifted it was unbelievable and um yeah >> there's a diary that uh in your man that a kid went over to the reba and said that his mhammed >> was hitting him >> hitting him the reb took it very seriously which is it think I heard and I heard that there's a backstory that Skittles ended up calling the school. I mean, I don't know who this kid was, but you know, he felt like the rabb is the address, you know. >> There's no question. There's no question. Um, they used to go hang out a lot. Like I said, I lived in in Leforts Avenue, so it wasn't easy to go back and forth, especially as a kid. Once I was in 770, I couldn't come back. It wasn't simple because it was at night or Fabang or whatever it was. So, we used to like sort of park and hang out and that was the place to be. 770. we could be. So like I used to go something for Davini. My father would Davin still in in Lefortville but I wanted to be by the de I stood there. I was very I was very fortunate. My father had a place by the Shville. So I I sat uh on his I sat sat with him a lot of time with all the scan. >> He sat >> I sat he sat >> he sat in the table over there >> by the table by the table. And uh I was a kid. I was I used to sit with him whenever he would come common come time but for bangan um I would sit that was I remember those days and there's like some videos of it as well but it was precious was a precious >> did he move to sit with the kids um by the feet after >> once or twice I sat by the by by the feet yes once or twice sat there but whatever I wanted I just sat by my father so it was like it was I didn't have to do that one um But later on I'll b once I touch B they had closed off the tables because the kids were commanding over there and they closed off a table and put a wall around it. So they the kids stopped saying but Bahim came on from underneath one of the bleachers came in and uh one of the bakim was mendle feller and he was out of town so he gave me his place when bays and it was incredible like to be so close up. It was closed off at a little bit. We opened the the board and and you know to see from so close up you could even see like the crumbs on the Reb's satug [clears throat] >> that was uh very precious. And when when the Reb was coming in and out by Davening, you were like up front like by the like or you were with the crowd like how did it work when Mitza was on the front? I remember I have a memory of of I think it's tough gimmel I was ready where was two months ago by mitzvah I was best reading a hat but it was like last year I was able to stand with the kids in the front. I was all the way all the way all the way in the front with Anyam Kipper Ben um together with I remember Ari Grooner and I believe if I remember correct it was Shabas. I have to check out the dates but anyways the the auo before or was that I was making for a very long time. It was a very long time and I was able to hear bas crying that I were crying and it not not too many people were able to hear it because there was singing I mean a volcano but us two you know a few kids that were sitting in the front were able to I don't know if able to see that maybe there was covered over the talis but definitely I remember cry that were crying and crying as so we were studying all the way all the way in the front um like mish against the mant later on it's bakar also that I was diving for Ahmed in I was in I'm sorry um so I was stood also misra all the way on the other side of kadesh and I was able to see the from from from the front in other words I was able to see behind the um I was able to see and then notice a couple of things I noticed as Um, >> what do you mean behind the in the gap >> between the and the gap? >> There's a lot of gaps there stood over there. >> But as a kid, so I was uh let's say let's how do we put this? I was a very I was I was an overachiever. So I didn't fit into any classes very well. So uh at a certain point we we skipped >> you have the right terminology. I see. >> Yeah. We were we were uh overachievers. So we a few of us were skipped into a higher class from fifth to sixth grade towards the end of the year and then went to seventh grade and I wasn't too well doing too well over there either. I was put back and up back and forth and the poarski of mifa tells me that battle um I don't know if we had you are so talented that uh we don't have any more anything to offer you anymore at that time you recommended that I should not come back next year basically so I went to labiva ocean parkway and uh academically I was learning it was fine but haga was not not Right. And also was so sort of a wasted year as well. And towards the end of the year, my mother and father heard that there was there was a group of boys going to Israel, Teris Amos. And so they found out some friends are going to term. So they asked they asked Rabi Picarski from Balotra if he thinks it's a good idea that he should go to to Israel. And he said, "Yeah, I think it's a good idea." It was 14. But then they asked the anal of Rabbi Tanibalam if I should go and he said no he wouldn't give permission. So it was one day the Reba was came to the mikvah and my mother opened the door went inside and my mother left and then the phone rang. So my mother went inside to answer the phone you know people had questions and so on. So on the other line, other side of the line was Rabbi Tanabam from Babashiva and she asked him you know could I send my son think it's a good idea to send him to and he said no because it's still in middle of the year and he's going to break apart to class if he leaves. So she said okay so when next year will you let him come back? So he says no we're not letting him come back next year. So she said tell him if you go. No, >> no, no, no, no. >> Oh, you're saying [laughter] leave and you're not accepted for next year. >> I'm not accepted for next year and I shouldn't go. So my mother was saying what should I do? You're not you're not letting him go and you're not bringing him back. She almost crying on the phone like what should I do? Anyway, she hung up and then a few days so she wrote they wrote this that alot says yeah and says no and I was under jurisdiction of the answered which means the said I should follow the lead of even though I was on basically hesitate to >> as is as is known that >> as is known oh that's as it is known you have to follow the the advice of the anal of Allah would a lot of times answered you have to ask your anal your of yeshiva so that was as a bak but here there were two halas and the one that was under right then was told me not to go and actually didn't want me to go and here the say I should follow and then we got a call from tanabalams that telling my mother that I could go. >> So I don't know what transpired but he called back and said um he gives him permission to go and I went to >> you you know that was in the mikvah when this conversation was happening. >> Yeah I was in the when the conversation happened and it's probably that heard my mother hung up and heard probably she like oh my gosh I didn't realize I was speaking so loud that I must have heard my conversation that was the end of it. I never heard anything else but it's the Rabbi Tan said I could go. I had the most amazing year in we were 14y old. It was a whole group of us and we had amazing years. >> Mhm. 84 85 and Rabbi um Cohen like he really dedicated himself to the Bakim and he gave us and