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By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon

We are now in the summer, and most Yeshiva bochurim are finishing their current year of learning and preparing for the next. This is the time when many temimim learning in Kevutzah or a year older begin thinking about where they will go on shlichus next year. While many will head to established yeshivos, a considerable number are considering areas of shlichus that are more connected to a community than to a yeshivah.

It is to these talmidim and their parents that I would like to share a story I heard at the Kinnus Hashluchim this year and have been thinking about ever since. I heard it first-hand from my uncle, Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon, who has been on shlichus in Hong Kong for over forty years.

Some Personal Background

My father is Baruch Hashem, from a very large family with many brothers and sisters. Since I was a little child, my uncle Mordechai was on shlichus in Hong Kong. The sheer distance and the lack of the communication tools we have today meant that while I knew he existed, and was proud to see him on the “Chanukah Live” satellite broadcasts, I did not really know him or his children. I was always curious about the history of his shlichus, but never had the opportunity to ask him directly.

This year, 5786, my brother made a Bar Mitzvah for his son during the Kinnus Hashluchim. With so many family members in Crown Heights, it was a big affair. As it turned out, I was seated at the same table as my uncle at the seudah, and we had a very warm and insightful conversation. I finally had a chance to ask him for the history of his shlichus, and he told me his fascinating story. I have to shorten it, as there are many details, bu the main gist is as follows.

An Unexpected Proposal

He had been on shlichus as part of a group of the Talmidim Hashluchim in South America for a few years, and had finally returned to 770 for the end of the summer, planning to stay through Tishrei and then return to Argentina.

There, he was approached by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky A”H with an interesting proposal: would he travel with another bochur to Hong Kong until mid-Tishrei to help the community?

Rabbi Kotlarsky shared the background to this unusual request. A short while earlier, he had been called in by Rabbi Chodakov and shown a letter that had been sent to Mazkirus. The letter, written by the Orthodox community of Hong Kong, stated that they were looking for a rav and leadership. Rabbi Chodakov told Rabbi Kotlarsky that the Rebbe wanted him to fly to Hong Kong right away to see what Chabad could do to help.

When he arrived in Hong Kong, Rabbi Kotlarsky quickly discovered that the community had sent this same letter to many organizations, and that they were not interested in hiring a Lubavitcher rabbi — with a beard and all that it represented.

Understanding how important this was to the Rebbe, he convinced them that, in the meantime “while they were still looking for a new rav,” they should bring two Chabad bochurim to keep the community functioning. This shlichus was offered to my uncle, and he agreed.

“The Decision Should Be Made by a Beis Din”

After a few weeks there, my uncle was offered a contract to become the official rav of the community. He told them that he was traveling to the Rebbe for Sukkos and would let them know afterward. Upon arriving in New York, he wrote a letter to the Rebbe laying out all the details of the shlichus, and waited for an answer. None came.

After Sukkos, he went to Rabbi Groner and told him that he was still waiting for a response. Rabbi Groner assured him that the Rebbe had received the letter, and that he would try to see what could be done. A little while later, Rabbi Groner called my uncle over and told him the following:

“I went in to the Rebbe,” Rabbi Groner said, “and asked what should be told to Mordechai Avtzon. The Rebbe became very serious and said: I have been thinking about this for a long time. On one hand, the shlichus is so important. On the other hand, how could we take the responsibility of sending a bochur — alone, and for such an extended period — to such a place?”

“I waited quietly,” Rabbi Groner continued, “and the Rebbe said: ‘The decision should be made by a Beis Din. If three Chassidishe Rabbanim rule that he may go on such a shlichus, then he has my bracha to go.’”

Rabbi Groner convened a Beis Din, and they ruled, with the power of the Torah, that my uncle could go on this shlichus. The rest is history.

The Lesson for Us

There are so many lessons we can take from this story. The most basic one is the degree of consideration and responsibility that a Tamim and his parents must bring to the decision of going on shlichus outside of a Yeshivah setting.

I wish everyone Hatzlacha in their own shlichus of preparing themselves, and the world around them, for the revelation of Moshiach!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above with me by email: [email protected].

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