By Kobi Arieli
I first saw them at the gate as we were boarding the plane. Although the hour was way early, they both were already covered in Talis and Tefillin – with one of them strictly covering his full face and throat, using his hands to show the boarding pass and then feeling his way around to the plane.
During the flight I looked at both of them – Chassidic yungeleit with curled peios looking very foreign on this flight to Amsterdam. Do they live there? Are they visiting? I wondered to myself.
I was on my way to a special event organized by Rabbi Akiva Camissar for the Israeli community in town, which I was invited to emcee.
In our conversation prior to the trip I was told Camissar and his wife arrived two months ago, beginning activities right away, and this event was meant to introduce them and their Chabad House to the local Hebrew speakers which number in the thousands.
The next few hours were an astonishing experience and lesson for me about Shlichus and Chabad. As a resident of Kfar Chabad (a village in Central Israel) and as a family member of Chabad Chassidim, I thought I knew it all. I have seen Shluchim, Chassidim and Tmimim at work.
Yet after stepping foot in the Camissar home, I understood that reading and hearing do not describe what a family on Shlichus goes through, and all that I know about Shlichus is nothing in comparison to the real thing.
From our short conversations I was privy to the labor of their beginning, the difficulty of the distance and misery of loneliness; yet his spirits were high and they were full of joy, excitement, faith and an endless drive.
After a beautiful Shabbos in their small and warm home (over 20 people attended each meal), I headed to the Tu B’Shvat Farbrengen with the goal to involve the most Israeli Jews possible. Rabbi Camissar can hardly hide his stress level, making sure each detail is in place and ready. It’s their first and introductory event in the community.
One by one, single men, women, and couples began filling up the hall. Their disconnect from yiddishkeit is at times obvious and even visible. Clearly they have not attended a Jewish oriented event or service in a while.
They came on their own. A friend brought a friend and I’m standing on the side watching as Rabbi Akiva and Taiby personally greet each one.
And then I saw the two friends from the plane.
Now they were not donning Tefillin or a Talis over their heads. They were in coats and scarfs, a briefcase and a letter in their hands. You could not mistake them: Schnorrers in the house!
Already in the lobby they were using their years of experience for a shameless fundraising round. They didn’t miss a single person. Some evil person told them about this event and they could not miss a chance. Horrified and knowing what’s at stake, I called them to the side.
What’s going on?
We’re collecting for a Kollel in Jerusalem, he answered. Can you help?
No, I answered, and you cannot continue soliciting funds here. This is a private affair. Did you ask permission to come here?
They answered, no, but we are in a hurry and you are disturbing us.
I looked at the letter they were holding, the supposed stationary of the institution their were collecting for, and let me say this: Gornished mit gornished. Nadah.
This was too much. This is too much of a delicate and important event to ruin.
Before I knew what was happening – and this is a moment I will never forget – the Shliach comes over, spreads his arms, hugs them and with a big smile calls out “Sholom aleichem! Come in, drink and eat something. Kumt arein!”
He brings them into the hall, sits them down to a meal, exchanges some words and then even gives them a few bills as a donation.
Shocked, I later asked him how hard it must’ve to be courteous to them.
“They are yidden too,” was his reply.
And there was my lesson: It does not matter if you are hosting hundreds at a Pesach Seder or two Schnorrers coming to ruin your party, a Jew is a Jew is a Jew. And there will always be a Rebbe’s Shliach welcoming them all with an open heart.
—Kobi Arieli is a satirist, columnist, journalist and a TV commentator. This article was first published in Hebrew on COL.org.il
The reason why these “people” are around is because of silly weak hearted people like the ones who think this is a BEAUTIFUL STORY. Look around 770. So many people that can actually hold a job… Man… It’s a shame. Why do I even bother writting this? When you give money to someone like that, or to the russian mafia in 770 you DO NOT HELP THEM. You validate the sin they do, waste your money that could be given to people who truly need it and create dependancy. Want to give tzedakah? Then you must look careful, you are… Read more »
I appreciate the honesty and frankness of the author of this article.
http://www.chabadamsterdamcenter.com/
SIMPLY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING SHLUCHIM OUT THERE> VERY SPECIAL MAN….. Kol hakavod!
what would the Rebbe do.thats the only question?
i would kicked them out as many other exprerienced shluchim would do
Akivaaaaaaa , you are a super tzaddik.
we, shluchim should learn from you
There is no need for angry or critic comments. Let´s try to write our opinions in a nice maner, and if that is not possible, than lets not right our opinions at all. No need to offend the shliach, the writer or the mishulochim.
How many of the people there – people very far from mitzvot – were turned off by being asked for money? Of course these guys had no business being there without invitation. They had only their one goal in mind, without regard or respect for the fact that they were in someone else’s place.
