Ep. 4: The Transition to Shlichus with Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf

When I walk into the mifter, I come some and I see Shabas morning. [Music] It's a it's to see how the is working today [Music] is unbelievable by the way. It's unparalleled in Jewish history because we know what people said about the day after and and everyone has that it's felt. I'm Yasi Cayman. Welcome to among an ongoing fabin about life as aid our vibrant connection with the reb and inspired living shaped by the way he teaches us each and every day. Shalom. Rabbi Wolf. How are you? >> Shalom. >> Okay. Um, so I I actually saw that uh you um wrote some articles recently. I think you're commemorating uh 50 years of >> correct. >> So I mean I I read one I think there was multiple. I read one of them. So I didn't realize you were in Australia. It's 50 years commemorating that or in Chicago? >> No, the in general which began with the in Melbourne. >> So that was we walked into and that's where it all started. I have to say it started dalled Nissen earlier when we were called in by the mosquito. I was called in by Mam Klein but our group was called in different times of the day I guess and asked uh three questions. Are you willing to go to Melbourne? Would your parents give you permission? We need their permission. And if you were these were the three questions within I think uh 90 seconds or 180 seconds as long as it took to contact my parents and by the pay phone on Kingston Avenue pay phone that we used to use for a dime. So uh it was all straightened out within several minutes >> and uh so your parents what you you asked permission or you told your father we need I need permission. >> No I told my father that I need permission. He said right away yes you have to understand where my father came from. If not for my father and some accountant I wouldn't be sitting here today. >> I think I should go into that. Your father was a labaturer. >> My father obviously he wasn't born and bred as a labassid but later on he was one of the refugees that ended up in Samarant Polish refugees. So he ended up in Samarant like so many Polish refugees did. And if I can share with you an incredible story how he met Kabad the refu >> I would love to hear it dude. >> The refugees at the time coming from Poland to Russia they didn't know the language. They didn't know Russian and they didn't know how to work the system. So people were literally dying from hunger. He lost his father, his mother and he ended up being sent to Siberia in January of 1940. In 1941 he is off somehow Pakistan sakant first then some people were dying from hunger every day. He told me that he was so famished ago that at nighttime he became blind from malnutrition. Can you imagine? >> He told me he once walked into ancient into his house and it he didn't know where he was going. It was night time. He was blind. But then so the guy picks up a butcher knife and he starts chasing him. He said he doesn't know how he was saved, but anyway. >> One second. So, could I go back a second? So, he's he's a glatian living in Poland. So, World War II breaks out. Where is he from? >> He's from Krakco. >> From Krakco, >> a suburb of Krakco. >> So, he escapes the Nazis over the border into USSR. >> Correct. and he he was you know he was up to Lmberg and somehow in Lav area there was some type of a border with Russia and he made a critical decision and that was in late December of 1939 or maybe the first week of January and he made a decision which he had to make either to stay behind in the German side. One second. The war broke out in the summer 1939. >> September 1939. So the first several months December, >> you're busy running, >> right? Okay. >> So he's running and he ended up, a long story short, he ended up in Russia and they sent him immediately to Siberia. So he was one year in Siberia. used to say how they were cutting down trees and even Pes saying while they're cutting down trees actually my mother went the same journey they didn't know of each other they were both refugees and following actually the same journey played out with my mother but anyway they ended up my father ends up in a Samarant as I told you he's famished he's he's one M shabas he's walking the streets no father, no mother, the m people dying, the kadesha came every day driving through the roads and they picked up the mason. So he is mamish famished he's walking m shabas he's hallucinating and suddenly he hears singing thinking he thought he was hallucinating but as he's walking not walking The singing is becoming louder. He walks into what he told me and it was shabis. There was a mal from the going on. It even told me who was there that whole was there and they saw walking in hunger vvelt and there was the only food that was on the table he told me was koshka mabis mashka and they took him under his wings and the rest is history. So later on after the war in 1945 he ended up at the DP camps in parking in parking over there too he met Rebutri all the other that ended up in Montreal he met in parking and he was five six years in Belgium in Belgium anthropy was a diamond cutter finally came he was hoping to go to New York because they had a diamond district but pipel Mamashi ended up in Montreal. The Hayas ended up in Montreal. The reason why he left Belgium was because of the Korean war. And there was talk that it's going to reach Europe >> reaching Europe. He had enough of war and dying and famine and whatnot. And these people were traumatized. So was my father and mother. My father and mother met in some accountant. They were describing their their wedding. It was Friday afternoon. And that's how that's where they got married. >> They got married in Sakant. >> Yeah, they got married. They met. >> So your father came into you know they they g they gave whatever he ate. >> It it wasn't exactly Benimoik was a bit older. But >> I'm saying like they gave him something to eat. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's right. They gave him something to eat. >> The he ended up in Montreal and there he got back to Paris Mk and torien and he sent us I was 5 years old. He sent me to labavich. >> You were born in Montreal in Montreal. >> Yeah. So he sent me was called the labi but was a small room on gene man street whoever is a Montrealer that will be hearing this and who was my first malamit an incredible shided abdavid leaz if you heard of David le he was the oldest son of kanyaf I can I can I can picture the room that I was sitting I wasn't even five years old yet I came in an L. I was a month before my fth birthday. So, I'm a little kid. There wasn't a toy in the room. >> Wooden desks and he had such a like a regal appearance. He was he had a always wore his double breasted. It was like a more of a a langanger that the Pisha used to wear maybe today too. And he was sitting with his hat and jacket. He had a pencil and a wooden ruler and he was such a I can never forget it. I don't remember what I learned then. I remember one thing that he taught us the theim of the recordings of him singing >> singing. >> Yeah. >> Now it's very interesting because he suffered from asthma. So in fact sapp he he couldn't catch his breath at times but we're little kids and we we learned in he taught it to us and the way he said the way he taught us how to read but he passed away in the I think it was that he passed away but I can truly say that that that was you know when you learn about you know that's the >> but anyway I had tremendous >> was there too right? Yeah, I had him two years different times. I had I had him two years. >> He taught me my and he taught me al and he was his mashia. So we heard a lot about I can't tell you that I remember everything that he said but alapon there would seem over there. I remember going into fabangans. I remember one purim which is so much I remember it very clearly. It was before the time fra I was a kid. I was 10, 11. It was before when the hookups began was sitting in his basement where he lived. He lived next to the labi Montreal and Mameish today the it's the yeshiva gdela is there now. So it's a different building but it used to be a house and he lived in the basement. It was pur night. I went with my father a parrots was like his reb you know he taught him and he got him involved every shabas used to end up being there 6 7:00 in the morning learning nakman Shapiro even lately reminded me about that he was a kid staying over by and how they used to sit and learn from the early hours of the morning but anyway it was pur and he was sitting he took a lot of mashkar was behind them. I remember it well because they were singing some of the I heard grow from from David and other they were singing but it made a tremendous impression. One of the things that was missing at the time was as a 10 11 year old there was no fangans with the kittas. I don't know why there wasn't. So this fear of really really registered it resonated etc etc. So there's a there's a painting of Z climbing of and there's some kids in the background. So this is that painting is what you experience probably >> 100% 100%. I mean I remember even at the time like every second year used to come and fab. I remember one thing that he used to say over and over again and I was a kid 12 13 you know kids and the way he said it you know made an impression. There were times used to come to >> Yeah. And and one of the things that came out from what is at you know what of course and they were the role models of I'll soon get to the part of this whole thing but uh what was very interesting was the way in I remember he repeated this several times. He used to come to visit his son-in-law quite often and he used to talk about. So he mentioned the way he said it. I remember so clearly said that means by the he was by the he was by the vice there was one there said there was one So there's no question that these uh people made an impression. I had another Mhammed very shamov sh I was about 13 14 in his I mean definitely his hopes here he