he um really really inspired. I have at the same time brook was there and he was like a veer he used to wake us up and have it he showed me have it settled that he gave me a p copy of the in the back he writes he asked me to wake him up uh whatever 5:45 6:00 I should wake him up to me as a bak I'm waking up >> what do you mean he gave you >> two things he wanted he had a copy of so he gave it to me but he also he wanted he said run it back ofad so that's kept it because I saved it. I have this settle that he's telling me that I should I should wake up [clears throat] better you know the is waking up the so um amazing amazing amazing year and then it was coming towards Pes and I was going to go home for and and there was they was making they were making a go for the to go who's going to go for a go from all the >> who's the representative of of >> represent a go who's going to represent the and and uh someone came over to me and asked me who was arranging it for that is and he said uh you should you know buy a ticket. I was like I don't need a ticket I'm going to New York anyway. He says yeah but this is I think this you could like what am I going to do with it if I win if I win it? Says yeah you'll get money. Okay. You convinced me last minute and I bought a ticket and [clears throat] I won the whole I won. I was okay. So he came to me. She said no you have a big you represent all the which means that you have to be by every single ding and every single and uh when you come back you'll have to give and share with the'll travel around. I was 15 years old. So because of that I came I I probably because of that and pro maybe even without that but I because of that I was made sure I was there for every was then so I was I was before before I was representing the bakim of to the for was then the first and uh I remember that and I was learning we learned there was a new that came out And uh I sat down with Yoska Greenberg. He was teaching me. Um we he taught us taught me the hadin. And it was an amazing time to be as a representative of the Baham at that time. I was supposed to get a a bottle from the but I came over to the and I said, you know, quietly I said, you know, didn't speak to the and and uh so I said it very quietly. He said the and and I moved on. So later on I got a bottle from Gron gave me a bottle for for the from the from the collection of the of the bottles. I went back to and I pack traveled around and it gave a gave a that was really >> it's very special you know you you could have just came home for Pes obviously you would be by the but you're coming home and then because of this whole experience it was like I mean I I came to be by the it's also like the idea some people growing up in Crown Heights could you know quote unquote take it for granted and here it's like no you're coming from Israel to the Reb It was probably a whole different experience for you. >> It was a it was amazing. It was a different experience. Now the truth is after um being a whole even again I can't imagine but I'm saying it was a little the first time coming to to the was a big deal. First time actually traveling to the um you know and even going you know we had we had earlier but but going into Yeah. So definitely I remember a tiny anecdote of uh so I say was over I think and say was over Sunday I had a ticket to go on Thursday. So I asked if I could go if I could go a little earlier. So he told me yes but he have it tonight. before I go after I did it. I did I did it like he knew he could push me to do it for the three days that I went early and get out of then I came I came early and my ZA passed away BA's business and so it was because of that that I was that was by the Leva but I'm just being what how this Mashia pushed us and and got us to do things like you know to come two days early to to New York. >> Um, good times. So, yeah. >> So, what I'm just the chronological history of here. So, you were in SMS and then what? So hey, and then things fell apart over there and a lot of guys left from and that was the whole a whole group of uh it was visitsky le um David Munchshine Ashafkashan a lot of graceim were all part of that we all they all left they went to Montreal because because to follow this mashia we went back I went back to Kh Sala life was not the same. It was it was it was uh different. Um but I had a certain appreciation more about the and so on after that whole experience in um >> um so so you thought this is like me and then the end of meas I went back to as to >> Wow. Okay. So, okay. So, I want to go back. Let me go back to your mother for a second. I guess that we're holding them. Now, that's >> that's and it was just um I said your mother was also part of the >> Yes. So, we she was part of and we found out about 1:30 the night before. And I think the buck found out from from my brother, my sister-in-law, brother-in-law from Texas. Um, yeah, we got a call that uh the rabbits passed away and they have to go go to the hospital with her to get together. So my my uncle drove my aunt Coopermanman, his name is Cooper the Coopermanman's and my mother and some other women and they went uh to take the the Davidson and when they when they left the hospital went to the De's house the before they left their car broke down so they couldn't they couldn't make it. So when they came when the Kadisha came to the Rev's house, they weren't there. But my father did go there, he came from the house, he went there to the Rev's house. I always regretted I told my father if anything's happening, if you're going anyway, wake me up. And uh I always regretted not staying up that night. I whatever. It was Yeah. Didn't do it. I went to sleep and then for the next day I was with Leva. >> Right. And then there were people that were outside the whole night. >> People that was it was a time a very munic that was really really uh you know of course distressed and very very difficult time to see but the came and came to the to the to the house >> and so on. Okay. So she she was involved also with the whole Yeah. with the whole that she did it. >> So I want to ask you about um you have another Yeah. Go ahead. My mother, she was very uh she had many especially as a as a girl. She bas and the Reb um she helped bring young people to to Kron Heights the Fabrangans >> and the Reb gave her like a specific advice about dating. At one point uh she was dating somebody and and uh she says that he's not really she doesn't feel like a connection. So the deba said what he's not playing ball. [laughter] She never understood what he mean not playing ball. She didn't know if they ever meant like he's not like involved or like he doesn't play ball. She never understood what it meant but they never used the term what he's not playing ball. The Reb advised her to while she was dating him to put him on pause and date my father and afterwards advised her to to marry my father. >> So made in the kid in that in that whole sense of of uh dating and so on early on she Yeah. Yuds the care of people. >> Yeah. I'm saying the those times was especially people that like your mother that comes from a different background and then you know the mom took care of took took care of the people. She has a story with her mother that her mother was having issues with her son whatever was you know it was a little wild. So she took on a tinus. She was like she used to fast like Monday and Thursday. So she came