The Jewish Link

Hundreds expected to turn up this Shabbos at the Friday night tish in the Hancock Park neighborhood, at KOLLEL YECHIEL YEHUDA, 444 N La Brea Ave., at 9:00 PM!

In all segments of the community, the news of the imminent arrival of the famous Tzaddik,  Yaakov Menachem Rabinovitz, Biale  of Bnei Brak to Los Angeles was received with great excitement.

The name ” Biale ” is no stranger to the residents of Los Angeles. Thousands of people have sensed the sweetness of the Rebbe Shlita’s sanctity, and many have consulted with him, benefited from his guidance, and most importantly, received his blessings .

The older generation still remembers the Rebbe ‘s holy father, Rebbe David Mattisyahu, ztzuk”l. He planted the seedlings that would flourish into a kingdom of Torah and chesed in Israel after the holocaust. His visits to Los Angeles were awe-inspiring experiences for its residents, and many stories of miracles precipitated by his blessings  have been recounted.

The Biale Chassidus perpetuates the famous Chassidic movement founded by the Baal Shem Tov and his disciples, carrying on throughout the generations, until the  Shlita, who is a direct descendant of one of the greatest rebbes in Eastern Europe, the “Holy Jew” of Peshischa, a fourth generation disciple of the Baal Shem Tov .

  Since the Rebbe assumed the mantle of leadership  upon the passing of his holy father in October ’97, Jews across the spectrum of society have joined the Rebbe’s court. Not sufficing with his devoted work for his many followers throughout Israel, he seeks to help all his brothers. His room is open to all Jews, from all circles and communities , from the knitted yarmulkes-wearer to the ultra-orthodox, from Ashkenazim to Sephardim. They come from the irreligious cities of Holon, Bat-Yam and even distant Eilat for a blessing from the Rebbe. All are received with a radiant face, even if it is 2 AM, as though he were the first and only person the Rebbe met today.

“If Israel are not prophets, children of the prophets they are.” The Biale Rebbe’s venerated reputation is known worldwide, among Jews of every stripe. Complex medical questions, intricate business matters involving 7 digit figures, and much more, are dealt by the Rebbe. His sage advice and fruit-bearing blessings  point to the abundant help from Heaven with which he is endowed.

Much of the  Rebbe’s valuable time is dedicated to traveling to the U.S., be it short week-long trips or longer journeys  to California, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. These are not merely visits;  he comes to help, to improve, to fix. Every year, those who have had the privilege to meet him even once, anxiously await his arrival. His love for his brothers is duly reciprocated. And of course, those who have seen his prayers fulfilled, come to share the good news.

Just a few months ago, the Rebbe officiated at the wedding of a prominent family from Florida. About two years before, when the Rebbe had been in Florida, a relative of one of his followers requested a blessing for finding his mate. After the Rebbe blessed him, the bachelor insisted on knowing when it would happen. The Rebbe said that before his visit the next year he’d be engaged. And indeed, two weeks before the Rebbe’s annual visit to Florida, the young man was happily engaged.

At a New Jersey wedding last summer, the lines of people awaiting the Rebbe’s blessings lasted until early morning, long after the tables were cleared. This really began a year before, when the father of the bride, who had then three older unmarried daughters, requested the Rebbe’s blessing, and the Rebbe promised “three weddings this year!” The year is not yet over and the Rebbe is now at the third daughter’s wedding! After this story was publicized, the lines of people quickly filled up, and it goes without saying that not even one wore a shtreimel.

“A tzadik decrees…”

Stories portraying the Rebbe’s power of blessing abound. A distraught couple once came to the Rebbe with the worrisome news that the doctors say  that their unborn baby has no chance of being healthy. The Rebbe read their  “kvittel” (note of names) and informed them that he saw no problem and their child would be  G-d willing completely fine. He advised the astounded parents  to take upon themselves additional mitzvos and positive undertakings and assured that he himself would participate at the healthy son’s bris. The joy at that bris was indescribable.

Businessmen attest that since receiving the Rebbe’s blessing their businesses flourished unbelievably. Barren couples had children after many years. People who’d been chased by the court and couldn’t sleep at night in inconceivable trepidation witnessed wondrous turnabouts. These and more are just a fraction of the miracles that people merited  through the Rebbe’s blessings. It is not surprising that hundreds of people flock to the Rebbe’s door, awaiting his advice and blessing.

The Rebbe doesn’t rests for  a moment. He has 15 biological children, bli ayin hara, and hundreds around the globe who consider him a father. The Rebbe spearheads the insitutions “Mishkan HaTorah Biale” in Beitar Illit, Biale shuls and kollels in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Beitar Illit, Modi’in Illit, Ashdod, and Beit Shemesh, and closest to the Rebbe’s heart, the Fund for Orphans and Widows, which functions under the Rebbe’s personal supervision. This special fund provides clothing, shoes, homey accommodations in the yeshivah dormitory, and even pocket money for the orphans studying in the Biale yeshivos. But most of all, the Rebbe takes these precious souls under his wing, opening his home for them and caring for their needs as only a father would. The Rebbe follows up on their learning and pairs them with private mentors. The Rebbe personally sees to it that they have them new clothing before each holiday. Once, when the Rebbe returned from an overseas trip before Pesach, he went to visit the orphans straight from the airport, even before he saw his family, and gave each one  money to buy clothing and gifts for Yom Tov, and only then did he go home.

When the day is over in Los Angeles, the phone begins to ring with callers from Israel eager for the Rebbe’s blessings and advice, in Israel the Rebbe is inundated with callers from Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and New Jersey, and hundreds of emails flood the secretary’s inbox.  Every day the Rebbe spends  much time tending to all the questions sent  from around the globe, and he prays  for them all, in his beis midrash, at holy  places, and at the holy gravesites of his ancestors. The Rebbe carries the burden of his people, sharing completely in their pains and joys.

Los Angeles Jews now have the privilege to meet the Rebbe, who is staying at the home of his esteemed hosts, Dr. David and Dorothy Stoll. This week, the Rebbe will conduct his Friday night tish at Kollel Yechiel Yehudah at 444 N La Brea Ave., where hundreds are expected to come and soak up the spiritually-charged atmosphere—the singing, the Rebbe’s Kiddush (known as an auspicious time for personal salvation) and to delight in his words of Torah. On Shabbos morning, the Rebbe will pray at the Beis Naftali shul, which is under the leadership of the prominent shul president, the known activist for Torah, Reb Andrew Friedman.

The Rebbe will spend the following Shabbosim in Pico Robertson and Beverly Hills, as will be publicized.

So if you haven’t yet had the privilege to meet the Rebbe, or did and want to have again the merit, to benefit from the Rebbe’s advice and blessing, you can now do that by setting up an appointment through the Rebbe’s English speaking personal secretary, Rabbi Moshe Friedman at 917-272-4045, or at email BIALEBNEIBRAK@GMAIL.COM.

Be blessed!