By Yeuda Stell
I generally wake up early in the morning to daven before I go to work and then take my child to daycare. If I do not daven before, I ALWAYS daven before sof zman kerias Shema.
On Thursday, November 12, 2020, I was unable to daven at either time.
I am a real estate investor and primarily a property manager all throughout Broward and Dade Counties in South Florida. After the rough storm that hit us, my schedule, obviously, became completely congested. I had literally no time to eat something small.
At 4:45 PM, after things calmed down just a little, I pulled over to daven. I opened the door to the back seat to grab my tefillin. It wasn’t there. Seems like I forgot it at home (please don’t judge…)
I panicked. I never go a day with davening late and I would never miss a day of putting on tefillin! I was freaking out because my house was an hour away (without traffic) and I wouldn’t make it on time.
Despite being in a part of Dade County that almost no Jewish people lived in, I Googled “Chabad near me.”
I tapped on Chabad Miami Lakes and called the Shliach – Rabbi Mendy Weiss right away.
Hi, I said. How are you? I am a Lubavitcher who needs to put tefillin on before shkiyah. Can I come by now?
YES! he replied. I am sending you my address right now.
4:51 PM. Upon my arrival at the Shliach’s house, he calls me. “I will not be home when you get here but here’s how to get in,” he said. “Walk in and my tefillin should be on my dining room table. If you are hungry my refrigerator is open to you.”
I was so shocked and humbled. This guy was something else. I get to his house and quickly start to daven. After I finished davening; when I was folding up the talis (then davening mincha), the Shliach arrives home with his children.
We first say our “Sholom Alayechem’s” and straight away he asks his child to get me something to drink (impressed again).
I later asked for his CashApp to donate to his Chabad, he refused to take money from me. I noticed that his talis was old so I ordered him a new one to the address he gave me, to show him my appreciation.
What was so interesting about this encounter – beyond sharing a story about a Shliach’s dedication – was this:
1. The Kinus HaShluchim is a time of the year that Shluchim “recharge their batteries” for the year to come. This year, the Kinus was a virtual one due to Covid-19 and Shluchim remained at their posts.
Had it not been for the pandemic and the Kinus would be held in New York, I wouldn’t be able to daven that day.
2. This Shliach didn’t know me. I could’ve been anyone, but he opened his house to me to complete a mitzvah and on the side offered me shelter whether I had a home or not, whether I was a Lubavitcher or not, whether I was rich or poor.
When I saw him for the first time, I pictured the Rebbe right away. It was so refreshing to see a Shliach who had the same determination in Shlichus as if the Rebbe sent him there just yesterday.
So thank you Rebbe and all those who are doing his Shlichus.
Mendy and Tzippy Weiss are the most amazing shluchim in Miami Lakes. This story is amazing but not surprising… when you are in need, or need a friend the Weiss family is there for you Yeuda you make us proud and give us nachas!!!
Loved this story, especially the last 7 lines.
Thank you for sharing!
Gevaldig!
Thank you for sharing
The Weiss Family are all so amazing!!
What a beautiful story thank you for sharing!
Rabbi And Mrs Weiss Are something else.
Great role models of caring mechanchim as well.
Such a special story! Happy to read good news and of Yidden taking care of one another.
Ashreinu!!
Great story Yuda. Not shocked To hear this about Mendy Weiss. He’s real!
Clearly this shliach represents the Rebbe fully with his devotion and simple love for a fellow Jew! Thank you for sharing this heartwarming story!
our unsung heros. Best new story i read all month!
Thank you Yehuda and Mendy for this beautiful story. Another lesson we can learn from here is to be careful how and when (we should never) judge others. If you see someone Davening late in Shul or perhaps having a coffee or a bite to eat, maybe he just had a busy morning and didn’t get to Daven or eat yet. We love (don’t judge but cherish) when someone comes to our Chabad house in ek velt but we sometimes judge those near us too fast! Yisroel af al pi SHELO chata Yisroel hu.
One summer morning in 1994 I boarded a plane headed for London, where I would change planes to NYC. As I boarded my London flight in the early afternoon, I saw quite a few Lubavitchers boarding, and assumed they were going to a simcha or something. After the plane took off, the Lubavitcher sitting across the aisle from me got up and took out his talles and tefillin, and started to put them on. I wasn’t dressed as a typical Lubavitcher, so he felt the need to explain why he was davening so late, so as not to make a… Read more »
Amazing! Reading this no doubt that the Rebbe is proud!
Shluchim your amazing!
Both extraordinary ppl!
TFS!
Z. Sasson CH
Thank you for sharing such a meaningful story. Lots of Hatzlacha to both of you