to Yiddis and she told the Reb and the Reb says you don't you don't have to fast do a tinus do a tinus and just fasten. So Monday and Thursday should like be more careful about the tinus dber. So they >> t doesn't mean not to talk. It means to be mind >> right be more mindful what you say. be careful what you say and not not don't speak anything correct be careful mindful think about so they had a joke that uh when they want to say it's Tuesday it's Tuesday you would [laughter] say in their house they would say Tuesday they would say because Monday and Thursday they weren't allowed to say any of because you >> okay I want to ask you about um I know that uh besides your learning in yeshiva you also got involved in a few interesting things even as a bak that involved the asus of lab I think so when you're in Israel I think was it wasn't the first you thereun >> yes we were aton so we went to was a nice group of us um menima mandal feldman um zerkin zavic vogel okay a whole group of and We found out that Voggo was invol you know speaking to his father there's going to be Khan alive and it's going to be in London and we were shocked that it's not going to be in so we started speaking to Samasan and they said it's uh maybe if you take it on you could do it whatever I I don't exactly know why but it was extremely expensive the down link just to get the satellite down link was $25,000 and a huge sum of those days. [snorts] So we're going to get $25,000 to be have the down league. But it was so important that like how could you have a alive without so at that time was in working >> that was after the whole that whole story right? It was before was on was Nissan that I spoke about. >> So he was there something else. >> No, no, no. He was there part maybe it was part of it was the same time. It was it was that time. Yes. It was before. Yes, it was. It was right after. Yes. He was putting together the the government. He was staying he stood he stayed in one of the hotels that didn't open up yet. He had a he has a whole floor. He was there for months. The didn't let him go. They never told him to stay there. So it was during that time. Yeah, it was that time >> he So they told us >> I'm saying I I don't remember when which month the whole story happened but I know I know that >> after after the government was toppled because because of that he's not >> for and then the two >> were hiding you know for the vote and what's his name? >> Verdiger. So afterwards I think the Reb sent because now now you need to build >> needs to build a coalition. So he would he was involved. >> Okay. So it was right. Correct. >> I Yeah. I remember the date but you're right. Yeah. Right. You're right. You're right. So we were back and we were involved like it was a was a exciting time and I remember on that note speaking to and they're explaining to me why it would make sense for to be involved and make a coalition with the with Paris. >> It was mindboggling. It was mindboggling. It was like regular were talking about that whole process and that was a normal thing for them. They weren't get it. It was shocking. Any case um so they told us you know what why don't you go to ask to visit with Yasnik and see if maybe he'll sponsor it. So Yasog myself I went out we went out to his hotel was there he was to helping him. Yeah, I was going to say that I only know about what I just said because I heard it from >> spent a lot of time worked hand in hand with him, spent a lot of time and [snorts] Yas Gutnik said, "Okay, he'll sponsor it." So, we got the main the main thing covered and we started working to try to get to get this going to set up. We had to get permission for the Kaiso and it was never was there a video at the Kaiso. Never never would a satellite projection of a video. Now obviously we're not going to project it on the itself but even to have a a video of the kisel was unheard of and we went to the raisel went to get and he was a very close toad and he said sure you could do it and then they started harassing him and they wanted him to stop it and at that time so we we went around the whole and all the whole with bullhorns with we rented cars and we everybody was a whole campaign to get everybody to the Kisul. The buses that were going, we went they they went straight like they filled up and they straight that day was packed. We got the whole kisel packed and this rabbi that day had to push a hide because they wanted to stop the whole thing. They wanted to pull the plug that there should not be a video at the uh >> he's hiding. So he's not available, you know, >> not available. He couldn't stop. He couldn't stop it. He was hiding. >> So hiding in was a theme. >> Was a theme. >> Yeah. So he finally had it. It was amazing. I mean for the first time the Reb saw the live and the people saw the lebba live for the first time. I mean it was it was a historic it was amazing amazing. All the shami went everybody came to see live and and and you know saw live was was amazing. >> It's amazing. I mean the whole phenomenon of Kaneka live that people are seeing the Reb live and the Reb is seeing them is an amazing feat >> but then that you were able to make it happen. That's very special. >> Unbelievable. From what I understand is there was at that point there were four satellites around the world. The only was four satellites, four international satellites and all four were hooked up for this Kanek if you watched the video it's very it's very interesting live I just recently watched it and at the end of the um speaks about giving and you see goes over to the Reb and wants to know the s how it's going to be because they don't want to give dimes to the kids and dollars to the adults and he asked the Reb if the Reb is going to give it al if the Reb is going to give it himself or to the tank and the Reb so the Reb says Alain is better alain is better I mean alone to do it himself is is a lot better than than than to give it and then the like like it's the way the Reb is committing to give every single kid in that that place thousands of kids four dimes himself they would I prepared for they were doing it in the deb's hand if it's an incredible video with the the lushian Ela is >> Bessa >> Bess and I have to say when I went there to sell the first time after I I can't uh not mention the amazing Greenberg family who uh took me in when I was uh when we were already my mother my brother was already married to Greenberg and they really opened their So when I had free shabbasim or picked me up in the airport and you know kind of had a beautiful big family and they embra they took me in like one of their own and it was very very uh moving to to have that special place. So special place in the heart for them. >> Okay. >> So subsequently when I came back to the to then was involved with Mah development fund. He got involved because Rabb got his son Gdala to get him to be involved and Gdala got needed someone to do something because >> they're also brother-in-laws. >> They're also brother-in-laws and they he needed someone to do something in English. So he knew me so asked if I could help him out. So I started getting involved. >> So just describe a little bit what development fund is. >> Okay. One of the integral components of being aid are the andag whether it's orim these days give us an opportunity to connect with ourim to connect with each other and be better. What is the story behind each of