loved his love was all over him and if he had to if he had to explain something 10 times he did it 10 times and And he was mid in the writing and everything but everything was lip no today getting a malam I have great malam over here but >> I was going to say that uh if anyone doesn't know that you're you're the head of an institute of so when you talk about malam you're you know uh you know what it's all about. Well, so I saw this and of course it made a tremendous impression. There was one se that I remember that I can never forget. It was tough of Zion. I was my Mhammed was Raban Jükovich. His son is the Ludovich remember as a b. So if you rec if you know that was a the spoke unbelievable about the massive at the time was that the war was anticipated >> the six day war >> six day war it was in the air and the the rumor had it that Israel at all was preparing 10,000 body packs. Now every one of my malam was a nits messiah. Rabayovich was a nit messiah >> survivor. >> At the time we had a lagma parade. Lagma was in Sunday. We had a laga parade in Montreal and we knew that there was a laga parade in New York the time parade but we were not hooked up at the time. The hookups weren't working at the time not until lammed. So he kept on telling us that we're getting a tape. We're getting a tape. And I can picture where he was even standing in the classroom just hearing that there may be another holocaust and they're preparing body bags. I mean he was reliving. He was standing I I can see it by the light and we got a cassette tape cassette tapes and he for the class he's he's playing the was like shouting speaking so loudly he is standing >> all of you have heard you you had heard what >> we heard We were kids. How old was I? 12 years old. That we heard of and the gave telling us, you know, that there'll be. So he's standing there and he's listening. with 12 year olds the Reb is speaking and it made such an impression he's crying >> unbelievable when but that gave him so much courage listening to the was just unbelievable >> there was one thing growing up there and I left LA when I was 16 years old. I left that as well. That's a whole passion with Montreal. >> I left Montreal. So >> we're leaving which was from Detroit from Brazil. >> I was on I was on in Brazil. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> He's an incredible guy. uh he went at his yul son which used to come often to his he lives in LA now used to come out into there was also we grew up from I know him from when he was 8 years old and I heard that he went to there are some from our yos was in my class there were others that in my class and they bas younger but No, >> they were going they were going to places. Okay. >> My father told me that he would appreciate if I got you know that resonated with him, you know. But whatever >> you wanted to go to the >> he he he he sent a settled and the turtle came with an answer. >> That's so >> so that's so >> one second. You used to go to the bal as a child. >> Okay. So I can talk about that. Of course I hadis my father I'll tell you a story that my father told me about okay Indian we we'll hold a we'll hold a note we have to get back to you going to but >> it was that the Montreal and was a given maybe We used to go the the bus used to take us and we used to stop in my gay mikvah and uh there was a story then that at times went with the bus too you know the some of them went by car but most of them a bus was a to go with the bus how many had cars to go >> and we used to come there so I don't know they'd stop by a mikvah and somebody was telling him I don't know if you heard us before. So Isaac said, "So the guy tells him so." So we used to go those two times. I remember we came early Friday morning. Yote event Friday afternoon was the same >> the big the big the big. >> So I remember that when the buses pulled up the Reb arrived. So what I recall from that Reb was going up the steps and the buses there were five Greyhound buses. It was historic. Five buses from Montreal at one time. The buses were pulling up. They were lined up in the service lane. And and this what I recall the Reb turning around with such a it's very difficult the Reb to be Messiah. But it was unbelievable. You saw it wasn't a smile. It was like I remember that clearly was a was already a 15year-old b >> like in English you would say pleasure. >> Yeah. Like like a like a gishmakite like a very hard to describe aim. So raffin lammed base. I remember I went with my father. We were sitting next to each other on the bus and tied bay was it was everyone went. It was before Pes and and for me for my father to go then Pes was but everyone went Yudf. It was a so everyone went Yudal Niss. I remember on the way back that that resonated so much you you couldn't leave it was so inspirational >> whatever I'll tell you when I was a kid but there was my father's first time that he went to see the rebber was either tion or yud I'm I'm not sure >> what year were you born >> I I was born in Tes. >> Okay. >> So, so you remember the teaching >> the what? >> Did I have a teaching? >> I remember the last one. >> Well, the also not the whole but the last one. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But listen to this. This is incredible. But my father tells me that there was such a big and this was the night after you know at night I remember even that fabans used to finish 2:00 3:00 was nor late the was already like 12 12:30 even 11:30 >> you're talking about the night of the >> no the night after and the night later So that year my father told me there was so many people going at the that they made two nights for the Montreal Eden and his time to go was the second night. He was supposed to be there 3:00. I don't know where he came. He said he came early 2 230. I don't know where they came. And he says like this, it's about4 to 3 and he's standing like area and a woman walks. That's probably told me was the rabbit and she said like this lost them up. Everyone packed out the door closed. This was canceled. Wow. Incredible. If you're talking about how Montreal was found, >> that's a crazy story. The cancel the as well. Okay. >> That's what my father told me was there. >> Wow. So la what happened was that we used to go often but I have to admit the in I didn't get in Montreal at all. Now, let's be honest with ourselves. If you're talking about B, I left after B. It wasn't the normal talk of the day. How many were there? You know, but maybe there was 10, 12. >> It was a it was a select very select few >> very select few. And it wasn't it wasn't on everyone's agenda. You know what I mean? So therefore of the green they didn't talk about but was not mentioned. So Leo opened up new horizons. Why I came after Pes l it was about a year after the mashia passed away >> but his his vision his what he tried to to get to the and all that that is what the se wasn't about at the time his vision said I remember the first Shabas I was there it was about 2 3:00 in the afternoon wasn't like really it was at David Feldman was there at the time there were other guys over there Gopin was a younger man in Ko at the time I mean there was sur over there you I mean Slavatitzky there was a whole group Bim that came from Cultter. One of them was called Borovski. One of them was Slavatitki from the There was a whole group of them and the one that brought them was instrumental was Yosul Seagel. >> There was also um Greenfield was there. >> Yeah. Cipher. There are a whole group of them. There was another couple but it was and who was the interim type of mash was me what was again he was a muik I guess from so what did he talk about he talked about that was the language of the >> it seems very seamless from Montreal to it was similar. Yeah. >> Yeah. Similar. >> Yeah. Everything was until Reb Mendel came and then label Kaplan talk about that comes >> Mendle came I think from what I understand was very from what I understand the was very involved and pushed they said that Right. >> You know, whatever. >> I once heard that there was push back because like like is the famous that everyone knows but you know in those days you know was it was a different style was I don't know >> 100% we'll soon get to that. So men's first it was advertised So he's going to all the from came from was there everyone was there and his opening that's what I remember his opening words were when you make such a statement you know like what's going on This is coming from somebody who's going to be the encouraging the I guess as a continuation of and he explained himself. He everyone opened up their eyes like what is he talking about? They said like this Everyone's trying to get to the So he brought in such a it made such an incredible impression that it emptied out. I heard there was no meaning yeshiva. The place emptied up other than before. >> Can I see a question? >> Go ahead. >> What is I'm just curious to understand that Menville came from the same place as all these other people that you're mentioning. So what what what shift why was their mental different? You know, I personally think if you want to know my personal uh he had a mashpa >> and he spoke so much about he even described to us as a he was a ne and this opinion he spoke so much about Yeah. Yeah. I think that had a lot to do. That's my personal opinion. But He didn't even me mention I don't recall mention he didn't use those words like yeah like it it was like such a natural thing and everyone went to that but was an incredible type of a mashpia that he did tell a lot of stories of past. His favorites may sim he once describe can I do this one of the he was holding talk about mayor. So he told the following story and he wanted to bring out they told the following story. He said he was a Who was the Mashian? We talk about Neville. He lived in Neville. Who was the Mashp? >> So this is after was left. >> The main we we actually recently had an article in about Neville this month actually. And so we it says over there that um the for for that