Guiding Principle
A Gerrer Chassid, firm in conviction, faces a wedding and financial challenge. Can he heed the Rebbe’s advice? The Avner Institute presents an amazing tale, where a chance conversation at a farbrengen bolstered a man’s integrity and ultimately led to a chance encounter with the Rebbe’s messenger and miracle.
In Loving memory of Hadassah bas Schneur Zalman
“No Loans”
Rabbi Avraham Rottenberg is a Gerrer Chasid who currently lives in Bnei Brak. Quite poor, he was often faced with economic difficulties that most other Israelis would try to assuage – at best temporarily – through a loan. But not Rottenberg: “No loans – they’re not for me” was his habitual refrain.
Once, an acquaintance of his, a man of means who was aware of Rottenberg’s situation, offered him an interest-free loan. It was refused.
The friend urged him. “If it is the procedures that make you hesitant, you needn’t worry; I’ll take care of everything. I’ll even arrange the three guarantors to sign for you.”
Again the answer was “No.”
The man persisted, and from the goodness of his heart continued, “I’m in no hurry to get the money back. You can take all the time you want.”
“Thank you, but no thank you,” responded Rottenberg, gently. “It is not that I am concerned about my ability to pay back the money. It is simply that this is a guiding principle in my life.”
In order to understand whence came this principle and how it came to be so firmly implanted in Rabbi Avraham Rottenberg, we must go all the way back to the 1950s.
Private Exchange
Rottenberg was a young married man then, whom circumstances had brought to residence in Crown Heights, NY, the Brooklyn neighborhood of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Although a Chasid of Gur, not Chabad, Rabbi Rottenberg, like many others, was curious about the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who seemed so different in style than the other Chasidic rebbes. Therefore he often attended the Rebbe’s public gatherings (farbrengens) and other events at 770 Eastern Parkway, world Lubavitcher headquarters.
Captivated by the Rebbe’s wisdom and charisma, and the Rebbe’s obvious holiness, Rottenberg began to turn to the great leader for advice, through correspondence, a pattern he maintained for nearly 40 years, until the Rebbe’s final illness. Over that time, Rabbi Rottenberg received nearly 100 letters from the Rebbe – the envy of many Lubavitcher Chasidim.
At one of the farbrengens, during a break between the Rebbe’s successive discourses (sichos), the listeners as usual were raising their voices in song and lifting their small cups of wine or vodka to make a toast. At that moment Rabbi Rottenberg noticed one of the Chabad Chasidim approaching the Rebbe with a personal request. Seated near the front, he overheard their exchange of words. The man was requesting a blessing for a friend whose financial situation was dire.
Surprisingly the Rebbe was not quick with his blessing. Instead, he asked the petitioner, “For what does this man need money?”
The Chasid was confused by the unexpected response. Stammering, he repeated the question, “For what does he need . . . .?”
The Rebbe paused in thought. After a few moments he stated, “For what he needs, he has. The problem is that he has become used to borrowing money and not returning it.”
The Rebbe paused a few more moments, then added, “When he accepts upon himself the obligation to return all that he owes, and firmly resolves to not take on anymore loans, then – and only then – will he be able to receive from the Al-mighty, directly.”
Rabbi Rottenberg found himself deeply affected by this exchange, even though the words had not been directed to him personally, or even to the public, but rather to a specific individual in a unique situation. He felt privileged to have heard the Rebbe confirm one of his own principles: whoever believes that the Al-mighty concerns Himself with all of our needs removes from himself the need to ever have to borrow money.
It was then, seated at the farbrengen, that Rabbi Rottenberg vowed silently to himself: whatever would happen, he would never take a loan. It was up to him to trust absolutely that G-d would provide for him whatever he needed.
Firm Commitment
Decades later, in 5740/1980, Rabbi Rottenberg faced a test of his own. He was blessed to make a wedding for one of his children, and the burden of all the expenses, direct and indirect, was more — so much more! — than he could bear. Although a loan seemed the only logical solution, he clung with all his might to his resolve not to do so.
Nevertheless, it seemed he would have to give in. On the morning of the wedding, he was without a dollar even for the caterer, let alone the band, the photographer, or the owner of the wedding hall. He even lacked the cash for a taxi to take his family to the hall.
Despite all this, Rabbi Rottenberg remained stubborn in his refusal to consider a loan. But how was he supposed to get his family to the wedding hall?
Although already dressed for the wedding, he decided to duck into a nearby synagogue to pray again for Divine aid. While he was praying, a man entered whose appearance stamped him as a Chabad Chasid. This turned out to be Rabbi Moshe Yeraslovsky (of blessed memory; father of the current head of the Chabad Rabbinical court in Israel).
Rabbi Yeraslovsky glanced around at those present in the room, until his eyes settled upon Rabbi Rottenberg. Approaching him he said, “Based upon the way you are dressed, I suspect this is a day of celebration for you.”
“That’s correct,” answered Rabbi Rottenberg. “Today is my son’s wedding, may it be a good and auspicious time.”
“Ah,” said Rabbi Moshe Yeraslovsky, “and how much money are you short?”
“Why are you asking?” wondered Rabbi Rottenberg, not understanding at all where Rabbi Moshe Yeraslovsky was heading. And why did he phrase it “How much” as if he knew for sure about his lack, rather than “Do you have enough”?
Rabbi Moshe Yeraslovsky smiled. “Let me explain. I just got back to Israel this morning from Brooklyn, visiting the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the community.
“Last night I merited a private audience with the Rebbe, face-to-face, just the two of us. As we were finishing, the Rebbe opened his desk drawer and took out a thick wad of dollars. He then handed it over to me, saying, ‘You are leaving now to Eretz Yisrael. Sometimes one meets there a Jew who is making a wedding and needs cash desperately. You can give this money to him.’
“From the time I landed this morning, I’ve been seeking to fulfill my mission. You are the first one to ‘plead guilty’ to making a wedding. Therefore I am positive that you are the one for whom the Rebbe intended this gift, according to his words.”
So thanks to the Rebbe, Rabbi Rottenberg was able to maintain his commitment to not accept loans, and in a most respectable, pleasant manner!
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Amazing story