these days? [music] How did the rabbi commemorate and celebrate these days? And most importantly, what are the lessons, the takeaways, and the action items needed for each of these days? All of this and much much more are answered in the new set recently published by Dher. Our days is a journey through the Kabad calendar in story, meaning practice with over 700 beautiful glossy pages with elevated content, beautiful, beautiful photographs. You, your family and friends will enjoy and live with each. This book is a must for every labamature home, for every schul, for every school. It is a perfect gift item. This will not collect dust. It will be used day after day, month after month, year after year. You can have this set. Go to.org/ org/our days order your set today and start living with so in the early early years I believe no in the early years the rashag would bring some the would meet with some and then the rash would would bring them to the and this concept of bringing donors and to to have a is connected to that idea I believe. But this is going back much much later in the ten when um a group of wrote in the 770 between Kipper and and also between right before twice a year and surprisingly the g set a for them the first time they weren't even planning to and uh there was they started a fund mak development fund to help develop and to raise bigger money from wealthy donors to give to the general kba to give mak and from there to the so at some point there was there was other people running it and then they left and then gdai was looking for somebody to run it he asked his brother-in-law haim greenberg haimber started he was very organized and a really well suited for this but he didn't know English so he needed somebody to help him so he asked me to get involved and it entailed mostly to for the the two events that took place it was like Zion and the other one was like twice a year that first it for a higher amount then it was like $100,000 over five years was the was the uh amount they had to contribute to and there was a whole vat there was um like I said and a few other >> we wrote um quite a number of years ago we wrote a very nice article on it and I believe in that article there's the uh list of the vat So I started I started helping out around uh the the events around the and later slowly I was getting more and more involved until Gimber was getting married and he asked the if he should stay on and do this or go to and the told him right away to go like out and he went and that's when he told me barely taking over. So I was still a bacha then and I was like I got to run this important place. They'd be working of course with Rabbi Krinsky was there and Rabbi um Katlarski but you know throughout the year people would make donations and they would have to get receipts and they have to be recorded and other would want wanted to sign up people and it was a whole office and then after the means sending him letters from the Reb and get giving them the pictures people would order pictures of they when they were at and so on. So there was a little office in 788 room 206 and we had a little office there and at at a certain point later after after the cement also got involved but for like for like eight eight months. So I was I was responsible as a bakar and um so I got to be by the as well. At that time the were in 770 downstairs and we cleared out the whole 770 set up some around made it look a little more presentable for the for the for the for the balatim interact with the balabatim interact with the and so on. Um so also very amazing amazing privilege to be part of it. Um I remember one year. So one year I mean the last year where the Reb came to the was and they asked the Reb when to do it and the Reb said to do it Sunday. I believe it was Zion, but Sunday they was giving dollars and all the all the all the all the guests were there. So, it's going to be a definitely a long dollars at that time and they they panicked. They wanted to change it because how could why should they ever have to do dollars and then but they never wanted it specifically that date. So they decided that they're going to ask only the top donors like make a small group not a full group only the top donors and asked Kinsky to ask the said they should do it. Everybody was there. Everybody should be there. And uh that was a it was large. It was big. It was growing. But there was more people getting involved and more about and >> because the the donors would also have like a like a mini with >> Right. So that that was the point. They would they would have the opportunity to say to share it was a few minutes to share and to share with just to talk. So at first it was upstairs in 770 and they would just walk over without a you know no order just speak a few minutes to the and the the get here where the deb is like putting all the envelopes in his pocket and his pockets being big. It's like there's not it wasn't really coordinated well in that sense. It was supposed to be like a quick uh but then when it came downstairs and especially when got involved it was very very organized. They we put a we made a step up, you know, a higher step and and his table and organized a special way of going and we even >> by the way in in this month when did he get involved? Yeah, I think it was even >> like if you look in the upcoming magazine in the section there's a whole slide of pictures from and you already see how it's developed and it's a nice event at that point already. It was yeah he he he did a lot and at that time I remember we we even scheduled when people should go and gave them like a general sense of when they're going to go and I remember yeah and and it was it was it was hard for the I mean it's like the whole day of dollars especially that one tough bay remember it was um tough bay I'm sorry it was a whole day of dollars And then the Reb came down. The Reb left the at 100 a.m. >> And I don't think there was even a break between dollars and and spoke a gave a spoke a and then the went together to them and they never said for the for the and they never gave dollars to everybody all the and anybody who was there. I never felt comfortable taking a dollar by as a baker there because I didn't really feel that I belonged there was a baker you know asking whatever what are you doing over there so I didn't [snorts] I never I never took a dollar or atl once I uh there was two balatim wanted to sign up it was probably and I wanted to I told Krinsky to tell the rebba that these two balatim want sign up. So they were friends of Ammy Pakovski. So they told us so Rab Kinsky was always out, you know, he was so I sent him a fax. So my fax machine to his fax machine and I said that these people are writing to asking for that and I wrote I sle. So he shows me the facts afterwards that the Reba answered on the facts. and something else and something else. Three words. And I was shocked. I was like, "You gave the Reba my paper with my battle like I I wasn't I meanted you to what do you I'm not be giving the like papers like that. We >> Anyway, that's that's that's anyways. That's what happened. >> That's what happened. So I was a little more careful then. Um but again I wasn't working officially. I was a bach and I had a a kita an office in 770 and I whatever you know I would learn and take a few minutes and then I work over there was I was still in was doing whatever it was. Um I I remember