period was in Neville that was the main the main branch. You know, he Kadi told us before I got to Mayor Sim, he told us that Sigan, it looks like it was a day after the he used Repeat this many times. They heard that >> and then they heard that there's afterwards. Yeah. Yeah. And we don't know how long whatever said like calm down you know >> as he used to say you know you know they says and he said >> so it's very interesting because if you learn the always explains that even though there was something afterwards but it's of the it's the beginning >> so some saying was to speak about you know years later >> by the way I got a I have a personal letter from the dated giml so anyway we'll leave it for another time but this is very interesting that if you're talking about in the meaning of he spoke a lot about it in many occasions in 770. So he he wanted to tell us the is coming to town. So the anticipation a lot of people heard of, you know, of It was a real he always spoke about mayor may from 8:00 till 10:00 in the evening but I think he said from 8 to 10 and then supper and then 8 to 10 was maybe he said 9 to 11 I think he said 8 to 10 was So he said that we were Baham and we saw that. But we were told that we can't come till 10:00 at night. So away said, "But we're not going to go in because they'll kick us out." So it was a summer day or whatever. He says, "We come to the window and he said is standing Mish he thought he said the whole master didn't speak and his no was he said that was They're parting ways. >> Are you saying to one another they're this >> to one another they're going to be parting ways? He said the whole time didn't say a word. He said we march in. He said he says a year later he meets and they're talking what came up. One of the things was so he says And he said it's as if between them nothing happened and he wanted to bring out here is telling him and he said that that that is what was front and center of this whole thing going on. So it wasn't that there was a it was the way when told it to the miss knew it's coming from so it's >> so I think I think what the the problem maybe by some people today is they only do the first part they they know how to zone someone else without the right >> well there's a whole from the about that and whatever you know, talking about Mashk and all that. When we were in Melbourne, man, we walked into Alto. He wasn't like his brother at all. >> He was more of whatever. There's a whole history about him. We have his he was crying already and he used to say today you can't say that but he said it was palpable going back to to a menal that mendle was two was a saying his was also to the right. No, explain to the buck for sure. He was so one ber from Chicago. He ended up in Chicago. He's not around anymore. I don't know what his son he was spent so much time with him learning with him. You were able to see sometimes too. What was very interesting is how at from 6:30 to 7 >> it wasn't today guys give the way he said it appropriately although it was the way he said it the way he sat it because it was a whole different >> you mentioned the shaman beer rabar from Brazil. So he told me um that there was a baker that was uh I don't know today would say he's depressed I don't know exactly he was he wasn't so men called over maybe you remember the story he called and says see this bak he needs to be we need to make him happy so I want you to do like this I want you to make a with him the first five minutes of the seder you have to learn every single second. The last five minutes you have to learn every single second. >> The the rest I only wanted to talk to him. You're you're going to cheer him up. You're going to make him happy. I want you to only talk to him. And that was a he did the mashia told him to do it. So he did it. >> Yes. >> I mean that that's like uh I I can't even see Mashim today do doing such a thing. I mean the uh the outlook. But here comes the part where Schlis came into the picture. At that time label captain was sent by the reb to be to start a minional light in those days the ro >> remind me what what year are we talking about then >> we're talking about as far as I remember late bid giml okay >> in those days from to from getting to move there was like I'm telling you to move to Honolulu. It was a 4-hour drive, but the theas they it was not something that was considered normal to move away from wasn't a normal thing to do. And at first he wasn't and I heard that the Reb told him gave him like ultimatum. That's what I heard. I don't know how true it is. So invited him to come to us, you know, and get them to come. No. So I remember who was sitting by the table and these were all young and second, third, whatever it was. I think came to K maybe even whatever but he was in Koda the younger was sitting around and talking and sitting here and label sitting next to him and mendal told him to say which he did a lot of and he and he took over the show was elbowing him z and he started to speak about the kite from we we never heard such words I can tell you being somebody from Montreal that started when I was 5 years old I never heard suchist before I remember the highlights of the words that he used and he's talking to guys that in their minds not even a question those same guys he was targeting those they were sitting in he was the subject matter that he spoke and and for them that gave the myself such a what does it all mean to us that I can tell you honestly that that was the first time that it resonated honestly He gave in that thing. I mean, you can ask anyone who's in before at the time or before saw that. It was not in the in the cards. I mean, it wasn't the when they were. >> So, let me ask you a question. I think by the bakim that learned in 770 even in the yuds or especially in the yuds that was something that they talked about but I think maybe because they they were hearing directly from the rabbi I'm saying I don't know >> I can't ask you because I was young I remember this but I don't I'm basing this on I heard from >> from so I was told directly by someone that was aud the the the cloud >> you can count them on your finger >> right right >> okay >> on your salaponim that's when a lot of it started and uh it started to resonate. Leeo elitimo. I ended up in New York and in which was the place where you went first before 770 afterwards. >> Was that like that was the >> I wasn't even Yeah, I was I was still 17 in then. >> So that's where we went. And who was sitting in Sal at the time was Rabbi Menlik. meant the and by the way I lately heard from one of my that he heard it from somebody who saw it. You talk about Rabbi Mlik that Rabbi Mantik I think you're allowed to tell the story that Rabbi Mantley was once Friday night walking out of his out of 770 and he lived like Kingston over there where is his house and in front of his house he saw a from the floor. Have you ever heard this? >> I did. Yeah. >> Yeah. Anyway, that he looked into and he did what he did and you know he walked around with his gle and he walked around were always saying something Mishna whatever but then the fabangans turned into different types of fabangans was at the beginning of his hashb and all that He was there already two three years and >> and he made a tremendous impression on us and don't forget that he was a Tommed Muik of Rabiel. >> So >> Rabiel wasn't wasn't Mashia in then in in 770 >> Rabiel used to give Shum in 770. I heard some from some but but Rabiel was >> there was a lot of inconsistencies that he used to be be six weeks seven weeks then he stopped and stuff >> it wasn't cons but the one who gave a sh the first year I heard was I learned and he gave it was the that's the first and that was lame giml his was totally different what resonated everything was about his learn was about and was about it wasn't necessarily about but it was the first side it was getting ready on in time and from time to time we heard Rabik from Italy from England 770s. So then became one thing as you're getting older were coming out that we but as you're getting older 20 21 but then the middle I was 19 and a half so that's when I went to uh to Melbourne for two years when you got the when when you were called in inv this was you're waiting. >> So you're you're waiting for for this moment. >> You know what? It's very easy. We waited that now's the time. [Music] >> Was that the only group then? >> I think at the time there was also Miami. >> Okay. But thinking that I will be picked. I didn't think I would be picked. That's the honest truth. I'm just done practically. I didn't think that to me. But he called me it. And after that, after that whole, we understood that it's mish. I don't know how the rabbi picked names but it was after we finished our Gutnik who was the one that used to communicate with the Reb write to the about the he got an answer from the Reb this was published already and so there wasn't going to beim but months later has meaning that till now can exist without >> what happened was that they wrote a letter to the rebutnik and he wrote that whatever he wrote. So the rabbis answered him he told me this several times That was the answer. So we heard this answer. It was a good feeling. You know >> this is after we went. So that means that till now the deba was choosing each person >> and then so we heard this you know is was interesting the alapon there was and I wrote about this that there's no question because of the time that growner spent with us >> there's no question that one of the Mus was to hear from >> it was every Thursday night we used to sit in his house sometimes till memories 2:00 3:00 4:00 was that he had I mean everything is published today already with tapes and everything one of the things again that was so at the beginning of his he was a schlak in Buffalo, New York. In Buffalo, New York, he wasn't that much. He was there was a school there, >> whatever it was. I didn't know what a was talking about. So, he was a there. He wasn't that. And he came back to