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By Menachem Kahane, Beis Moshiach Magazine

“I saw with my own eyes that for the Rebbe, his life is the coming of Moshiach in the most literal sense. It was right in front of me. At that moment, I felt that Moshiach must come now!”

These words were spoken by Rabbi Elimelech Neiman, a prominent Gerrer askan in the United States, who throughout the years received rare and special attention from the Rebbe. The Rebbe even shared with him the remarkable statement that every Chabad child knows: “People say about me that I am ‘crazy about Moshiach,’” as the Rebbe testified about himself in rare fashion.

The following is what R’ Neiman recounted in a video interview for the “ATaH HaOlami” organization (for which we extend our gratitude), with fascinating additions.

Pounding on Tables

Lag B’Omer farbrengen, 5746 (1986).

The Rebbe was farbrenging with his Chassidim when suddenly he began crying out from the depths of his heart about the Geula: “The cry grows stronger – ad mosai?!… There is no other solution but to make the true outcry (machen dem emes’n gevald)… to pound on tables as one should pound on tables… The main thing is that we need Moshiach Tzidkeinu below ten hands-breadths!”

After such strong words, the Chassidim began singing “We Want Moshiach Now” with a cry that grew stronger moment by moment without interruption until it became a mighty roar that continued for one hour and thirty-two consecutive minutes… Not fifteen minutes! Not half an hour! Not an hour!… For more than an hour and a half, the Rebbe sat in his chair, surveying the crowd of Chassidim and responding “L’chaim,” from 12:05 until 1:40 at night…

“After this sicha, they began singing ‘We Want Moshiach Now.’ The singing sounded like a call, they called out tens of thousands of times for an hour and a half without interruption…,” described one of the bachurim in his diary. “Afterward, he constantly looked around in silence and occasionally said ‘l’chaim.’ It was a powerful and wondrous sight. From time to time they sang strongly in renewed waves. For about 10 minutes they called only ‘Now.’ People went above and beyond, and those who were seated stood up and danced in place.”

“The farbrengen ended at 2:15 a.m. The call that was heard for an hour and a half at the farbrengen still rings in our ears – ‘We Want Moshiach Now.’”

Crazy About Moshiach

About a month after this special farbrengen, on Thursday, 17 Sivan, Rabbi Elimelech Neiman came to the Rebbe. R’ Neiman is an important askan among the dignitaries of the Gerrer Chassidus and he visited the Rebbe many times, being a liaison between the Rebbe and his Rebbe, the Admor of Ger, author of the Lev Simcha zt’l. He was a familiar figure to those who frequented 770. R’ Neiman entered for a conversation resembling a yechidus with the Rebbe in the ‘Gan Eden HaTachton’ after Maariv.

R’ Neiman recounts the sequence of events: “As part of my role, I traveled to Eretz Yisrael many times each year. Every time I traveled to Eretz Yisrael, I called the secretary, Rabbi Leibel Groner, a day before and asked him to inform the Rebbe about my trip. That day I went to 770 for Mincha and Maariv. In those years, the tefillos took place in the small zal.

“After the davening, the Rebbe walked toward his room, when suddenly he looked at me and signaled for me to follow him.

“Of course I went, and stood in the ‘Lower Gan Eden’ while the Rebbe entered his room and brought out twenty shekels for me to give to tzedaka as ‘shlichus mitzva,’ in Eretz Yisrael.

“While the Rebbe was giving me money for tzedaka,” recalls Rabbi Neiman. “He said to me: ‘Ich darf eich zogn a yasher koach’ [= I need to say thank you to you].

“I wondered why the Rebbe needed to thank me, but the Rebbe immediately explained: ‘Mit dem vos ir zogt mir az ir fort in Eretz Yisrael’ [= Because you tell me that you are traveling to Eretz Yisrael], ‘un ich ken eich machn far ah shliach mitzva fahr tzedaka tzu shikn in Eretz Yisrael’ [= and through this I can make you a mitzva messenger to send tzedaka to Eretz Yisrael].

