|
 Yesterday marked 10 years since the passing of my beloved father Rabbi Moshe Levertov,
of blessed memory. We gathered in our shul in Santa Fe for three beautiful prayers, Lechaim and some snacks.
It was particularly meaningful for me to see all the people who gathered to pray together, especially those who are not regular "daveners." Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to participate in a service if you haven't done so regularly. That's why I'm even more touched by these yidden who joined, just to be part of this yartzait minyan. Thank you very much!
Interestingly, my father passed away two days before the yartzait of his father, my namesake, Rabbi Berel Levertov, in 1949; and was buried on that same day.
My father, the youngest in his family, had a very deep and special connection with his father. Together they experienced very difficult times under the oppressive Russian regime. He even wrote a book about it, I've pulled an excerpt from it below.
May the souls of these two giant pious Chassidim be an inspiration to us all in being more dedicated to Torah, community, and family.
May we speedily be reunited with all our departed loves ones with the coming of Moshiach Now!
In The Shadow Of Danger
By Rabbi Moshe Levertov
During the late 1930’s, religious persecution escalated sharply. NKVD spies were everywhere, in all guises, ready to send a “counter-revolutionary” to exile or death for the least misdemeanor. Countless people, especially observant Jews, both Chassidim and non-Chassidim, just disappeared.
One Shabbos, for example, on arriving in shul, we noticed the absence of Reb Mendel Leib Abramson. A highly respected and learned Chabad Chassid who used to teach Torah classes at the shul, he had been a wealthy and charitable businessman before the Revolution but had lost his business and moved to Moscow. After his arrest by the NKVD, we never heard of him again.
 Another special Chabad Chassid arrested by the NKVD in 1935, and who never returned, was Rabbi Yaakov Maskalik — known as Reb Yankel Zhurovitcher, by the name of the town where he had served
as Rabbi. A graduate of Tomchei T’mimim in Lubavitch, he became a legend even among Chabad Chassidim, renowned for his boundless love for every Jew and his fearless devotion to Chassidus and Yiddishkeit. The Rebbe RaYYaTz once remarked: “If I would have a few such Yankels, I would be able to turn over the world.”
During that terrible era, shuls and Torah schools were closed, mikvas were filled in, Rabbis, Torah teachers and observant Jews were dragged off in the dead of night — to imprisonment, exile or execution. We lived in constant terror, uncertain what the future might bring. The fear was so great that we were terrified to show any sign of religious observance except at shul.
Yet nothing deterred Father from continuing his activities for Yiddishkeit, especially among Jews who could be trusted not to be informers. He seemed utterly oblivious to any consequences. We were terrified that he might be arrested and suffer the same terrible
fate as so many others, for we had ample indication that the NKVD was aware of everything he did.
Once, for example, a certain Lubavitcher was summoned to appear at NKVD headquarters. “Tonight,” he was told, “a meeting is to be held at Berel Kabilaker’s home. You are to attend and report back to us tomorrow, repeating everything discussed there.”
That night he came to us very agitated. “Tomorrow I have to report about this meeting,” he revealed. “Please discuss only innocent subjects!” The Chassidim cooperated, avoiding any talk of incriminating activities. Yet they were disturbed by the news: Who knew if they would be so lucky next time?
The next day, the Chassid dutifully reported back to the NKVD office that no one had discussed anything important at the meeting.
The officers stared at him coldly. “Fool,” they blasted him, “do you think you can cheat us? We are fully aware that you warned them to speak only on innocent subjects!”
The Chassid was speechless. Somehow he managed to extricate himself and returned home safely. Later he repeated to Father what they had told him. We were stunned;
were we so “dangerous” that they had to plant two (or more) spies among us?
Most parents avoided talking about the arrests, for schools taught students to spy on their parents and report any speech disloyal to the regime. But in our home we heard all about them. Some guests who slept at our home had returned, broken in body and spirit, from interrogations and torture at NKVD headquarters in the infamous Lubyanka
jail for so-called “political prisoners.” They gave bloodcurdling accounts of the inhuman suffering they had experienced or witnessed, the frightful tortures, merciless beatings and coldblooded executions.
Often their gruesome experiences had reduced our visitors to a mere shadow. But those who survived to tell the tale were the more fortunate ones. Many were never heard of again. Some were executed soon after their arrest. Others were banished into exile, often to prison camps in Siberia where, even under normal conditions, it was difficult
to survive the long winters’ subzero temperatures, and especially for many years in harsh labor camps. Read
more
.
Join us tonight at 7:30 for a Community Dinner with world-renowned Artists
Ricardo Mazal and Perla Krauze!
RSVP required. Kabbalah study tomorrow, 9:30am, services at 10:00am followed by Kiddush Lunch.
Shabbat Shalom and happy
birthday
Stephanie
Rosen, Camilla Mandler, and Ray Singer! May this new year bring you much joy, blessing and growth.
We
thank all our volunteers that helped make this week possible at Chabad,
Kristina Harrigan, Joan Grossman, Gennifer Goldy, Yaszmina Nedboy, Bob Whittet, Damien Pretto, Paulina Robinson and Martha Schlenger!
Our
Women's Circle
flyers have just arrived and look absolutely stunning! Our calendars for the new Jewish year will be arriving on Monday and we need volunteers to help pack them for mailing. Please let us know if you will be available to help out next week Monday evening, Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday.
Rabbi
Berel and Devorah Levertov | 