the Reb and he told the Reb that. So what happened was the Reb told him he repeated this many times. And the Reb started crying. There's no question that all of these stories and what he had gave even more you know we're already getting older and when you're 20 21 you start thinking too you know and yeah I mean you know what I mean you know to prepare for So, so we heard a lot from Riak and it really resonated time and again and uh before we went into Yehis going to Australia. So the Reb said that that morning that the Allah of in Australia should come in with us and >> in the in the past the previous group we were the >> group >> four groups before us was part of your group >> was the previous group I my group was lewimman of So what happened was the also said that you should also come in. So we came in they told us to come in the first when we came in I was in before this several time mental uh note I want to hear about the >> okay so what happened was we come into the room and there's butcher paper covering all of the the Reb's desk but we came in first the room fills up there were 22 people in the So if this is we come in and the Reb is standing and you can only see the Reb like from here and up because the table was covered and it was covered like a foot and a half or like more than a foot. So if the Reb is standing here, I ended up standing here next to me. And this part in front of the Reb was not covered with butcher paper. Mr. Do that prepared the room thought that no one is going to stand over here and see what's going on here. They're going to be standing behind the desk. But lum stand there. the table at least twothirds threequarters of the table was full of sperm and the last of the table the last like a third or whatever it was quarter a third was satlock envelopes and newspaper clippings but to see that was like unbelievable later on told us that he heard from his other label that there has a minute, two minutes, two minutes in different and quickly the table fills up and at times the Reb tells Label to get if it's more than a minute or two and he comes back the Reb is already learning something else already was as on the table other things already and and interesting Klein I once went I once went back from the with him. So I asked him so he tells me that once it was about4 to 3 and 3:15 so it comes with and he wants to bring it into theb he wants to bring to the he said you can't just walk into the rebba I'm going in with the mail in a couple of minutes. Whoever saw the mailman coming in, sometimes with two sacks, sometimes with one sack. So male was always a big thing, but but he told me was always the first thing the Rebel looked at. Always. So it says he took that safer in with the mail and vice bakim told the fellow that he was carrying vice. >> He wrote the safer or is it? Yeah, he wrote the he was the >> MBA. >> Mhm. >> But he had the others copy of the safer with him. Said that when the Reb comes out the M. So stand in the lobby over there in the front room and the Reb will see you. You're holding the safer. This time it's you. And the Reb walks out 350. The Reb walks by him and the Reb for a second like stop. And the Reb works rather my something similar not totally my was aim at the who recently passed away. So he uh his greatuncle was called the was it wasn't but he was so he wrote a safer and he wanted the rabbit to look at it and the rabbit g so when he went into I because it was before it was published. My was outside. He didn't go into but it was outside maybe wherever he was. And he told them right away the story and he said that he walked in with in his own handwriting and he said the Reb went like this. looked at the page, turned the page, look took about two, three minutes, went through everything. Mash said that the was for an alter that you can hardly read, >> right? and theb and he says to the and the so he says so the reb said that's what he told the say and theb gives him on what he has written in that in those 30 pages so he went out he said he said he saw before the war, but he never never >> Everyone says that by that wouldb would just in one second read the whole thing like >> yeah gather talking about it was in me after the rabbitson passed away. So at the time maybe it was meas at the times. He was and he came to Chicago because his vivik sheni were had children in Chicago. He had a son in Chicago brahitt. I get a call from there's a lot to talk about and he calls me and he says and he got a call I don't know from whom that we should go over him and visit him and so I went with him we went to this uh Abramovitz's house and we meet him there And of course he knew who we were and uh >> he knew from some >> yeah I got a sm from him if I had me several times or whatever you know the normal things so he know who I was he knew who we was too you know he was very comfortable and he was speaking about the rabbits the rabbitson passed away he said to us you know like whatever but then he told us like this he said and he starts naming him the Alexander. He went to the whole list everyone that he knew. He said >> he learned in he learned in he said he said like this The above if I remember he said the above he said I he named the other ones I forgot about which what he said about the other remember clearly he said not the he said he said he said how theb told him he said And what happened was he says he says before I left town I used to go into the beginning in previous years previous years. Yeah. So he said, he said and he was really like he didn't have to be first you know we're like young guys you know I'm talking already 30 some years ago >> mhm >> and he was very taken by the rebba and theb was a lot but you know you know atan alone and you know had talking about him when I was in yeshiva Montreal going back a bit rab hung used They give us a shabas. >> He was abhin was aashiva of the shiva or he was like a guest. What was >> you know what Isaac handled with but he gave a sh every week. >> Mhm. >> And he was the bishard. >> He was part of the faculty officially. >> Yeah. He was he was the best val because he gave the question I gave the answer. He did everything, you know. He was so excited when it came to learning. He was I heard from someone in Montreal that he would drive him to I think I think Tridal I think that he would um drive him to Montreal to Faban sometimes and he'd sit in the back uh with a gum the entire time, you know, the whole the whole trip. So what he told us was that he spoke about himself and then he spoke about. So about himself he spoke that he told us when he was 16 years old he said he met the was his or whatever and the koshu met him. He was 16 years old and he said CH. So he says I like I acknowledged it. So then he asked me he said So in so the coastal governor said to him he said then he put him on the spot they started to talk about he said he said he said you said I think he said but I'm not sure the word >> the word >> you know so he start he said the in learning came and he's saying he was there a lot of things that he said about the reb be because he loved seeing it. He was very taken by the Reb. I heard that the last they didn't invite him because of Shak is still so whatever. So anyway, I'm being sidetracked, but anyway, with him and Rashiva, Robert Picassi Picassi was a very interesting rash. I remember once I don't know if it's neaya remember once he was sitting in Z and and 770 they knew what to learn. >> The can Yeah. There was in the whole the started like in in the youths though. Yeah. was one of them to come. >> Yes. The Reb wanted certain to become masters in that's the idea, right? >> Correct. >> So what was it say? You had to you have to give a sh I remember he was giving a shask. So Goldberg is sitting there and he says so he caught him off guard. So he says that's typical him but he was no questions. You see in the early pictures we had anyway. So then uh that was the in the in Australia. >> But then you came back to 770 >> in a in a Yeah. >> We came back 770. >> Can you I I I said we're going to talk about I said I don't know if you you want to but >> what happened when you're in this when you were a kid like I'm going to come back to that. I'm going to come back. I just want to finish this part of before we get to the other. I want to finish with Melbourne. when we came back was Niss early Nissan. That's when we came back. And by the way, the Reb told us when we were in he gave us $100 and said, "And that was We were given hours a day and for and we came and he said and he repeated it say twice he repeated it. You can see in the in the regime in you bet we had it ready and we worked with the local B we did it ourselves whatever we did. So anyway we come back and we asked the rebba what we should do in the summer. >> When you came back after two years in Australia >> two years in Australia so in those two years you can't go anywhere and nothing. So upon we asked the Reb what we should do in the summer and the Reb's answer was sure 770 and really it was an incredible summer in the 770 was it was Kamat Vic I mean he had a couple hundred people maybe there were two benches and two benches in the and and >> because everyone's in camp or in the country or whatever >> the the reb saw everything is not a good man. He always saw everything but then was excuse me was a smaller alum. So I remember the head of betar from Melbourne came to town. I knew him. >> What what is Betar? >> Betar is a Zionist group. >> Mhm. >> But Ara came to town and he knew me from Melbourne. So I invited him to come for Shabas. He came for Shabas. I got him a place and then by fenin I sat him down by the end of the benches and I stood by the last leaf of the bench and between the I mamish bent down I don't think the reb could have seen me and I gave him over at the reb was so of that that zit from the men and and you're attending to him you know there's no uh thing for them to hear. This is a shabas. It wasn't a hookup. It wasn't and so is about to end. Goes >> pointed to you. >> Yeah. But I I didn't think it's to me. So I just turned around cuz there was a in the backb told me to say and him to say and it was a feeling that the how can I tell you the reb every smile was I smile the I remember the walking home Thursday nights late the great whatever late we were up 770 at night Thursday night was normal for Fabang, you know, 14 148. There was always things going on. The Reb is walking out of the room always most of the time with a with a bag with one of these big envelopes, these manila envelopes, a big one, a small one. The nais that you felt was unescribable. I didn't again. But the the the the stop it when we walked the rebel home on Friday night. Friday night, we walk the Reb home. The Reb is walking the Reb's face, the Reb's We behind the Reb, but watching the Reb come out. It was just unbelievable. It was And you couldn't get tired looking at the Reb. You just couldn't get tired. I remember as a kid I came the first Shabas Chu. Hey that we came Friday was shabas it was it was the first yard fight of the rabbit we were kids you know I've seen the rabbit before that then then we came too but then it was the first yard site there was a bus of kids came we were standing how old was I man 11, you know, kids 11 want to play. You know, we couldn't take our eyes off the reb. It was like glued to the Reb. What did we see? But it was like such a a I know the Reb was against >> there was such a looking at the Reb is just unbelievable. Whatever. I don't know if it's >> Yeah, I know. But I'm just saying it's so anyway. So the Reb told us this day I remember. So people came in already some people from the country or whatever. But that whole was such a sitting we didn't have there was no other Monday or Thursday but Monday and Thursday the upstairs was not crowded. It wasn't crowded. It was 10:00. >> Yeah. >> So, it was very uh just watching the reb was a it was like a tiny. It was like like you're in Ghana. You know what I mean? like you're watching told me [Music] and he said that he used to come often for by the way he stays in my house every year for the past 30 years he comes to Chicago he said he used to stand by a coffus and he said at that time you didn't need mashiach. You had mashiached in full display. This was it. You didn't need more. What? What do you need more? The guy talking. He said a cuffus. I remember an incident. I don't know when this was I don't recall. But I wanted to see I want to see. So I know I'm going to miss out on going to the tal early. So I'm going to go to east east flatbush. East flatbush coming >> smart boys. >> Yeah. Yeah. But it's smart boys. Okay. So I wanted it out. So I was inside and of course the By the way, I don't think there were more than 30 people inside. the upstairs when the >> upstairs. >> Yeah. >> Because the setting up downstairs was set up for >> Yeah. Yeah. Theb says Mar was downstairs, >> right? >> Was up and say the Reb comes in puts down the S and he turned around with an and where the Reb stood Friday was not where we stood base. Right. B was right by the door, you know, by the by the hallway by the magnet and uh it was on the other side. Yeah. >> Yeah. So what happened was the Reb comes in and if you know there's a door next to the omid that door was open maybe a half an inch or maybe less because there were a lot of outside in so they stood outside and the door was you able to see Mhm. >> The puts down the sid and don't ask me what but one of these suddenly the goals exist. Can you imagine? It's the only time I ever saw that in my life. So when the rebba did that there was some excitement of old cooking. So you were circling the cooked whatever the door opened up from so much maybe maybe 3/4 of an inch walks to the door opens up the door and goes like this and everyone started dancing whoever was there ran in a lot didn't but the ratio from was there I also mention I remember talking about I Remember once the um the the shul was like a third of the shul. So you know how the sh was built in >> three installments. >> Yeah. That's like three apartment buildings that the base the shalash >> Yeah. So it was only >> 784 and 78 >> that was still about I don't know when whatever. Then they built the the next ones. >> The llamadal. >> Ramadal. Yeah. They built it not before >> the last one. >> The last one, right? Yeah. The last one was up. >> But then only the first one was standing. I remember also when I came I remember clearly where was standing in the back by the colored windows watching the rebap upon him. So um what was I middle? I lost my train of I thought. >> So you're saying that uh when you came downstairs it was just the first part of 770. >> Oh this first time. So it's it's the middle of and the Reb stands up to dance. Suddenly abruptly the Reb stopped. The Reb said looked at God and it was like a hush you know and then the Reb continued. So these are things that the Reb noticed everything and there was by a coff many times as you know and the fact when it grew when the much more people came from different parts of the world there was >> different nationalities. >> Okay. So it used to be the seder that by that when it came to he went into so I went once as a kid with my father >> maybe >> what before >> your father's >> no I don't know when my father went in it was huge about time but I went in with my father I was 8 years old 9 years old. So I don't remember much only the sitting by the table by the way and then I went in for my mitzvah the mitzvah was short was interesting because I went in after my bait mitzvah right after my bait is so I wasn't there for my father was going to go some I went in right after some my father and he and and just said one word and I'm talking and this and yes said the but didn't fire me the mimer or like he did the others and all that just asked let us and the m that was it like >> every year thereafter 15 and 16. I went in right after. Don't ask me why. I didn't go in. I don't know >> was no but I could have gone in but I was in that when I was No. Then I was in Montreal. I was a Montreal camp. Could be. That's why. I think didn't have >> no but not only I could have gone or could but I didn't >> you went >> I'm just telling you my went after that >> all these were very short remember once I asked for my mother asked this but very nothing extraordinary except by the um when I was 18 I asked the reb about u the rebi always looked at The there was a time the Reb looked at the settle of Dan Holla and all that first as you came in you had to give the talle from anal. Yeah. And um when I was 18 I asked the Reb about I told because after I came back from I asked the Reb about putting on film putting on then everyone asked the Rebain when you were 18. It's interesting. I didn't put it put it on on my 18th year which was I don't know why I should have but I I wanted to be in and asked the Reb first. So I asked the I wrote in the said then then later changed the said everyone should do it from then but it's interesting because when I came back from Australia I had no there was no uh no but then was right away lad was right away after I came back. >> So, yeah, after the summer was so that's a whole separate para, right? And the Reb said the in the Reb's room and all of that. So it was and then came the which I had very interesting things the in Detroit I have to say >> was that when did you get married? >> I got married. So >> yeah. So gadam my parents were in in the in the gnat my mother and my father. So he he gave and they gave them all but to my mother he said and she lived till she was 90. >> Yeah. and she had you know lived a long nice life. And so I got married in Latas and just to point out how the Rebba knew everyone who's there even in the later years as the crowds were so big. I'm not saying aish the is when the Reb takes note of it and tells you about it. That's the so I was going to go to Russia. >> You're saying you're already living in Chicago. >> I'm already in Chicago. Yeah. You're doing a special uh trip. A special uh >> special trip. >> Yeah. So, I'm I'm going to uh Russia and I was in New York. It was going to be after and after I was first in New York for about several days to get some training preparation was still the beginning of glass. So it was very important that you know you don't talk what you're doing and you don't >> blasphe you know the >> the when the former Soviet Union began to westernize >> okay so to speak >> so to speak >> said we still have to be very careful we only have to stay in the hotels and not speak in the hotels what we want to speak. So I came in then and then I was going to meet my shouldv that was the first guy Platkin who went as a former Russian they wanted to see whatever they sent him first time somebody who left Russia went see if it works >> yeah see how works yeah so I didn't I didn't go that Sunday to Dallas I was in Chicago I was going to meet him in the middle of the week at JFK Okay. And from there go to Russia. So he goes by the >> Can I just ask you a question? They were taking a from his to go to Russia. That was that was that was >> You weren't the only one now that think about it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> It wasn't only but also >> also went like of course Shapiro went several times. >> Malu went >> Malu. Yeah. They all went I went to me. Some of my friends went to Marsha went hash went and he went at the time where there was the Chernobyl reactor and all that that walks by the Rebotkin and the Reb asks him who they say is in Chicago. The said Chicago was there because my niece got married to Adelman. Whatever one of the Turks got married to Adelman. So I just came and I just I wasn't going to come again. You know have a lot of nieces and nephews. I wasn't going to go but the Reb said and Shabas was a a big crowd you know like every Shabasan the members big crowd that my father was there my my my mother was there >> and that you're related and the whole thing >> yeah whatever in Chicago >> so from then