By COLlive reporter
In Israel for a summer concert, Jewish music superstar Avraham Fried was interviewed for a publication called Giluy Daat.
Asked about his Chassidic affiliation, he said: “When I’m asked if I’m a Lubavitcher, I always answer that I try to be a Lubavitcher.”
Noting the perks of being connected to the Rebbe, Fried recalled an incident that happened to him in the beginning of his musical career.
“I was traveling from city to city in Europe by train. In one of them, I stood on the platform after purchasing the ticket and I saw a policeman coming towards me. I got really frightened,” Fried said.
“He came over, holding a wallet in his hand and asked if it was mine. And it was. ‘My whole life is in there,’ I was thinking to myself. I thanked him warmly for returning it to me.
“When he turned to walk away, I hurried over and asked him how did he know the wallet belonged to me.
“He began apologizing, saying that he had no choice but to open the wallet and look through the cards to find the owner.
“He told me, ‘I saw the photo of your father and that’s how I recognized you.’
The photo, Fried explained, was of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Even out there, this non-Jew knew that the Rebbe is our father.”
a old story Avremel told as when he was in Paris years ago and the cop was a station controler,and it hapend at gare du nord, when Avremel was one his way to Antwerp
So for a short while Avremel felt like a tipcle Chabad Rabbi no money no credit cards etc. etc.
I wish him and his family all the very best.
I wasn’t talking about police officers in particular (the truth is that there are very nice) but about European citizens’ attitude toward Jews in general.
very nice story and the rebbe is our father
Wow! Amazing! Thank you for sharing the story; may it inspire us to know who we really are and be proud of what we are. We want Moshiach NOW!!!
…that I would enjoy a Fabreangin with Avraham Fried…
Thanks for the answers, I’ve never been to Europe.
and to number 11 no I am not scared when an officer approaches me. I am confident I did nothing wrong or illegal, so why should I be afraid? I just assume he needs help with something or wants to give some friendly advice.
I had a picture of the Rebbe on my child`s stroller. the saleswomen in the store looked attentivly at the picture and asked with chineese acsent – is it your grandfather? and I said – yes, he is.
an amazing story and true kiddush Hashem in Europe of all places. Go Freed!
The antithesis of the non-Jewish celebrity, lehavdil. A true role model of a frum Yid and a Chossid.
why, arent you scared when a police approaches you?
how amazing!
i live in europe and blieve me the cops in the us have way more power then in europe, its alot scarier when you are approached by a cop in the us. in europe they are there to help you, not try to catch in something to ticket you.
Yasher Koach. Given that I live in Central Europe, juste near France, I do confirm: that being a Jew (and especially a religious jew as us, Lubavitchers) in Central Europe is quite frightening sometimes: cemeteries are constantly vandalized, insults towards us are a daily routine, etc.. thus, we do not always know if a non-Jew wishes us well or bad. It is therefore not surprising that Fried was afraid.
so true, the rebbe is our father.
that gave me chills too! very nice
amazing. its so true that we lubavitchers all have some resemblence to the rebbe,,, our smile, and the way we carry ourselves…
Very nice story. Thank you Collive.
go to Europe and you’d probably feel the same way…especially if it’s france or e europe
Come visit Europe, and you’ll thank G-d for the Democracy of the USA. (Which will hopefully outlast the current president…)
now that gave me chills. Wow Just one Q why was fried scared when the officer was approaching?