A story of a dollar bill given to Mrs. Aviva Shalit has emerged in Israel today, Tuesday, 27 Tishrei. It appears that Rabbi Eliyahu Kunterman and his wife Chana, Shluchim in Talbiah, Jerusalem, maintain a good connection with the Shalit parents, Aviva and Noam. They became especially close after the tent was erected on Gilad’s behalf outside the Prime Minister’s Official Residence.
The shluchim brought food to the Shalits weekly, not just physical nourishment, seeking to support and encourage them.
Rebitzen Chana asked the Shalits if they are interested in a gift from the USA when they return from the shluchim convention. “I just want Gilad. I don’t need gifts” was the understandable response.
Nevertheless, the rebitzen reports that while she was in Crown Heights, she did buy some gifts for the Shalits, but admits it took a few weeks following their return to Eretz Yisrael to decide just how to give them those gifts – uncertain of the response that awaited them.
According to a COL report, a short time before last Pesach, they decided to Give Aviva a dollar they had from the Rebbe. The time was a difficult one and the atmosphere in the tent among free Gilad activists was not a good one. The couple hoped the dollar from the Rebbe would lift their spirits and provide some hope for the future.
They arrived on 13 Nissan, erev yomtov, giving Aviva Shalit the dollar. R’ Kunterman explained how the dollars worked, and how many stood on line to receive them from the Rebbe, adding this particular bill he received from the Rebbe in 5751. “I felt that I gave her a ray of hope, something to hang on to” the rebitzen stated.
Aviva understood that the dollar was quite important, and it represented a significant gift from the couple. She had it laminated for posterity, saving it with her possessions.
On the day that Gilad was released Mrs. Shalit only realized the true significance of that dollar, since on it was written the date Tuesday, 20 Tishrei, the date Gilad returned home. Alongside the date was written the nusach of the Rebbe’s bracha, “Bracha V’Hatzlocha B’kol Inyanim”.
On Monday, 26 Tishrei, Mrs. Shalit telephoned the rebitzen to tell her of the Hashgacha Pratis. “Chani, he is well! He is well!” she stated in an excited tone. She then told of the date written on the bill. She offered to return the dollar, but Chani would not hear of it, explaining “there cannot be any stronger proof than this that the dollar was intended for you”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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15 Responses
No surprise re the Rebbe’s Dollar. I heard an amazing story on Shabbos Parshas Eikev by a Drasha given by Rav Dovid Spiegel, the Rav of the shteibel in Cedarhurst, re a dollar from the Rebbe.
coincidence
By definition, the mere term ‘coincidence’ means that something amazing happened. Yidden know that ‘coincidence’ means “Hashgacha Pratit”, divine providence. Goyim use the term to wash away any miraculous incident.
There is no such thing as coincidence in Yiddishkeit.
Nothing in this world is by coincidence my friend.
dollar shmollar!
This story has bothered me the first time I read it, but I did not write a comment. I read it again and I am still bothered. Why??? Because although the date on the Rebbe dollar might be the same, it isn’t what allowed Gilad to be free. With HASHEM’s help and the risk of over 1000 terrorists freed got him back. It is written like the “rebbe’s dollar” got him out. Perhaps I would have like the story more if, I hear that Aviva is now taking up one mitzvah in return of her sons release. I am glad Gilad is home. I just wish the Shalit were holding at a higher level or asking a shiloh…is it permitted or not?? They didn’t ask. And maybe if they asked and would have gotten a “yes” as an answer, I would not have such a terrible feeling. Speaking of the “rebbe” what would he have said about the deal??? 1027 MURDERS and 1 innocent Jew man?? Hmmm? something to think about.
# 2 – the translation of coincidence in Ivris is “mikreh” מקרה. Rashei tevot of mikreh is “rak me’HaSh*m” רק מהשם. No my friend, H’ controls all that is out of our control and the tzadikkim may sometimes have the koiach and the zchus to change gzeiros kashos. I think you should re-think this one through.
Hopefully the “coincidence” will bring the Schalit family closer to Yiddishkeit.
#2 Coincidence? That is being na’arish.
When I was a bochur, I went to get a dollar from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, along with 4 friends. We thought that we were going to have “a good time”.
3 of us have had “amazing” stories from that!
What about the Rebbe’s very clear psak din against such prisoner exchanges? There can be no doubt at all that if he were alive he’d be thundering against this deal, and against the family for demanding it.
Nice story, but anybody that bases his/her faith on stories like this is a fool!
LosAngelesZaidy [7],
A lot of Rabbonim were for the exchange, including Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a.
However, the main point is, that miracles and wonders are nice only as upper floors on a foundation of solid Emunah, adhearing to the principals of Emunah handed to us in the Torah.
Even if the Rebbe would have said openly that Gilad will be freed this date it could still be just a test from Hashem, as it says
ןבא האות והמופת… כי מנסה ה’ אלקיכם אתכם
Not saying at all that Lubavitch is Avoda Zara – I’m simply not getting into it, but just the simple point that a מופת is clearly not a proof at all of someone’s Tzidkus. It just proofs he’s up to something BIG, but what kind of thing?…–
Milhouse [11]’
How do you know that? Do you still send him faxes? does he reply? or maybe he does on old Dollar bills…?
“R’ Kunterman explained how the dollars worked”
How do they work? What is one supposed to do with it? Is it supposed to bring good luck? Many hang it on the wall like a horseshoe. Sounds very unJewish.