you know the rabbis saw everything what was going on there were times that when the rebba walked into the rebba really looked around and knew who's there not there once went into when I was a upstairs in 770 so where we at the uh >> so you're talking about >> yeah I want to tell you also I think it's neg for to know this very neg I was a in Michigan for three years. I used to write in a lot to the Reb about my experience over there. the relationship with was is so there was a lot that I learned from discuss but then there were times that we've had let's put it this way our disagreements and I wrote to the Reb a lot about it and once I wrote a lot that was from my last settle And the Reb's answer was so clear. you can leave. And I was I was pleased with the answer because first of all, the Reb it sounds like the Reb is telling you to go. The Reb is saying as long as you don't have a contract that's holding you down, you should >> I want to tell you how it resonated by me. Mhm. >> The reben that he picked. He's not changing them. If if I think maybe it's too sharp for you to hear these days, but in my opinion and and you know what? And then later on I had the Gaba Mliff is over here. So I went straight from from there to Chicago. But this answer was maybe an other and I came to Chicago. I left Kafal of from uh Michigan and I came Kafalov to Chicago. So there was no Bay Lebane in those days. There were a there was Vil you know >> that was already me. So there was a lot of I came over to Michigan. I left I came I came and I left I told he didn't want to hear about it but I got but anyway I learned a lot from and um so one of the offers of course was Chicago and I came to Chicago and of course I knew Denil back from yeshiva Montreal about a year older than I And um was that uh I want to write into the reb because because of the money situation without going into an IAT so I wrote a letter >> position was the position that you have now the >> yeah to start the school there was a free school but to start the elementary school >> that was why I was going to come to start an elementary school >> in Detroit what was what were you doing >> in Detroit was doing the same thing. >> I was I was teaching two hours a day and taking care of an hol shaft whatever. >> Mhm. >> Okay. We won't go into all that but whatever. I write to the I have I get a letter from the Chicago that was in a letter which was also a letter for the upsh of my son. So it wasn't specially about that but it was a bit and the letter. So it wasn't like even an answer. He the Reb could have given an answer. >> It wasn't a minor. >> It wasn't a minor although I wrote a letter. The Reb could have written the minor on the letter like the Reb did so many times. >> Right. So alapon what happened was that the uh alias say I'm going to look into other things. Okay. Okay. So the is telling me also I'm done. I don't know if several weeks or two months later I get a call from Danil and he tells me it's like I want you to know that the shilus that you had are being resolved for a very interesting reason. There was another younger man that came from Montreal for the position and the Reb's answer was we don't know what means what kind of no one has the position. No one is giving away that like the only thing we can think is of you. >> I said you have your answer and I have my answer. I have an answer. No. So he says, "You know what? You're writing in Mama sauce." In those days that sauce were all over the place and there were to open new places or to to >> everything whatever whatever there was like nut remember Buffalo wanted to open up something nearby and even Wisconsin. I was there once and there were offers and uh but I was already involved in so right back into the that came to me and he has another and that five people are going to money for the first year whatever there was a right away within two hours I So although there was a letter like that and so basically what the Reb said is it was fake. So >> and then I guess came the answer you know but then there was other that I had but the time is rolling is the time for >> uh I don't there's no on time continue. >> Yeah. While I was >> take take off your watch. >> While I was in >> I have a question. What happened when you went to Detroit? I'm just curious like there was answers from the to going to Detroit. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. >> I think then I also had and all this. >> We discussed my my lipids who was uh lived in Detroit at the time convinced me you got to go to need somebody for Neil for administration whatever. I went I wrote it first while I was in Detroit me. So I had two kids at the time and when I used to bring them for our copas was very late. One of them was a year old the other one was two and a half. So it was you know you can only do so much and I one of them I held on my shoulders and the other one myvagers took care of them. It wasn't easy bringing the kids. You must be stupid. Anyway, I brought them. I wanted them to see them. So, I'm standing by the miser to the left on top. There was pyramidus over there. So, I I was able to see the Reb perfectly. The Reb was able to see and it was noticeable. I was holding Mashi, my son, on my shoulders. It was noticeable that the Reb was looking several times even made with a hand and it was noticeable but you know what it could have been somebody near me but it wasn't used to stand near me but whatever make a long story short a day afterwards after some I go to I drive back I had myself my wife my two kids and one of Stein's children been seen Stein and Dr. We're driving back when the Poconos and the car goes out of control and smashes onto the side, whatever. And the one that was not buckled in P at the time was my son Moshi was a year old. And uh immediately, I don't know how, there were no cell phones. Then the police from the Poconos came. We were all tied in except for him. He got out of his car seat and he banked his head. They immediately made an MRI and he has a not just like a fracture, but an indentation in the skull. And they suggested that surgery would be the right thing to lift the pressure from the skull because if not if you don't lift the pressure from the skull he can have seizures and all of that as the child grows and all that. Okay. So I said I'm going to call the Reb and the Reb's answer was it took about two three hours till I got the answer and I kept on calling. The Reb's answer was Now this is the day after and they were ready for a surgeon to do the surgery. but and we're talking about one day after which is I think so it's about five weeks away from >> right >> so it was an interesting thing >> so you were ready to do the surgery like in then >> yeah I mean >> yeah they in the penos >> yeah they suggested that >> l what happened was that when I come to by the way when I before I went back to Detroit I went back to New York with my son. We left him there for a day because he was in trauma. So I came back to New York. I came to Min with my son and I stood by dimes. So it's interesting what happened because the rabbi gives him a dime. He looks at me. He gives him a dime, a nickel. and he throws it into the pushka and the reb and he turns back around. Yeah. Just gave him interesting. I don't know it was or whatever. Okay. The doctors were mats in Henry Ford Hospital that the Reb should there were mats that make the make the surgery. So I'm going to ask the Reb right away. So the Reb's answer was you should ask another doctor. We went to another doctor. The other doctor said, "You should definitely do it. You should do it. He's mad to do it." So then there was a doctor that came from Pittsburgh. He was a surgeon, a pediatric surgeon. And he said, "We said we're going to go to him because he knows the mala." Make a long story. We made an appointment and he's going to do the surgery. a day before the surgery or two days before the surgery we had another appointment with him and he says rabbi I don't think that you should do the surgery so my high said we just finished research on such injuries and the same chance that he may have from seizures from the injury he can have just from the surgery so it doesn't pay but Now I'm really stuck because two doctors said yes, one doctor said no. >> Right. >> So I asked and there is simply no answer. V asked By again and again. So I asked B what do I do? Said if you don't have you don't do a surgery. >> You just don't do it. Several weeks later, I wrote to the Reb about another Indian God about Detroit. And I wrote to the Rebel. So the circle like >> I wanted to be >> so there is like no fault insurance >> in Michigan. So I thought that we could make anyway it was in court for about five years. Uh oh. >> My son was suing me because I bought two old tires, used tires for the trip. So my little son is suing me. It was in court several years. They even wanted to make a settlement. the insurance company the the OID I had to have somebody that called that case and I asked Lamelik Silverberg to on behalf of my little son to sue me you know to but I'll make a long story short it took about several years and I came back for the final thing and the judge says that uh we're going to have to do over all the tests again because the attorney was saying, you know, these tests, it's it's such these injuries. It's not like a a stuck. It's not like you have like a small injury. It was an indentation in the skull and that can still be putting uh pressure on the skull and what on the on the brain. But Pale Yates, what happened was we we made more the the judge said, "Let's make over the tests and the pictures and the MRIs." We did it all. We come back several months later and the doctor who's appointed I guess from the judge or whatever says and he had all the pictures lined up in front of the judge. Your honor, there is no indication from these pictures that this child was ever in an accident or ever had an injury on the brain. and we didn't get a my son didn't get a dime and I was very