like you know after after tequilas so you and you're all sweaty and all thing and I was able to go upstairs to my office and change and come back down to 770 uh mitten dominant perks >> the perks of the extras of working there. Um I remember again I think it was tough nun or maybe earlier and after the after the sent out letters to everybody all the and thanking them for coming and uh whatever whatever it was and >> yeah we have we have some of them are around I've seen them >> right >> on behalf of Mahal development fund the Bavage headquarters. That there's a whole interesting Russian in the letters. >> It was on the Machines Soul stationary. >> Yeah. >> Was it on the stationary? >> No, no, no, no. I'm sorry. Does it have a stationary? No, they have a stationary. >> They're around so Right. Right. So, but I was it was just I I was into computer so I was able to make what's called a mail merge. I know today is like a few clicks. Those days it was before Windows 1991. >> MSDS. >> MSDAS. So I was able to do I knew how to do uh >> You knew how to use You know You knew how to use MSDS? >> I knew how to use MSDAS. Exactly. >> I would have I would have to have someone else load the game for me. I didn't know how to do it >> better than everything. So we uh I would had like a first one of the first computers in in in Kabad. I had a a T1 line to kabad.org. I helped them out. So I was involved with those with the with the computers and so on. I I I gave Pinto his job the famous Pinto who took over my my >> who ran the IT for 770. >> Right. I I it was my job. I gave him I gave it over to him. >> Ah so you were the first IT. >> I was Yeah. I guess I made the first network between two rooms. I didn't know what I was doing. Um so yeah. So I was mail merging and it was it was very sensitive. I have to make sure I get it right cuz the deb is going to is signing these letters. This is not this is not a joke. So he went once and I had a mistake. I had to make it over again and do it over again and printing and it was a was a process. So the balbatim were getting the letters and there was one guy who came with someone else with Joe Kerry. I don't know if you know the name is Joe's did the videos the tells him that he danced around the video he he's a video producer and the rebbit tells him to dance around Moscow around the video so he brought a he brought a friend of his so he uh we didn't make a letter for him because he doesn't he doesn't he's not a balabas He's not a donor. >> He's not a donor. He made it he made a donation but he's not a donor. So we're going to make a letter of appearance and I gave it to Kinsky or Krinsky and he says he comes and he says battle that I was asking where's the letter for so and so. >> I was like oh my god [snorts] >> you're saying the one time you made up a decision [laughter] >> you know you know you're playing you're playing games. I I mean I of course he didn't deserve it. and he wasn't about the bus. I'm going to argue that I was asking where's the where's where's the letter from plenty I'm like okay coming right coming right up. >> Mhm. >> Wow. Um another time there was somebody Bav brought someone a a friend of Kabad from India he's known I think his name is Rupen Bansali and Raavul the famous Rabul brought him and we're very nervous to was someone who wasn't Jewish how was how is it ever going to respond is everybody going to be okay with it and it was very warm to him there was very nice and He made his donation and I remember on his letter the Reb wrote on top a few lines about Mrs. in English >> in English >> in English. I don't I don't I don't have it. I don't that's that was my my memory and it's probably around. I mean he probably has it but uh and but specifically um so yes I I I hung around there and at one point in t in they were filming Jerry Lavine was filming the rebba for gem. So we heard it. >> So Jerry So Jerry Lavine is involved with lipskur alf institute and he was the anchor kanakive. So he >> So he >> Jem hired him Jem hired him to film the reba >> to produce some type of film or something. I don't know. I'm asking >> I don't know what Yeah, I don't know what the end result but but the hillsky hired him and they gave him equipment and they gave him money and they gave him he was going around and he was like you said he was the anchor of the >> panic life. >> He also went to Maf in Israel by the way. >> Yes. He went back. That's correct. >> There's a video of him telling the rebba that um in honor of the Reba's 40th the nas he quit smoking cigarettes. >> Yeah, that's Wow. Okay. Yes. He goes to Mah Abu Lipk was very involved in Mah a bunch of people. Um I just remember dealing with Rabbi Shan Lipk. was he was not major but not many interactions but the I was a bakl and he was very very um respectful respectable and he was like even though he was far superior you know a major and so on anyway so so they were they were filming and the reb gave permission and you see major major amazing amazing footage from the rebing coming and so on so so uh proper very modern cameras. So I mean those videos look like they were taken today. It was very very high-end equipment that they >> beta cam beta cam beta cam footage. Yes. Beta cam footage and the they were they wanted to go to the to film the so after I was in the office and they said they need someone to go with the camera crew to go with them to go. So would you ask me if I want to go? I'm like okay. I was never I was never by the oil whenever was there although restaurant people were allowed. I never did it was I don't think it was it's respectable. So but here was here they needed someone to help. So I I went to help. So I remember so so we set up they had a cameraman. These go they don't know much about. They're standing outside 770 waiting for the deb to come out and I remember like in a little anecdote I told them the rebutaries are going to come out with the with the bags and put it into the car before. So they they see this going on. They didn't recognize. So like they told me they were expecting a few women to come out. The second you say secretary. [laughter] So they were they were they were waiting for some like secretaries to come out. They have secretaries. >> Anyways, the devil comes out and immediately >> secretary is a different different definition. Yeah. >> Mosquito secretary. >> Secretariat. [snorts] >> Secretariatus. >> Yeah. The Reb comes out and immediately sees them and he goes straight to them and and gives stuck and he gives them coins. I of course stepped away but the camera crew gets the thing and then we went into the into our van and followed along and there the footage is available. It's a incredible footage. It was it gave me such a different perspective of so many like seeing the going to theness that I was making to the and and and the quietness and and you know at first I was bothered like this traffic why is you not zooming and running and going fast and then I'm thinking like here and there's nohere to rush to this is a quiet time and it's you know what's the difference um going and going. So it was a very driving the whole alongside the reb and um uh in front and the back and and and going going going with was really really powerful and itself I again I stayed outside but the the the video is there and then everybody clears out and leaves and the reb is there himself and it was so eerie like it's getting dark the is