Even eating there without asking was chutzpah.
I cant believe people here are criticizing the author for thinking these people did NOT belong at this party. Of course they did not belong there! And they could really have ruined things for this Shliach. What the shliach did was ahavas yisroel lifnim meshuras HaDin — and the meshulochim should be rebuked so they dont do that again! You can not collect money for your own cause at someone else’s event! What? Because they were anonymout door-to-door collectors we have respect/pity for them? If it was a fellow shliach trying to collect money for HIS mosad at this party,… Read more »
But I’m not so sure he should have allowed them to stay at the event.
I would have kicked the guys out of my event… Akiva, Please post an address/bank account info for sending donations. I would love to become a supporter. I admire the way you acted, you are a true inspiration!
who think that the shliach should have done just that- is disgusting. shluchim do not need to host those two so they can collect money- let them be mentshlich people and go somewhere else or ask permission! what the shliach did was unreal!
These shnorrers were obviously phony. If they were real, they would have had the menchlichkeit and the common sense not to barge into a private event full of not-yet religious people, and cause a chillul Hashem. Frankly, I’m downright taken aback that no one here is suggesting that perhaps it would be a good idea to give true tzeddakah by donating to Akiva’s chabad house. It breaks me heart when I see people in Crown Heights giving money to the tax-money-rich phony shnorers and drug addicts, when all this good money could be given to help shluchim, or to an… Read more »
The writer told this story to point out his own mistake – we shouldn’t judge the writer. He was trying to protect the new shaliach from possible embarrassment, but instead he learned how to treat tzedakeh collectors. Kol ha kavod to him for sharing his story!
This was a beautiful story. Thank you COLLIVE for publishing it. My question is… how do people traveling to raise tzedakah pay for those expensive plane tickets and their lodging? Couldn’t they just use the money they would have spent on plane fare?
Where does it say in Torah that one asking for Tzedakah is a travesty worthy of rebuke? Where does it say that fundraising “ruins” a party? In fact, the Torah forbids embarrassing others and chasing away the poor! The Beis HaMikdash was destroyed because someone had the nerve to embarrass a Jew at a party. The author of this article has some homework to do because he is way out of line.
A special story from every angle
why use a degrading term. Its not a matter of being politically correct, it is called menchlichkeit. Great story, good point, but it looks like you still need some time spent in the shliachs company . It is a great challenge for every shliach to be able to not judge people and just accept them. It is even harder when they are meshulachim possibly disrupting your event. As a lubavitcher who prides himself on not judging others, I am always blown away by the shluchim in my area that show unbelievable ” non-judgemental” mentality. I believe this was a hallmark… Read more »
its time to stop calling them schnorers. most through no fault of their own are are poor. they can be called mishulochim or collectors but not schnorers. as a smart women once told me when the door bell rings, always remember what side of the door you are on (and who put you there!)
The definition of Mesiras nefeh! I hate to think how most of us would act under these circumstances…
Amazing how Shluchim act. I would have sent these guys flying in a heart beat.
Number 5: You are embarrassing
This feeling of ahavos Yisroel from shluchim and the Rebbe is what first connected me and still connects me to Chabad. And, by example, this learned ahavos Yisroel is what later led me to being open/receptive to connecting with my basheret/kallah when she came into my life, thank G-d! May Hashem continue to bless Chabad, b’nei Yisroel, and ha’olam. Moshiach soon!
Proud to be a cousin of the Cammisars 🙂
Wow!! Thank you for putting this into such beautiful terms!
shluchim are human beings too and no, the way this shliach behaved is admirable, overcoming all the feelings that any normal shliach in such a situation would have at the sight of these two at their first (or any) function.
Kol Hakavod to Rabbi Camissar, lets not make it as if its no big deal, or as if we can not understand the point of view of the author.
Dear Writer:
Have you ever heard of the wheel of life ? the cycle of mazal..
I was very hurt that you described these men as “shnorers” and then went on to attack their mosdos
Let me tell you this, in my short life ive been at both ends of circle.. both helping others and requesting money.
Dont be so arrogant!!! Dont you attack someone raising money.. I know fundraisers that do it purely l’sheim shamayim even though they hate it!!
Get off your high horse please
A Kiddush Hashem!
Beautiful
This is the obvious way that any real shliach of the Rebbe would behave. The fact that you tried to treat these Yidden as less than human is embarrassing.
COLLIVE
Did i tell you how wonerful you are?
A wonderful website bringing torah-thoughts and torah-empowerment to yidden.
Wow
the way it should be. You can’t pick and choose which mitzvah you will or won’t perform. Living in Kfar Chabad, where there are multitudes of ongoing chesed, you should know better.
great guy! and very devoted!!!