happy. That's but I want to because it's starting to get I want to say something about which I think two things I'm read you read you read my mind because I was about to tell you that uh I'm sitting across I don't know you know among podcast I'm sure we'll have many types of people but I don't know how >> I don't know who the next person so so >> so I want to talk I want to talk about when you wrote [Music] the read the read the so I remember I didn't know if his name was mentioned but it could be there was a child in 11 12 year old. For some reason he was sent to Chicago from Detroit. He was there was a makurv over there and for some reason they sent him here to learn. This goes back about even 35 years ago. No, maybe less 32 years ago. And I got a call from label And he was having difficulties. >> This is like >> No, no, no. This was earlier. This was mass maybe. >> Tash wants to know what you doing with the kid in Okay. >> Yeah. Everyone knows know what we're doing for that kid. The kid obviously is kite. I don't think then uh two things really I mean this was already one of the my stories but it's worthwhile to repeat this before I get to that I want to say another story that at the beginning of our school in Chicago they wanted people in the most of the kids we had were from nonaban homes, but they like the private attention, the small classrooms and all that, people who are not necessarily from the Kabat community had no problem sending their kids. But then we saw that when it comes to first grade, they take out the children. And then there was a case somebody wanted to come back afterwards. So we made a rule once you leave, you can't come back. because it it's because you can have a class of then it was a class of eight 10 kids if two of them leave it's so there was a telid living in Chicago and I don't think he would mind me telling the story he's already over 90 and his Ben Zakunim Benzakunim's name was of he sent him to uh kindergarten and like pre- one night and then he wanted him to go to the lit vish mid in town which is a very good mess by the name of the three he's not as so as long as he was in preschool nice kid nice program alterine even there was yiddish in the school by then full-time yedish in the school so everyone liked it he calls me up so okay I said you know that once you leave you leave okay he calls me up this was in castle also I don't know if the year was mev whatever year it was it was it was around there hey me he calls me up he says rabbi wolf my kid doesn't want want to go to any school other than you got to take him back. So I said to him, "Rabbi Rther, Rabbi, we have a policy now. I know your son Mustam really wants to be here, but frankly speaking, if you won't take him out now, if you'll send him back now in a year or two, you'll take him out again. I know what's going to happen." Yeah. Tell and I have big nice community that tells a community in town, very nice. They have their school and everything. So, so I don't want to do this a kid back and forth and back and forth. You don't go school hopping with children. Says, "Okay, you're not going to take him. Okay, I'll live with it." He calls me back several weeks after sukus. Rabbi Wolf, this kid has a a lab. You must take him back. I said we have a policy. He says policy say you're going to take him back. He sits every day in front of the classroom. He's six years old. He doesn't want to see the classroom. Only wants to come back to I took him back. Great kid. And today he's achiev the youngest of of his children. beautiful Mishbah today somewhere in New York somewhere New York state recently I got to spoke to him and his father now London and he lives on 580 Crown Street he moved into so it's very nice his mother very very very nice people extraordinarily nice people and of room is one of our success stories >> there was yuchvat Hey Tavis time and you know what happened at the time that the Reb said I think it was that there should be three and >> after after the after the seven days of >> after the seven days of celebration I what I used to do >> second so that that applied to schools all over the yeshivas everywhere >> there's test >> so what I started to do at the beginning of the memsovski. We were in yeshiva in 770 together then ka and he not in ka because he went in yeshiva we were in z together and leo he tells me well everything that the teachers give out you should send them to the everything a worksheet anything they give out they should know first of all they would be more careful and try to develop velop sheets that should be acceptable. It would do that anyway, but make them more aware this is going into the >> as the says if they know that the if they know that a bus of a dam is looking at it. >> Yeah. >> So anyway, so I used to have a tray on my desk and they used to throw in the copies of the sheets of paper on my desk and it used to go to the Reb. I always got answers, you know, all these answers. It was always kamati always answered. I did it once a month. If Shamal gven once every two months alo but this time hey tavis I had a gald a gald of stuff from clean from papers. to mamish a box like this. I'm not exaggerating. I brought to New York and I send it in. I leave it in the office to grown asked for the two days after your I'm back. I get a call from I can go on a lot about I had a nice cash with him. I was going to say that um because you were in that extra special connection because he right. >> Yeah. The one who got me into that with and I thank him for that. >> He told you he told you to call all the time. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Mhm. A once wrote a letter to my letter head with a means that I got to give in to the federation audited statements. I am I tell him that today is not. He sent it into the Reb. I have a copy of it. The Reb wrote an admo here last Kain and the initials to give it over to Yud Krinsky >> to give to give what it >> the letter >> the contents of the letter audited statements and what he told me later on is that as a result of that he makes that by the copy of the letter on my phone >> that's the reason why he makes announced by the order the letter that I wrote was I don't know if it's important to read it but the reb's answer was like I think I that would be the approper thing to do I write and and the reb's answer was very interesting so I'll come upon him so going back to calls me two days after and he says So I said, you know, so he says that And he asked me if I know about that which was inappropriate. It was a Kav book, a book uh from Kitav that used to give publish like Hebrew with Hebrew lines that you should be able to write carefully and alang carefully and in the back it was more of a Zionist book. So he >> like a song >> a song. Yeah. He asked me if I know about it and I said, "I know what it is." He said, Can you imagine? It's two days after and I sent it to the Reb. Now what the Reb did with it? I don't know. But there was already a response two days after that response. >> Do you know Do you want Do you want to share what the sh was? >> It was a Zionist cheer. I'll leave it I'll leave it up to your imagination. um the um one of the Zionist songs, but it didn't belong in aim. It's it's not the first time that you get the feeling that mishhat on everything I used to send in the Reb. But sometimes some things are happening and you don't even know it's going to end up by the Reb. Uh I'll give you something Gman came to for some odd reason in our old building. He came with Denil brought him and he brought him to then he said pictures and so somebody had somebody was there with a camera from his people that he came with. He took a picture with me and Denil standing next to him and snapping pictures. Several weeks later, I met him in New York. I said, "Oh, And then you know suddenly it's going to be by the that's what he told us but it came from himself. I didn't ask him about the pictures because it it wasn't an issue. He himself initiated the conversation. So there was a lot of things that it was obvious that I asked once because I used to have conversations with them. Is the rabbit typical answer the rabbis kinder in Illinois the twostep is mid this was the typical I don't know if it came from the you know I asked him on a telephone conversation by the way was always involved in things so I once asked him for a certain and several in Yonim we were going to move the girls school here and on the phone he's giving his so at the end several things at the end of the conversation I asked him and this was in the end of me the fax machines were going [Music] So he said, "Yeah, yeah." And he sent me back with and I remember I read it. So you never knew what comes from the Reba, what doesn't come from the Reb. But that was adva that nakov was so involved with hin that this was sometime in the mems that after rashan passed away kataski somehow the his children had a copy of that letter I'm not sure how it came but could be through khadakov it came to him so I wrote a letter to khadakov >> that I need malam I need over here because he's in charge of maybe he commits if he knows people that want to go into he said but see them to contact me can you imagine writing such a letter to go you know like like asking him please help me in my I need some some employees and I'm just telling you that the involvement with kadakov was it there was another thing that I had from kadakov that gave >> people but People think that is not >> is 100%. I take great offense when you make such a statement. >> That's why I asked it because I wanted to. It wasn't a statement. It was a It's a question. I wanted to refute it. I don't want to do anything. I'm just bringing it up because people say this. >> Okay. Yeah. >> So, the ones that were in, >> right? and mamesh it went into the reb was m so even the in New York were over there and then is part of our over here it's so obvious you know I wrote into the as soon as I came here I took the blank that I copied from Detroit the side things