Rebbe Story: The Rebbe’s Mechutan
On Erev Yom Kipur, a short time before Kol Nidre, while dressed already in a Kittel and Tallis, the Rebbe Rayatz asked that the Rosh Yeshiva in 770, Rabbi Mordechai Mentlik come in to his office. Upon entering, the Rebbe Rayatz told him: “Go and meet Rabbi so-and-so [the father of the Kallah], and tell him in my name that I am his Mechutan” ● Full Story
Today, the 12th of Av, is the birthday of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Chitrik, who passed away over a year ago. The following story was told by him on numerous occasions:
When Rabbi Chitrik came to 770 in 1946, after World War II, one of the Bochurim who were studying there was a originally from Iowa, from a family of farmers, and he came closer to Chabad and the Rebbe.
Some time later, this Bochur was suggested the daughter of a prominent Brooklyn Rabbi as a Shiduch, and after a few meetings they got a blessing from the Frierdiker Rebbe for their engagement.
The father of the Chosson, the farmer from Iowa, came to Brooklyn to celebrate the “Vort” of his son, and walked in dressed in attire he considered respectable but was not common in religious circles in Brooklyn.
Upon seeing his new “Mechutan,” the father of the Kallah turned around, walked out with his daughter, and called off the Shiduch. Needless to say, the Bochur was devastated, and returned to 770.
On Erev Yom Kipur, a short time before Kol Nidre, while dressed already in a Kittel and Tallis, the Rebbe Rayatz asked that the Rosh Yeshiva in 770, Rabbi Mordechai Mentlik come in to his office. Upon entering, the Rebbe Rayatz told him:
“Go and meet Rabbi so-and-so [the father of the Kallah], and tell him in my name that I am his Mechutan”
After the fast concluded, Rabbi Mentlik drove to the home of this Rabbi and relayed the message of the Rebbe Rayatz. Upon hearing this the Rabbi said: “If the Rebbe himself is becoming my Mechutan, we are proceeding with the Shidduch, and will start planning the wedding immediately,” and so it was, the Bochur married the daughter of said Rabbi.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Chitrik, principal of the Beis Chana Girls’ Seminary in Tzfas recalls:
My father would always choke and cry when he told this story. He would conclude by saying to us, his children “Remember who we are, who is the head of the family, and whom we represent.”
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