By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
Rabbi Sholom Ber Lifshitz, the founder of the Yad L’achim organization, once arrived in New York for a brief visit from Israel, with plans to visit Canada for a critical fundraising trip over the weekend.
As soon as he landed, however, the Rebbe’s aide called to inform Rabbi Lifshitz that a former classmate was feeling down and lonely, and it was requested he remain in the vicinity of New York and make efforts to visit him.
Rabbi Lipshitz did not remember much of his former classmate, and the rabbi had more important things on his mind.
He was the director of an educational organization in Israel, and being in Canada for the weekend was an important part of his yearly fundraising campaign.
However, the Rebbe had other plans for him, and so Rabbi Lifshitz affirmed that he would forego his trip to Canada. Over the next few days, Lifshitz visited his friend several times, making every effort to uplift his spirits.
On Sunday, he was invited for a private audience with the rebbe, who emphasized the imperative need to reach out to an ailing Jew, and showered Rabbi Lifshitz with blessings for his efforts.
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