was my own but the and those days Every blank you sent into the Reb, you know, I mean, you started a you have a stationary, the blank they called it, you send it into theb and of course I send it into the and it was normal. I didn't I didn't get a no. I didn't get a yes, but it was great. Yeah. So I'll so to say that those were not was I'll tell you another thing which I think is is important and it was meion the famous mezian hatavis but the rabbel you know about that famous the said that 50 10% I think the said he'll give him 50% of the the budget or the yeah meas He's going to give us a >> It was Yeah. >> Yeah. So, we didn't know what's, you know, what's going on because I'm asking Abdil like what's going on? >> What do you mean? >> We didn't We're not getting >> Oh, you didn't receive it. Okay. >> Yeah. So, I mean, this is what I heard which went to Khadikov. Khadikov said, Alman was gone already eight years or something and the ne and everything did go through him. So I'm not sure what kind of co meant and I'm not going to judge but hearing that I got an I got like what's going on? I'm afraid who brought me down. What do you mean then? Then I'm nothing, >> right? >> So I contacted Fakov and I said that's how I know that I'm achieving tomorrow morning. was others. Another one from the here that I heard wrote a letter whatever and the pilot was nostalgic. The Neil was the what he meant who knows you know by him could be if he didn't get I didn't even want to know what he meant or say what he meant. I don't know >> but there were things that was self understood that when Khadakov speaks at times he speaks from the reb and I'll give you a mushroom what happened his oldest son which is now here was field Illinois >> whose son >> me yeah okay >> so at the time of his bitzvah he uh his father wrote a letter to the rabbi that the mid has some and he would rather cease by mitzvah not have him engaged in and he's going to send them to his aid in Toronto was from the mandal yeah was mandal I I remember he used to come to Montreal I think his >> he had aviger over there or a mother I'm not sure who he had >> um yeah >> he had somebody in Montreal he used to come and visit the baby came to visit the Shatland because Hashel I learned in Toronto I know I know I know him I mean I yeah so I right away I write that there was ongoing conversations with him right that he was also he was a advocate of >> so I already settled that he's the son of and it's eighth grade so I'm ready to close the eighth grade and just have all day because I get a call from and he was livid as I said that we're part of the he was adamant. So that was very important to hear this that sometimes we hear I mean there was sometimes but it doesn't mean that that became I don't want to go into that but it doesn't mean that it became okay I'll come upon this >> so I have a I have a question um >> did you ever did you ever speak to anything about tuition >> no but the people that I hired all went through. We had a man over here that I brought into the which now is the manal of a very big you know told me what I should do whatever with the whatever it was someh it went through the everything so was involved and and the reb was involved in our so to say that I I think today it's so obvious that our biggest challenge is and and and I can say that we gave out a lot of nice talid from Chicago and now with the mifa it's becoming the normal thing they go from to to the ma and then we have the girls high school which is also an outgrowth it used to be labavage girls labavage girls high school then at the end the Neil felt that it should be independent for fundraising for a lot of other things and it went and today raz from this big mid so it's beautiful and we have just in the elementary and preschool we have just under 500 midas and the school is growing we're middle of a big project and uh I can just say one thing that the u it was 1991 it was lip on memorial day we had a big in our house and it was right after at Shabas. I forgot what day in Civ it was that the Reb came in and washed after M on his place. >> What dayabas? Right. So right after that Monday morning was the fire. The children were in the hospital and the Reb told me three times, two times to me and one to my wife. after that [Music] the are growing on the we see over here and it's 50 years since my and I can say is today what saves yungalite and and we're not doing it because it it it saves yungalite because his gosh today. >> So let me ask you the said there are four levels of there's no other way. There's no detour that you can take. that the Reb's the Reb's which is so beautiful and is what the Reb wanted in the belt. >> So what do you um what's your message? I mean before you were describing very beautifully. First of all, the whole upbringing and the atmosphere and everything that you grew up with, but also the the you experienced by the rabbi and obviously even on all these and the answers you got. What's your message to someone like my age and younger that doesn't have that experience? How could and we know it's a fact that and everything is continuing until but how do you re how do you have that I mean for you it's like you experienced it so it could come with even without today it feels like there's more a than needed so what's your message to >> okay so first of all I want to say when I walk into the mifa I come al and I see shabus morning it's to see how the reb is working today is unbelievable by the way it's unparalleled in Jewish history because we know what people said about the day after gimotamus and and everyone has that it's I was once sitting at a table by a dinner a banquet over here. So I was on that table. So a guy says to me, "Rabbi Wolf, you guys are with your networking. You guys are just so unbelievable what you accomplished. If you would only omit one thing, can you imagine what you could accomplish? What's that thing? This whole thing. I said, then we we would look like you. I want to look like you. So, of course, we need a Reb thing. Is a thing that it's beyond. Can you understand that when you and says go and how it happens we don't know the gave the and he gave four things and he gave it a huge udalis when theb basically wrote the of his so you're asking so I look at what's going on and I scratch my head and I talk I don't understand it just like I don't understand how a mitzvah is I also don't truly understand the 30 years later learn and that inspires them and they go, you know, think about it today. We're living in the United States 2025. A teenager Friday afternoon from one floor to the other. One floor of offices they let them in, the other one they kicked them out, come back on Monday morning and and the comes back and he's glowing. Why is he glowing? He could have done so many other things Friday afternoon. I know what teenagers are. I mean, I'm somewhat involved. No, I I know and and you watch this or you watch kids want to do want to do with their parents. How was this happening? I mean, if you really think about it, how is this happening? Was a great man. He didn't accomplish that. Even if you think back about the you know when you speak about the And you're talking about but you see the not normal thing. I mean we all can agree it's not a normal thing. So you're asking me I don't have the answer. I just know it's not normal. and and that's the beginning and that's the end for for man to take his wife and we're living in a big world and the world is small but you take somebody and you send them to Vietnam or South Korea I have my own son in Montana have other other children too Miami is not Montana. Montana is not Miami. Uh, New Hide Park is not uh Montana. You know what I mean? Montana. And I know certain things that my son would be upset if I repeat it. And you know what I mean? In think about this. I was a kid. The only safer in Yiddish you had was toxin tales. And then you had a hut toxin tales. There was the safer a blue book the bal I don't know if you ever came across today. It's included in so many others one chapter. What did the do whatever he told them to do? It's a whole story. There's another story over there. a story when I read from whatever he was all you need people. Yeah. Okay. Then you go you're talking about okay I get it you know I get it they they tell a story that I heard this from Rabman he was he was in Chicago and it was in he stayed in one place for two weeks and he had his whatever he had was that gas he didn't eat by these people and two weeks later I get a hand for. So they see that the bed wasn't even touched and they needed a for children. So they came to him they said so he said they basically told him you're enough of a good reb for us you give us the took away he had a baggage that's a small suitcase they said we're not giving it back until you give us the suitcase So he gave them and they had a child. He came back when he came back he I heard this from he said that he told the what he did and the said this time he let it go through he didn't want to touch that. Soap and which was we talking about when we came to Australia. So the one that used to come with us everywhere was Zusha dean. He was our guide and he was in Australia >> on the way to >> on the way to Australia. Yeah. So what happened was this time the one who met us was we camed we left everywhere where we went he is following us we were shabas shabas we went to we came back 12 1:00 at night for 4:00 we got to go to tan we come we come to the airport and the man is standing there and we're leaving. He said he made several weeks later. >> Yeah. The accident passed away. So you think about it. And what are they doing? We're talking We're not talking about these. It's unimaginable. It's unparalleled. What What you want to say to Mim? Just think what we're doing in 77. young light that are going know this. They have to articulate it. That's my message. What a message. Look what's going on. It's unbelievable. No. Have a nice day, Rabbi. [Music] >> All the best. God bless.