Rabbi Uri Lipsh, a shliach in Bnei Brak who passed away on Purim, was identified as the anonymous Chassid who once wrote a heartfelt letter, offering the Rebbe’s bracha for long life in exchange for the Rebbe’s health and arichus yomim.
By Anash.org reporter
A deeply moving story that has remained hidden for decades has now come to light with the untimely passing of Rabbi Uri Lipsh on Purim this year. The devoted educator and shliach in Bnei Brak was recently identified as the anonymous Chassid who once wrote a heartfelt letter, offering the years of his life in exchange for the Rebbe’s health and arichus yomim.
The story was first mentioned in a book about the Rabbi of Kfar Chabad, Harav Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi, published in 5777. In a chapter titled “The Power of Chassidim”, an unnamed Chassid was described as having written to the Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad of Eretz Yisroel, following the well-known sicha of the Rebbe at the end of the shiva for the Rebbetzin. In his letter, he expressed his willingness to give up his remaining years so that the Rebbe could continue leading the Jewish people.
“If, Heaven forbid, there is any decree on the Rebbe,” he wrote, “I wish to be his substitute, that he should continue for many long and good years. The decades that remain in my life, I hereby offer to the Rebbe for long life and good health.”
Recently, with Rabbi Lipsh’s passing, his identity as the Chassid behind this remarkable letter has been revealed, along with the full text of his letter.
The letter, dated 6 Adar 5748 was preserved in the archives of Rabbi Ashkenazi. In it, Rabbi Lipsh referenced a yechidus he had with the Rebbe as a young boy with his father on Yud Gimmel Tammuz 5740, where he was promised that he would see children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (‘kinder un kinds kinder un uhr einiklach’). Based on that promise, he pleaded with the Beis Din to rule that any years left for him should instead be given to the Rebbe.
His full letter reads as follows:
“I, the undersigned, write today with a clear mind and of my own free will.
“Since during my yechidus on 13 Tammuz 5740, (Friday afternoon of Parshas Balak), I was promised that I would see ‘kinder un kinds kinder un uhr einiklach’ [children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren], I hereby request the Beis Din to decree that if there is, chalila, any decree against the Rebbe Shlita, that I shall be in his stead, and the Rebbe shall continue for long and good years, and all those decades that still remain for me, I hereby give them to the Rebbe for long and good years and health.
“With the blessing that the Rebbe merit long life and all good, and see satisfaction from us, his chasidim, and from all Yidden, and redeem us himself speedily in our days, amen.”
A fund has been established for the family of Rabbi Uri Lipsh. Please donate generously.
Discussion
We appreciate your feedback. If you have any additional information to contribute to this article, it will be added below.