“‘Ich halt,’” the Rebbe added, “‘az mit dem ken men brengen Moshiachn’ [= I maintain that this can help bring Moshiach]. ‘Un ir veist doch az m’zogt oif mir az ich bin crazy about Moshiach’”[= And you know that people say about me that I am ‘crazy’ about Moshiach…].

“I was very moved when the Rebbe spoke to me like this,” describes R’ Meilech. “I said to the Rebbe with excitement: ‘Halevai hot men noch azelche un der Oibershter zol shoin helfen az der Rebbe zol shoin anfihrn antkegn Moshiach b’karov mamash mamash mamash’ [= If only we had more like that, and may Hashem help that the Rebbe will already lead to Moshiach very soon!].

“At this point, the Rebbe truly raised his voice: ‘Zol zein vi ir zogt! [= May it be as you say!] Mamash mamash mamash. amen!’” The Rebbe said this in such a loud voice that whoever stood outside heard the Rebbe, and I also answered ‘Amen’ with great excitement.

“As I was leaving 770,” adds R’ Neiman, “Secretary Rabbi Leibel Groner approached me and said: ‘Meilech – hust gekoift Olam Haba’ [= you have bought yourself the World to Come…] Meaning, that I had earned my place in the World to Come thanks to this matter… But I didn’t do it for that reason; it came from deep within my heart; I saw how important the subject of Moshiach is to the Rebbe.”

What did the Rebbe mean when he said he was ‘crazy about Moshiach’?

“This subject is truly the Rebbe’s entire life and essence. He wants Moshiach; it’s his whole life, without exaggeration. When a person truly wants and desires something, he becomes ‘crazy’ – obsessed about it. So the Rebbe is ‘crazy’ about Moshiach, since this is his life from his perspective; this is his essence – Moshiach.”

Rabbi Neiman accompanying the [current] Gerrer Rebbe for yechidus in ‘Gan Eden HaTachton’

Wonderful Revelation in the Yechidus of the ‘Pnei Menachem’

As part of his role as an askan for Ger, R’ Neiman developed many connections with various Torah greats, especially in the United States. “The singular and most outstanding one was the connection with the Lubavitcher Rebbe,” he says. “To this day I don’t understand what merit I had that the Rebbe related to me so many times, and with such closeness…

“But the main thing,” notes R’ Neiman, “is that I merited to bring the Rebbe much nachas ruach. Many times I saw that after completing assignments I received from the Rebbe according to his holy will, his face displayed a broad smile and great joy.”

With a quick glance through various diaries over the years, R’ Neiman’s name can be found ‘starring’ many times, mainly because he was the connecting thread between the Rebbe and the Admorim of Ger – the author of the ‘Lev Simcha’ and the ‘Pnei Menachem,’ and for a while with the current Admor, as he transmitted messages and carried out missions between the courts.

Almost always, when passing before the Rebbe, the Rebbe asked him how the Admor was doing [this was during the years when the Admor, the ‘Lev Simcha,’ was ill] and inquired down to the smallest details about his current condition, what he did, how he conducted himself, and whether he went out to his tish, and so on. The Rebbe also inquired about the printing of chiddushei Torah by the Admor, author of the ‘Beis Yisrael,’ and how the completion of the Talmud Yerushalmi was progressing according to the takana of the ‘Lev Simcha,’ and many more such matters.

It all began in the early ‘mems’ [1980s], when R’ Neiman started engaging in extensive public activities among the Orthodox Jewish communities and Chassidim in the United States, and thanks to this he merited the wonderful closeness from the Rebbe.

Over time, R’ Neiman began to come more and more to farbrengens and tefillos with the Rebbe, with the Rebbe showing him great affection, inquiring about his well-being and that of his children and family members, who also received special treatment when they came.

For example, when he came for nichum aveilim after the passing of the Rebbetzin, the Rebbe showered him with blessings and said: “The merit of public service will stand for you and all the Jewish people in this city, among all of Israel, in all that they need, including the matter of ‘those who dwell in the dust will awaken and sing.’”

