When the Chitrik family moved from Brazil to New York, they weren’t prepared for the weather. One winter, a powerful snowstorm hit, with nearly four feet of snow, and transportation was completely shut down. Despite the conditions, Reb Hirshel Chitrik and his wife decided to bring their two children to yeshiva.

Reb Hirshel drove his son Yossi to Bedford Avenue, where he was learning. When they arrived, the melamdim told him there would be no school that day and that he should take Yossi back home.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Rivkah Chitrik set out on foot, trudging through the deep snow with their son Ari to Oholei Torah.

When she finally arrived, she saw that no other children had made it. The only person there was Reb Elyah Chaim Roitblatt. She prepared to take Ari back, saying that no one else had come, but Reb Elyah Chaim stopped her.

“When Hashem gave Moshe Rabbeinu the Torah,” he said, “there was only one person there. I’ll be happy to learn with one child as well.”

She then worried about lunch, explaining that Ari had nothing to eat. Reb Elyah Chaim replied simply, “That’s not a problem. I have a sandwich. We’ll cut it in half.”

Later, when Reb Hirshel was in yechidus, and the Rebbe asked about the chinuch of the children, he shared this story of Reb Elyah Chaim’s dedication to his talmid. The Rebbe responded with satisfaction, “Ah!”

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