himself the and we're standing over there behind some mats ready to take the film of the dev going to his mother and it was wow walks down the the pathway and stands it's dark and there's a few lights and the stands right on the shrill to his mother says a you know says something capital or whatever it is and then the deb goes back to to the car and he stops by the debt sitting over there and it's the bending down. I wasn't sure what it was and and the goes and picks up rips out some some grass. He's supposed to rip out the grass before you leave a a cemetery once, twice. And the third time the Reb keeps it holds it. But as the Reb gets up, the Reb loses his balance and catches himself on the on the wall of the Iel. I noticed in the on the official on the official film, it's missing that that section. But I remember that I got so scared I was going to never get regains his balance and goes goes into the car. Right before he goes into the car, he throws in the last bit of uh grass. I mean to me it meant like picking up ripping out grass is so important that even if it takes a lot of effort and it it's it's something important. We went back to 770. I you know someone who as Bah we we didn't go much to the aisle. So we didn't really know the directions to the aisle because who you know maybe you're not even and we go through we didn't spend much time at the aisle. So we didn't get get back in time. So when we came back the we went up there was wasn't I have to go take the whole camera crew to the downstairs 770. We went upstairs to Robert Kinsky's office and in Kinsky's office there was a video a closed circuit TV a TV monitor >> downstairs >> up downstairs which is there were a few people on the block who had there's no such thing as wireless thing as internet [clears throat] so you don't even can't imagine what it means to have like >> well I just found out a few years ago I was sitting talking to um I think his name is Zman Wilhelm in Vermont he's a son of um >> no son from the library's nephew. Yeah. >> So he um my parents live in eastern parkway. They're backtoback with the Quasins Yasins. So So this uh Willilhelm tells me, "Oh, by the way, but you also had a live circuit because Yasu Kasin worked in WLC and there was a wire. They they wanted the live >> across Brooklyn Avenue." >> They Yeah. They they took a wire from 770 through all the backyards, threw it across Brooklyn Avenue. >> Wow. It was run it was running to so he says if you if you would have known about it your house could have also had it because it was running through your backyard. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> The technology then they just threw wire over over the street you know it blend in with all other telephone wires you know running through the backyards. >> Yeah. So, so Rabb Kinsky had >> So, so we're watching the Reb go to the Ahmed for Mina and the whole day the Reb's hunched over. But here the Reb walks straight up very straight and I remember saying to me to me, he says, "Battle, is this the same Reb we just saw?" it when it came to it was very strong and it it was ra and also they also came this crew >> they came and also you see that and >> which is also interesting because I was listening last night to the two and there's a mat it's also it's it reminds me what you're saying because the before about the way the Reb is speaking Reb's tone is very like quiet and then the next night says another and the Reb sounds totally different like very very much louder and like was like and what what you're saying like resonates like it's within 24 hours this thing >> and and when you watch the videos the raw footage of the the was the night first night >> I think yeah >> you can't imagine that going to give out contrain. Now the Reb stands there and gives out thousands of contra the pink contra and it's super human there's not much I mean the gosh is a house of possible as if you look at it that was you know it was challenging those days it was very very difficult I mean if you watch all the how much effort and time that ever took to give you I remember uh one of the first contraimm that became regular was so that year I mentioned that time already was tim at a night before a restaurant that ever gave out a thick book. It was the first time and it wasn't shrink wrapped because no one had idea of doing a shrink craft. They just give it and it was hard. There were at least I think 6,000 they said they ever gave out that time. Then comes Rashashana, three days of Rashashana. Not the three days, I'm sorry. Rashashana and Sam Gadalia. Andalia of course is is dollars. And then there's I think there was already um already once upon the wants to give out a from and a letter from and a dollar. And I remember as Bakim they were we they had it in in yellow manila envelopes but apparently the Reba told it to them very late and they had very little time to print it and as the is giving it out we're packing it upstairs in the Bish and even stapling some of their things and we're putting and putting and putting and and the numbers they were like 9,000 cont and this is after I'm sorry this is So this Thursday night the Reb is giving out 6,000 books the is giving out then there's a is giving out dollars then the is giving out and the still wants to give out more and this is so the whole is a whole bunch of guests and the is giving out these manil envelopes and it wasn't again it wasn't easy there was like 9,000 of them it's It's it's incredible. And then there was again Sunday of uh uh that Sunday there was dollars but there was also there was in the dollars they give out dollars and at the same time thousands of dollars and then if you and then there's a almost every single night literally every single night and then if you look at the thing I I noticed all of a sudden that there's a test like what's the gabascus shabas which is a week after. So not slowing down but actually giving more and more and more and and so I have my my thoughts and my feelings where are all these contism what are people doing with these contm are we are we learning these contm are the these obviously are very important contra because the reb chose these to give out so there were four tanyas three the gave them himself then one that ever gave through through the the kungite then there's so many contain these should be the high these should be like high on our bookshelf and we should use it every single day either you know as as kids we also got sudurim in uh we gave all the kids sedum I still have mine I use it every day there's so many there's artist is interesting stuff also and I you know is an interesting mimer too and just so many cont so we have a to like use it and give it to uh you know, study it, pass it on to our children, but also learn it ourselves. The Reb himself said a number of times before giving out a contest that he's giving out the contest to learn. That's the purpose of it. when he gave out in TS and B he said he hopes that the Tanya he hopes they're going to use it so much he's going have to give another one soon gave out through through the through the and then gives out the turquoise the the green Tanyas at that time already they shrink it to make it a little easier and then less than a year later the deb gives out another one which means the expected that that one should be so used and spent we have to give another It begs it begs we have to these are the confession