“From time to time I find myself pondering,” says R’ Neiman, “about those times of 30-40 years ago, when I was with the Rebbe, and I felt in another world. It gives me tremendous strength to keep going.”

Do you remember something special from one of the yechidus’n in which you were involved, such as the yechidus of the Rebbe with the Admor, the ‘Pnei Menachem’?

“Over the years I accompanied many roshei yeshivos, members of the Knesset, great leaders, distinguished Chassidim from the Gerrer court, as well as the mayor of New York, senators, various types of people whom I merited to bring to the Rebbe.

“One of the yechidus meetings with the ‘Pnei Menachem’ took place after the ‘Pnei Menachem’ held his son’s wedding in America with the daughter of Rabbi Menashe Klein. After the wedding, he came to receive a bracha with some of his nephews.

“One of his nephews, Rabbi Itche Meir Alter, had written a letter to the Rebbe twenty years earlier – on the matter of the Moshiach seuda – and in his letter he signed his name Alter with a ‘tav.’ Some time later, the Rebbe answered him and at the end of the letter asked him: Did your grandfather – the Rebbe of Ger, author of the ‘Imrei Emes’ – write Alter with a ‘tav’ as you wrote, or Alter with a ‘tes’?

“Rabbi Itche Meir had never been to America prior, and now, about twenty-one years after his brief correspondence with the Rebbe, he came to the Rebbe with his uncle, the ‘Pnei Menachem.’ During the yechidus, the ‘Pnei Menachem’ told the Rebbe that there were several nephews who came to the wedding and wanted to receive a bracha from the Rebbe, and he began reading their names. When he reached the name Itche Meir from Bnei Brak, at that very second the Rebbe responded: ‘Did you write Alter with a tav?’… as if he was still engaged with the letter written to him so many years ago.

“Tell me, what is this if not a wonder? Wonders of wonders!”

Healing ‘L’Alter’ (Immediately)

In the middle of the ‘mem’s’ [1980s], Rabbi Simcha Bunim Alter of Ger began feeling unwell, and over time his health deteriorated. Throughout those years, R’ Neiman made sure to update the Rebbe on his condition and ask for brachos for him.

For example, this occurred on Sunday, the 8th of Elul 5745 (1985), when the Rebbe entered for Maariv in the small zal. Before entering, he stopped near the entrance to the zal where R’ Neiman stood and asked him: How is the Admor of Ger feeling?

Neiman: He entered the hospital yesterday, and now feels better, and in any case needs to be completely well. It seems that before Shabbos he will leave.

Rebbe: Where will he go, to a hotel?

Neiman: To his home, since he wants to be with his Chassidim already for Shabbos.

Rebbe: That’s a good thing [dos iz a gleiche zach], according to the mashal explained in Likutei Torah by the Alter Rebbe that in the month of Elul, the king is in the field (apparently he didn’t understand clearly – and the Rebbe repeated again), it’s a good thing since in the month of Elul the king is in the field.

Rebbe: They should make a ‘Mi Sheberach’ tomorrow, and also submit his name and his mother’s name (of the Admor of Ger) to the secretariat, and tomorrow I will go to the ‘Ohel’ and read it. May he have a complete recovery, a good inscription and sealing, un zol men hern [and may we hear] good tidings.

Shortly after all of the above, an instruction came from the Rebbe – in a rare manner – to daven for the recovery of the Admor of Ger, and notices about this were posted throughout 770.

Throughout the years, the Rebbe continued to inquire with R’ Neiman again and again about the health of the Admor of Ger. For example, in one of the summer months of 5748 (1988), R’ Neiman passed by during the dollar distribution and conveyed regards to the Rebbe from the Admor of Ger, having been with him the previous Shabbos.

