This past Thursday on 9 Tevet, a dear friend and community member called Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Hendel, the Rebbe’s shluchim in Baka, Jerusalem.
The woman on the phone, together with her husband, put forth an extraordinary offer to assist the Hendels and the Chabad of Baka community in their current building campaign.
This very fine couple had received a rare $100 bill of the Rebbe from Rabbi Mordechai Altein z’l, as a gesture of the close friendship they shared as neighbors in Eretz Yisrael. For over 15 years, this precious gift was treasured and guarded in their safe, along with a handwritten note from Rabbi Altein z’l dated 11 Tevet, 5765.
The anonymous donors, who are wonderful baalei chesed and yirei shamayim, decided that now is the time for this unique $100 bill of the Rebbe to be used to raise tzedaka to help build Chabad of Baka in Jerusalem, with 20% to benefit the virtuous Yad L’Achim organization.
May this be l’iluy nishmat Rabbi Mordechai and Rochel Altein z’l and Chaim Refael ben Asher z’l and bring tremendous blessings and success to them and the one who purchases it, thereby giving tzedaka to the Rebbe’s holy work in the holiest city in the world.
An auction is being held until Thursday, December 31st, at 10 pm in Israel (3 pm in NY), and the Rebbe’s bill will go to the highest bidder.
It’s interesting to note that the Rebbe once gave Rabbi Shlomo Cunin ten $100 bills and instructed him to sell them to donors for $20,000 each to help with the $200,000 debt he had incurred while doing the Rebbe’s shlichus in California. Those who purchased the bills asked for specific brachos from the Rebbe, which were bountifully fulfilled.
There are many layers of hashgacha pratis in the very generous and touching donation of the Rebbe’s $100 bill. The shluchim were shocked when they found out that the unique bill was given to their friends by Rabbi Mordechai Altein z’l.
In addition to enjoying a close relationship with the Rebbe, who was mesader kedushin at his wedding, Rabbi Altein was recognized as the first Chabad Shliach in modern times. He was sent by the Rebbe Rayatz to establish Jewish schools and yeshivos in Pittsburgh, New Haven, and the Bronx. Rabbi Altein would also bring the Rebbe his esrog for the joyous holiday of Sukkos.
What struck the Hendels personally is the fact that Rabbi Altein is a relative of theirs! He was Rabbi Avraham’s great uncle, the brother of his Bubby Miram Popack z’l. Both Rabbi Altein and Mrs. Popack passed away last year, within a few months of each other.
And the number 100 has a special significance, too. Rabbi Altein lived to the ripe old age of 100 years. Also, the address of the new Chabad of Baka~ Beit Levi is 87 Derech Beit Lechem. It is named for Levi Hendel z’l, who tragically passed away at age 13 while en route to Chanukah mivtzaim. The address of the Chabad property added to the years of Levi’s life is exactly 100.
The Rebbe has his way of guiding us and giving us blessings; this was a powerful reminder to the kind donors and the shluchim in Yerushalayim.
May we see the ultimate bracha of Moshiach speedily!
Click here for Chabad of Baka’s Building Campaign!
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Can’t wait to participate in all of Chabad of Baka’s wonderful events at the new Chabad house on Rechov Beit Lechem!
So exciting!