Meeting Yuri in Russia five years ago, Rabbi Eliyahu Ezagui offered him a dollar from the Rebbe if he would have a bris, but the man declined. It took a few years, and Yuri went to get a bris in Yerushalayim. This week, they met up at 770, where Yuri got his long awaited dollar from the Rebbe.

By Anash.org reporter

Five years ago, while visiting the shul of Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan, “the tzaddik of Leningrad,” shochet Reb Eliyahu Shlomo Ezagui met a Jew named Yuri, who had not yet undergone a bris. Rabbi Ezagui began a conversation with him to encourage him to have a bris, and he offered him a dollar from the Rebbe if he agreed. Yuri, however, declined and said that he would never get a bris.

Two years ago, now living in Yerushalayim, Yuri, then 46, decided to undergo a bris with mohel Rabbi Chaim Rubin and sandek Rabbi Dubov, receiving the Hebrew name Ariel. Emotionally, Yuri later called Rabbi Ezagui to share the news.

This past week, the two met up at 770, five years after the initial offer, where Rabbi Ezagui presented Yuri with the long-promised dollar from the Rebbe.

As the Rebbe repeatedly emphasized, “Chazakah leta’amula she’eina chozeres reikam” – any effort put in is never in vain and will always have an effect.