Shortly after the passing of the Rebbe Rashab, the Frierdiker Rebbe became extremely ill with typhus, to the point that his life was in danger. The members of Beis Harav and Chassidim responded by donating a year or half a year of their own lives to the Frierdiker Rebbe.

The total number of years donated was 30, and indeed, nearly 30 years later, on Yud Shevat 5710, the Frierdiker Rebbe passed away.

In Sivan 5743, Reb Shamshi Yunik, who was then a bochur assisting in the Rebbe’s and Rebbetzin’s home, heard firsthand the details of this story. He was deeply moved and, after giving it serious thought, decided that he, too, wanted to do the same.

He wrote a letter to the Rebbe expressing his sincere desire to donate a year of his life to the Rebbe.

“Your intent is commendable, but you should not involve yourself in matters that are entirely not for you,” the Rebbe wrote to him, underlining words multiple times for added emphasis. “Instead, you should cherish every year, and even every day, to study Torah with diligence, etc.

“This is the true form of giving to me,” the Rebbe concluded.

(As heard from Reb Shamshi Yunik)