Reb Nochum Litkovsky, the hero of the now-famous “Kum Vi Du Bist” story, shares his fascinating life journey, along with powerful memories and encounters with the Rebbe.

By Anash.org reporter 

The story of “Reb Nochum the Russian,” originally written by Rabbi Zalman Vishedsky, Shliach in Basel, Switzerland, and published on Anash.org, sparked widespread interest, even leading to Avraham Fried composing a song based on it, performed at a fundraising event in Crown Heights.

Now, in a recent video interview with Rabbi Vishedsky, the hero of the story, Reb Nochum Litkovsky, shares his fascinating life story along with powerful memories and encounters with the Rebbe.

He describes his bar mitzvah, when he had no money and had to borrow a hat and suit jacket from Yossi Duchman. He recalls working for Reb Zalman Gurary, earning a few dollars a day by collecting towels at the mikvah, and how he started learning in Oholei Torah, even though he barely knew how to read.

As a young boy, Nochum began working in 770, preparing the Rebbe’s room, adjusting the windows and air conditioning, and even building the now-famous Kehos display in the front lobby. One day, after a long day of work, the Rebbe noticed him and told the mazkir, “Make sure he has what to eat.”

He recounts his first encounter with the Rebbetzin, when Reb Zalman Gurary sent him to deliver mishloach manos. The Rebbetzin spoke with him warmly and gave him $20. “For me at that time,” he says, “it was like getting $200,000!”

He also shares an incredible miraculous story involving his youngest child. After the baby was born with a serious medical issue, doctors were uncertain and dismissive. But when Reb Nochum wrote to the Rebbe, the Rebbe pointed to the exact location of the problem – the child’s heart – based on an issue found in the mezuzah. The Rebbe gave clear instructions, which Nochum followed despite the doctors’ doubts, and the child was miraculously saved.

He also gives over the full background of the now-famous Kum Vi Du Bist – “Come as you are” story and concludes:

“I don’t know why I deserved so much love and care from the Rebbe. But I know that without the Rebbe, I wouldn’t be here – and neither would my children or grandchildren.”

WATCH (Hebrew):