The Rebbe inquired whether the Admor held a tish and Rabbi Neiman replied, “Yes, for twenty minutes, and they said ‘l’chaim’ etc.,” adding that the tish was held in honor of the yahrtzeit of his brother, the Admor, author of the ‘Beis Yisrael’ of Ger.

And again, at the dollar distribution held on the 2nd of Shevat 5750 (1990), R’ Neiman reported that the Admor of Ger was very weak and had been secluded in his room for more than a week.

The Rebbe responded, “I was told that last Shabbos he went through something. May there be good tidings and may he have length of days upon his kingdom with joy and goodness of heart.”

About two months later, on the 13th of Nissan 5750, the Rebbe inquired with R’ Neiman about the health condition of the Admor of Ger, and especially how the Seder would be on Pesach. R’ Neiman answered that it was still unknown. “In any case, may there be good tidings,” the Rebbe responded. “Until then there is plenty of time for there to be abundant blessings, may he have length of days upon his kingdom.”

Interesting is the Rebbe’s response from 5747 (1987), when R’ Neiman requested a bracha for the refuah of the Admor of Ger, the Rebbe replied: ‘Complete healing ‘l’alter’ [immediately]” – alluding to the family name of the Admor of Ger…

Personal and Special Relationship

Over the years, R’ Neiman received special personal attention from the Rebbe. Not only he merited this, but also his family members and children, who were received graciously each time.

Can you share one of the special things that the Rebbe said to you or your family?

“One of the special experiences occurred about forty years ago, during the gathering of the 13th of Nissan 5745 (1985). It was not long after the birth of my youngest daughter. At that time I felt the Rebbe’s amazing attention to personal details, and the sense of closeness he gave us. In general, every time a child was born to me, I updated the secretariat, and the Rebbe sent letters of bracha with additions in his own handwriting.

“That year the Rebbe held farbrengens on both the 11th of Nissan and the 13th. I went to the farbrengen and sat in my place behind the Rebbe, astonished at the enormous crowd present there – as if there was no bedikas chometz the next night…

“At the end of the farbrengen, the Rebbe began distributing dollars to all the ‘tankists.’ Suddenly in the middle of the distribution, the Rebbe called me. I told the Rebbe that I was (a tankist) in Boro Park, and the Rebbe gave me a package of dollars. I received the dollars and went back to stand in my place.

“At the conclusion of the farbrengen, before leaving, the Rebbe took his paper bag, when suddenly he called me again and asked about my daughter – ‘Vos macht eier muzinke’? [= How is your ‘youngest daughter’?] At first I did not understand what the Rebbe was talking about, and the Rebbe continued: ‘After all, a daughter was born to you, she is your youngest daughter’… I answered affirmatively, and the Rebbe asked about her well-being. I replied ‘Boruch Hashem,’ and added that she is named after Rochel Imeinu. The Rebbe gave his bracha that we should merit to raise her to Torah, to the chuppa, and to good deeds. Every word of the Rebbe was charged with a sense of true care.”

R’ Neiman and his family also received special kiruvim during the dollar distributions. For example, when he passed by with his young son, the Rebbe pointed to the son and asked: “Is he already a Gerrer Chassid? It depends on you. It depends on how you educate, and that’s your responsibility because he is still before bar mitzva.”

On another occasion (17th of Tevet 5750), when R’ Neiman passed with his family. The Rebbe gave an additional dollar to his small son, who was two or three years old, and said, “Dos vakst zich a neier askan tziburi” [= Here grows a new public activist] and gave the child an additional dollar.

Afterward, R’ Neiman’s brother passed by, and when he said he was his brother, the Rebbe responded with the words of the pasuk, “Each shall help his brother.” The aforementioned said that he was the older brother. The Rebbe turned with a smile to R’ Neiman and said “Bist du mechuyav oichet b’chvodo host noch an arbet” [= If so, you are also obligated in his honor, you have another job].

Miracle in the ‘Lekach’ Distribution

Another family story with special significance, took place on erev Yom Kippur.