that we have to use and not all the bakam took every of course dollars not everybody went every time but also the cont not everybody took every count it was it was >> you didn't uh go every time >> I did not go every time I was there we stayed there but I didn't uh didn't take every time >> you're saying you didn't go because >> because it was a lot very taxing on the rabbi to to give out this and felt or light felt that that we have to care about. >> Mhm. Okay. But I have I have my father and I have uh you know father my mother and my wife has them and I I use them every now >> I mean [clears throat] okay so so you continued this work with and your your work in the offices for a few years head. >> Yes, I uh I was working and then I was also did some of some for my brother-in-law. So I compared it to G savad was also very amazing work to have the gav of the and read it and and compare it as a just a fun work fun ideas to see to actually be able to read the kisad. And then um at that time, Zam Ramos Schmatkin was working in in LNS, the Bavage News Service, and he got me involved there as well. Uh helping out with some media with some, you know, when they had to take go around to Karn Heights and uh or interact with him. I had some interviews. I he he trained me a little bit to be a little bit involved with the media and then he started helping out in in in headquarters and I have to say that uh there and Gimotas was a bombshell for them. It was extremely extremely difficult time. They felt it like direct hit because they had no idea what's going to be. No one knew what's supposed to happen, who's supposed to take control, what's supposed to be happening. And we basically felt the Babage is collapsing. I mean, I don't know. I'm assuming that's certain feeling it was by as well. But I'm This is the office that took the Reb's and they're working with the and all of a sudden they're on their own and they have no idea, no clue. They're picking up bits and pieces and no one I can tell you from inside, no one had an idea how it's going to continue. the Rebu and the Reb did did what he did and the Reb continues doing what he what he's doing the people on the ground at working in the Kabad headquarters does not really have have it for sure did not have it together it was the Reb did it himself we had no idea like what's supposed to happen like we're supposed to um I remember even like going home from the hospital on toughen in a you know following the ambulance and uh Gimmel Thomas. So like we were like what what's what's what's supposed to happen like what's there to do? So finally Zamash can put in perspective. He calls me up. He tells me like there's going to be media or going to be coming and they're going to want to have a good perspective because there was some negative things happening over there and they're going to want to focus on the things that are you know on the negativity and we have to make sure that they get a good understanding of what happened is and what the reb was that the is and so on. So I remember we were fielding calls from I was in Ra Kinsky's office and they call from Israel. So this is before the and uh and people what's going on who's there like I told like what do you want I mean there's a you know what do you want me to say what's there to say there's nothing to say um and then you know we went we went to the I was inside by the by Gil Thomas and then after coming home. I was already married then. I was the last second to the last wedding from the 770. I was married. That was a Thursday night Monday the went to the hospital. I I >> before before the before >> the second before the second I was also I was by the I saw them trans transporting the rebba from one hospital to the to Beth Israel. So in the morning like finally went to sleep and it was like there was you know we stayed by the by by this by the a lot a long time and then came home and then like there was like nothing like what's going to happen there's nothing no reason to wake up. So remember I got a call from Rabbi Yasi Friedman and he told me that he says you know battle they're going to be opening the Reb's room for Davening and because everything is open they need a few people to hold sit to make sure no one takes anything. No one walks off with anything. So he asked me if I could come and help out. So that that's what got me out of bed, you know, and we came we opened it up and we and then later we kept it open for uh we kept it open 24 hours for for Shiva and for other times they wanted to know who to take who's going to take responsibility wanted to know who like who's going to make sure so was Almatk and I we said we'll take care of it and that's how we kept it open for there was you know they learned to dab there for for I think for for the Shiva and for other times but it was it was extremely extremely uh difficult. I mean Claudius but I'm telling you from from from the headquarters itself no no one had really a sense of what's going to be then came to Kinim and also was like why should we come what's to come for Kinus we had to make phone calls and and begim and tell him that's you know the point to come and still be here and so on and slowly it uh it grew back but it took some time took some effort We're still figuring it out. >> We have to allow the Reb to to do it because we're, you know, just caused by not going to stop the Reb will continue because no one really has it all figured out, >> right? So and you're sitting in a beautiful house which is your house the house that you're the to make it happen of Santa Fe. So obviously uh you took it quite literal that we have you know to do the Reb's work and I'm sure you see the Reb's hands in your in your as well today. some amazing first of all I want to you know [clears throat] using the term Santa Fe I just want to clarify something because the Reb was against using the word Santa and uh clearly and I when I lived in in a block was called es mateo I called it es mateo so why do I use why am I so easy using the Santa Fe I asked for love so this is the point um Santa means holy Santa Fe means holy Holy faith. So when you say Santa with a name of a person, Barbara, Diego, these are all saying that these people are holy. Santa Fe means holy faith. Amuna amuna. So the said I could use I'm okay using it Santa Fe. But still I'm still sometimes I write s just to comfortable with it. But it's it's different than the other Santaas. Just want to make a clarification. I'm not [clears throat] >> okay. >> Also the way we say it over here Santa. So we could we skip the side of the um we it it was a whole long practice and a miracle that we came here. I wasn't planning I had other ideas. I was almost going to stay in Crown Heights. I was I was doing working with Kabad headquarters and I was doing I felt major major work a lot you know got busier and busier but started to grow and people more more people were coming in and um I felt I guess I I was going to do it and then I even got it went from a one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom apartment and I invest a lot of money to to to making it over. I thought uh I wasn't sure if I'm gonna and then I was on a trip in California and then I got a call from uh Rabbi Mintz that there's an opening in s in in something called place called Santa Fe New Mexico. I'm like what is that? You're already in California. Why don't you go out to see it? I went to see