A chance “Shalom Aleichem” at a flea market led Aryeh on a years-long journey back to Yiddishkeit. In a series of amazing hashgacha pratis, a non‑Jewish neighbor notified the shliach that Aryeh passed away, the coroner saw a Rebbe picture on his wall and agreed to skip the autopsy, and his non-Jewish family agreed to switch cremation for kevuras Yisroel.

By Rabbi Eliyohu Edelman

Four years ago, my wife and I set out for Lake Harmony, PA, in the summer to establish a Chabad presence there and connect with Yidden. 

Here is one of many stories that took place as a result:

A group of bochurim from Passaic, New Jersey, Baltimore, and other places set out for a 10-day retreat in Lake Harmony. They needed my help with their minyan because one of their members backed out just before they arrived.

Upon talking to them, they asked what I was doing in Lake Harmony. I explained that I was looking for Yidden, putting on tefillin, giving neshek, challah, etc. They began messaging me whenever they encountered any Yid. One of the people they met was an older Yid who, as they related to me, was full of regrets for never marrying a Jewish woman and wanted to reconnect with Yiddishkeit.

We visited the flea market where this Yid – Arye – was working and found him there—actually, more like he found us as we passed by, he called out “Shalom Aleichem!” That began a long journey back to Yiddishkeit. On the last Motzei Shabbos of the summer season, I went to visit him at his house, where I made Havdalah for him. We then put up a mezuzah on his front door and gave him a large picture of the Rebbe to hang on his wall.

We kept in touch throughout the years. He was able to hear the shofar, we visited him with a sukkah mobile, where he had the opportunity to shake the lulav and esrog, we lit Chanukah candles with him, he put on tefillin at every opportunity, and he had matzah for Pesach.

Among all our conversations, Arye often mentioned “Kevuras Yisroel.” He came from a family that survived the Holocaust. He was born in Romania, lived in Eretz Yisroel for some years, and then lived in America for the rest of his life. Last year, he wasn’t feeling well and spent Purim in the hospital. We arranged for a few bochurim from the Pocono Yeshiva to visit him there and read the Megillah for him. He came home after that.

With hashgacha pratis, his non-Jewish neighbor (whom I knew of but had never interacted with) contacted me. He got my number from Arye about some help Arye needed.

One Sunday night, a short while later, I last spoke with Arye during a routine phone call. Two days later, on Tuesday afternoon, I received a call from the neighbor, who shared with me the sad news that Arye had passed away at home. He mentioned that the police had been contacted and were on their way. I asked him to please give the coroner my number so I could be in touch regarding kavod hameis.

BH the coroner called me, and within a minute of the conversation, I asked him if he was Jewish due to his knowledge. He said he wasn’t, but that he worked in Brooklyn and was familiar with Chabad and other Chassidic groups. He shared that when he walked into the house, he saw a picture of Rabbi Schneerson. He understood that the deceased was Jewish and needed to be treated with respect, meaning avoiding the full autopsy and following Kevuras Yisroel.

BH that was one hurdle we were able to overcome. But then his non-Jewish family members wanted to go through with a cremation. After some difficulties and many conversations back and forth, we BH obtained permission from the relatives to proceed with the burial. With the help of many generous Yidden who participated in covering the costs (in less than 24 hours!) we were able to ensure he was buried like a Yid.

This story shows how just one encounter with a Yid can go very far.

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Chabad of Lake Harmony is launching a fundraiser to help cover the cost of purchasing a Chabad House in Lake Harmony, which we were Baruch Hashem finally able to acquire this year after many challenges and unexpected obstacles.

Donate at: https://www.charidy.com/lakeharmony

Thank you for your support!