“I arrived at the ‘lekach’ distribution and presented my children to the Rebbe. The Rebbe gave ‘lekach’ to each of us along with the bracha ‘for a good and sweet year,’ and to me the Rebbe added ‘good tidings.’

Since for two to two and a half years, we had not had more children (after the birth of the aforementioned daughter), I asked for a bracha for more children. The Rebbe immediately answered me: “Es iz shoin araingerechnt gevorn in di ‘besuros tovos’” [= It has already been included in the ‘good tidings’ (that the Rebbe blessed earlier…)]. This was not a routine bracha, but a statement with strong meaning. Of course, I shared this with my wife. After Yom Kippur my wife told me that there are good tidings and that she is pregnant… exactly as the Rebbe had foretold!”

R’ Neiman says how this story echoed even years later, and reflects the way in which the Rebbe knew how to touch each person.

“There were two young men who heard this story from me in recent years. One of them was very moved and even burst into tears. I asked him why are you so emotional, and he told me that for more than five years he and his wife had not been blessed with children, and he had asked for a bracha from the Rebbe, and now he was informed that his wife was indeed pregnant, but he had asked the Rebbe for a sign that the birth would indeed go smoothly without complications. And now when I told him this story, he was very moved, because he saw it as a great sign for him, and now he is sure that everything will go well!

“There was another case that emphasized to me the Rebbe’s personal concern for my health. It was when I needed to accompany the then-mayor of Bnei Brak on his visit to the Rebbe during the Sunday dollar distribution, but suddenly I was struck with great weakness. On Friday I had a high fever, and on Shabbos I also did not feel well. As such, I canceled my participation, and eventually someone else accompanied the mayor.

“After the dollar distribution, the Rebbe went to the Ohel. Before that, the Rebbe asked R’ Leibel – ‘I didn’t see Meilech, where is he?’ Rabbi Groner said I wasn’t feeling well. The Rebbe asked him: ‘Vi filt er heint?’ [= How does he feel today?] ‘I don’t know,’ replied the secretary. The Rebbe said: ‘Nu, call him. I want to know how he feels’…

“When Reb Leibel called me and inquired about my well-being, I did not understand what was so urgent for Reb Leibel to know my condition, and I said: I had informed you in advance that I would not be able to come because I was not feeling well, why are you calling to ask? And then he revealed to me that this was an instruction from the Rebbe.

“Thus Reb Leibel continued to inquire about my well-being, as instructed by the Rebbe, every day for several days until my complete recovery… I was very moved! To such an extent am I important to the Rebbe that he cares about my welfare every day? I don’t know why I deserved this, but that’s how it was…”

Another interesting story that testifies to the Rebbe’s personal relationship with R’ Neiman occurred on Sunday, the 8th of Elul 5745. It was after Maariv, when the Rebbe was about to leave the small zal for his room, when suddenly the Rebbe turned to him and said with a radiant countenance:

“In Lubavitch, sitting in ‘prison’ was a respectable sitting (R’ Neiman had sat in prison for several hours during his stay in Poland). I heard that you got out of prison – in the way it is written regarding Yosef who was in prison (and smiled at him with a broad smile)”.

Neiman: I thank the Rebbe for the shlichus mitzva dollar – that I received before the trip. Thanks to this I got out…

Rebbe: Nit mir [= Not me should you thank]. May you have the status of one who leaves prison. You have probably already blessed ‘HaGomel,’ and R’ Neiman nodded affirmatively.

Use the Merit That You Have

In conclusion, R’ Neiman says: “I merited to personally hear from the Rebbe such special expressions about the Geula. Everyone needs to work hard to bring the complete Geula, and as the Rebbe always emphasized, this is accomplished through more Torah study and tefilla, fulfilling mitzvos b’hiddur, mivtzaim, all in order to bring Moshiach. This is important to the Rebbe!

“And as the Rebbe himself said: Moshiach is already here, and he just needs to be revealed. You have the merit to be Chassidim and mekusharim to the Rebbe. Use this zechus to bring about Moshiach’s revelation and that there should be a complete Geula speedily, amen, may it be His will.”

