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A Miracle Story

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Lubab:
An Early Purim Miracle

The following took place on Shabbas parhsash Vayigash the 7th of Teves 5729 (1969)

It was in the middle of the afternoon at 770, Brooklyn, NY. Close to 2,000 ppl. were packed into the main Chabad beis medresh listening intently to the Rebbe’s words. The Rebbe sat in the middle of a raised table, which was covered with a sparkling, white table cloth. He was pouring out words of Torah. From time to time he would stop speaking, and the chssidim would break out in song. Sometimes they sang slow yearning songs, sometimes joyous dance melodies. During the singing, many would raise their cups to the rebbe, who would nod his head and say: lechaim ulevracha!
Then the chasssid who received the blessing would hurry to empty his cup.

   On the shabbos, the Rebbe was explaining a comment of Rashi, the biblical commentator who is most famous for explaining the simple meaning of the text.

The subject was a comment regarding the birth of the tribes of Israel. He raised a number of questions concerning rashi’s comment, then began his explanation, resolving the difficulties one by one. The congregation sat open-mouthed, drinking in the holy rebbe’s every word….

   In the middle of the list of questions the Rebbe’s tone of voice suddenly changed. Instead of the sing-song tune of a torah explanation, the rebbe suddenly raised his voice and said “since we are now in the time of  yr between chanuka and purim, about which the verse states, ‘the jews rules over their enemies…and no man stood before them, for their fear had fallen on all the peoples’ may it be g-d’s will that all the enemies of the jewish ppl. should be overtaken with fear and cause no harm to the Jewish ppl. where ever they may be!”.

   The words made no sense. Why was the rebbe quoting verses from megillas ester all of a sudden? A week had passed since the end of chanuka but there was still plenty of time to go until purim! Why was there such a drastic change in his tone of voice? The surprised Chasidism looked at one another. Even the rabbi in charge of reviewing the talk and explaing it again for those who did not understand every idea, sat there pulling at his thick beard. He could not explain what was going on. 

   One could easily see that s/t significant was taking place. The rebbe closed his eyes and continued talking as if he had been transported to another place: “’and the jews smote there [sic: their] enemies with the sword…and did with their enemies as they pleased…and these days will be remembered and observed in every generation…and these days of purim will not pass from the jews and their memory will not leave their seed.’”

   Then, as if nothing had happened the Rebbe returned to the rashi, answered all the questions he had posed and concluded the talk.

   Still under the influence of the rebbe’s strange words the congregation broke out in a song from the megillah: “and it was in the days of achashveirosh.” The rebbe encouraged the singing waving his hand more and more, as if to say; yes sing more, more “it was in the days of achashveirosh.” The gathering was over. Chassidim stood around discussing what they had heard with their own ears. Something had definitely happened. Right after shabbos they would try to find out. They must know. The first ppl. who ran home and heard the radio reports fomr Israel right after shabbos were shocked “this is Israel radio, reporting from jerusalem. Good morning, Here is the news read by chanan gilboa. Last night, at 10pm, the Israel defense force attacked Beirut international airport. The operatin was a a success. All soldiers returned safely”

   Yes it was exactly 3 p.m. New York time the moment the rebbe had interrupted his words and begun to speak about the verse “…and no man stood before them” indeed no man had stood before the soldiers of the Israel defense force.


Retransribed from the book "Wonders and Miracles".

newman:
Thankyou for that post, Lubab. There are too many little miracles like that to count. :)

Ehud:
Thanks for sharing that with us Lubab.

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