it and I'm like I don't know whatever. So there's the hatch in in New Mexico in Albuquerque and he took us around. We looked around. I'm like okay whatever. We were told there's like a bunch of kids and there's a there's a um there's a place for a school and whatever. We had some seed money and we got out. We came out here. We had no idea. It's a beautiful beautiful place. It's not your typical city. I wanted to go just like a regular city in New York in in the United States. It's not it's called a city different. It's what second oldest city in the whole country. It's beautiful architecture, beautiful uh beautiful scenery and so on. But it's extremely challenging as far as Yiddish goes. Extremely challenging, very very uh liberal and people come here to run away from all the big cities and from all the Yiddish. So we're we're make we made quite a bit of progress here and had major miracles and keep seeing major miracles. I know you had a a write up of one of this one, but this is like uh the one of the main point one of the main stories I have was we were we were looking to build and build renovate. We owned the kabaras. We wanted to like tear it down and build it. And we had a major donor who was who who committed to for us to do it to give quite a bit of money and but they they had some they had very specific tenim and they for good intentions that it should work out a certain way and they wanted us to use specifically that place and this contractor and we felt that it was tight. It wasn't really good for us. I was by the I went to the one time It was a shabas and I really like this I was like I don't know what to do and I have a nice pledge and it's coming with a lot of restrictions and I don't know what to do and I came home and I remember my daughter was having a bas mitzvah and I decided to take out to give her something that I got from the Reb and I took out my package and out of the package out of a stack of stuff came out fell out a with the original about 2 in by two inches a square ripped and I had a circle like a like a text bubble if you want to and I had four words >> saying where from who from what >> what happened it was my collection and I'm assuming it came to me from my father's like you know like I got that part I don't remember getting it like you know we divided the things of my father all of a sudd collected things he letters that he got or stuff he was you know so he had a stuff he got and it settled comes falling out and it's like original not a copy but original looked like from the early years the handwriting and it had four words on it had with widespread energy without fear incredible like just came out of it of Shabas. I'm like this was a clear clear clear directive. I we immediately moved out of the cab. We immediately did the groundbreaking and the p and then the donor was so inspired that they made their donation even without us um getting to the point we're ready to had other money. And then at the end we ended up ditching that whole program and buying a building in downtown Santa Fe a m three floor three stories 16,000 ft in the heart of Santa Fe in the heart of the historic and it's such a big kishm it's like the biggest Jewish or Jewish building it we did very nice renovations we opened a deli which brings in tons of yidden connection to people we imagined. We brought another down. My son-in-law and daughterkin doing amazing work with the people and I I'll give you a little uh story that happened just a few days ago. Someone made a donation at the end of the year. Someone name I didn't recognize. So I called them up and I said uh you know what is this? I did it in honor of this and this person a doctor who's on your list of people who you know your your end of year campaign. So I asked him, "Are you Jewish?" "No, I'm not Jewish." So I said, "You know what? Let's have lunch. Let's talk." So he comes, he comes to lunch. And we have a long conversation. He's tells me about this church and about how uh and I tell him about how and how Judaism works and so on. Mamesh like from beginning it was a beautiful conversation. Amazing. He's he's into marketing. And I asked him, "Sil anyways at the end at the end at the end at the end like we're ready to go." And so he says like I said the word bubby and he says a bubby bubby bubby means grandmother. Oh cuz like I said because my great-grandmother was like akanazi Jew from France. I'm like what did you just say? Says yeah I had some medical issues. I have to do some lineage and I my mother is so and so my her mother is so and so and her mother is so and so. And she like you're Jewish. Like what? He didn't understand. He didn't know. We put a fill in. We benched. We connected. This is all from the Delhi. This is so major things that are I wouldn't even imagined and I'm still, you know, like I can't imagine got the job, you know, that that kind of thing. So such such miracles and um the took little kids and little people we I mean we grew up in Ala. We don't even know the ways of the world. We we don't understand the culture or anything. But you keep learning the and you keep learning and more importantly, you read the letters and letters and letters and the Reb's guidance is unbelievable. It's clear clear. And now today with the whole world is going crazy. There's you have we know we have the answer. We know that we're the we're the address of saving the Yiddish and saving the world and being strong and unbelievable. And if you notice the kabaras is a I try to keep it very clean. That's my my thing and I I I I associated to to a to a story with the soak once I decided instead of going being downstairs when the rebba came down for dabing I want to see how it is upstairs. I was never upstairs when the came down for ding. So it's the middle of a weekday. So there's nobody's there and I'm standing of course I'm not standing in the main the is going to the elevator. We're not standing in the room of the elevator. I'm standing a little in the hallway. the hallway and peeking in and comes out of his room, looks down and he points there's a piece of there's a paper there's something paper there and uh gran gives a look at it and he goes like in other words it's not a shame or whatever but so gran turns to me like pick it up so so I have to go and and and pick up it was a push a piece of paper the saw a piece of paper the stopped was almost going to pick it up himself but the couldn't stand when there was papers on the floor not shames they were shamers picking a sh has to have has to be clean. A sh uh and I was very disturbed about it. So I spent I spend my my I don't spend so much my time as doing myself but I pay people to do it and [laughter] it's my money keeping keeping and it and it makes a difference. people walk in and like they're you know like wow beautiful like I didn't imagine I didn't know try >> beautiful okay thank you so much very very sums up and I think we think we're good >> thank you very much keep up the good work and uh also I my mother allow She has a big big part in the I know the it was her house was an incubator of the early early days early days of the hair many people spend time and nephews and the friends spend time together um maybe they even discuss things with her so who knows but she has a big source for that >> she's she Bobby Lav is definitely a major force by the buff okay so dedicated to her Okay, it's okay. Thank you so much. >> Thank you.