POLICY DISCUSSION WITH R’ NEIMAN

As mentioned in the article, the conversations with R’ Neiman often revolved around issues related to the Chabad and Ger Chassidic courts, and occasionally also touched on general Jewish issues in the United States and in the Holy Land.

A particularly unusual and special conversation, which resonated widely around the world, took place during the period of the political maneuver orchestrated by Shimon Peres to form a left-wing government. Given the circumstances, a certain tension arose between the position of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael and the position of the Rebbe.

R’ Elimelech Neiman therefore arrived on Thursday, 17 Nissan 5750, during Chol HaMoed Pesach, as an emissary of the Gerrer Rebbe, together with his friend Rabbi Pinchas Goldberg, with the goal of presenting a positive stance towards forming a new government headed by Shimon Peres and the Alignment party (Maarach).

At that meeting, which unusually took place in the presence of the Rebbe’s secretaries, the Rebbe firmly explained his opposition to the formation of a government that spoke of conceding land. Below is the content of what was recorded by the Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner, and published at the time in Beis Chayeinu:

A) My position for many decades – and which has been publicized multiple times over the years – is that due to pikuach nefesh stemming from the Arabs, it is forbidden to support a party that conducts negotiations with the Arabs about returning land from Eretz HaKodesh (Eretz Yisrael — specifically Yehuda, Shomron, and Gaza) to the Arabs. This applies both in elections and in supporting its leaders in forming a government. Supporting them indirectly means sharing responsibility for the danger posed to Jews. The return of these territories – Yehuda, Shomron, Gaza, and more – constitutes a matter of pikuach nefesh for the Jewish people, and my position has not changed in any way.

Moreover – and most crucially – this intensifies the issue of pikuach nefesh not just as a theoretical concern but as something that has already occurred, unfortunately. That is: ever since this party met with Arab representatives and held negotiations with them (even if the details have not yet been published in Israeli media), the mere fact that such meetings occurred has become known through other media outlets, and thus reached the Arabs. As a result – based on logic and natural consequences – the Arabs, in various locations, continued their hostile actions, harming many of our fellow Jews, to the point of murder, G-d forbid. And not only in Eretz Yisrael but also in other countries. Who knows if, even at the very moment these words are being spoken, ‘do not open your mouth to etc.” something might not be happening to a Jew, G-d forbid, since their hands are still upraised. And it is known that the only way to prevent such outcomes is if the government has a firm and strong hand against them, as we’ve seen in the past. This can be verified by experts in Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, in my humble opinion – since voting for that party will cause pikuach nefesh – I am obligated, according to Shulchan Aruch to once again voice my opinion and warn that it is forbidden to vote for that party.

B) Regarding the proposal to vote for that party (Shimon Peres to head the government) for a short period and then withdraw from the government, etc.:

Who can guarantee that this will bring down his government?

More importantly – the very idea, and even more so the fact that this party might publicly rise to power, could further embolden the Arabs, and the consequences are unpredictable. Therefore, in my opinion, it is forbidden to allow that party to form a government, even for a moment.

C) Concerning the question of the honor of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael, etc.:

It was never anyone’s intention to harm the dignity of any Jew in general, and certainly not the dignity of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, may they live and be well, in particular.

However, since this is a matter of pikuach nefesh, I must speak out about it in connection with their decision.

Especially since their decision was passed by a majority that was not clearly established and was made only a short time ago. Also, to the best of my knowledge, until now they have never cooperated with Maarach, only with Likud.

And recently – just in the last few days – it was publicized that the president [Bush Sr.] of the United States reiterated his statement regarding the Old City of Jerusalem, saying that Jews are not allowed to settle there [outside of the Jewish quarter], and former President Carter made harsh statements against the Holy Land, etc.

D) For understandable reasons, it is generally proper — as much as possible — not to involve individuals from abroad.

* * *

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