Two years after his passing, an amazing story has come to light about Yiddish singer and songwriter Michoel Schnitzler, involving the Rebbe and a visit to the Ohel. Though he didn’t think much of brachos by tzadikim nowadays, after his experience at the Ohel, he changed his mind.

By Anash.org reporter 

Two years after his passing, an unbelievable story has come to light about popular Yiddish singer and songwriter Michoel Schnitzler, involving the Rebbe and a visit to the Ohel – a story he was initially very hesitant to share.

Schnitzler grew up in Williamsburg, where he began his singing career at the Satmar Rebbe’s tish. He never had the privilege to meet the Lubavitcher Rebbe. “I wasn’t even allowed to think about him,” he said.

But several years ago, when things hit rock bottom and he reached a dead end, he visited the Rebbe’s Ohel. He had become embroiled in serious legal troubles and his attorney had recently told him that, though no fault of his own, he faced the possibility of jail time. “We hit a dead end. I didn’t know what to do. It was the hardest moment of my life.”

A short time later, Schnitzler was invited by a shliach to come meet a group of his mekuravim at the Ohel. Desperate for a bracha, he came and davened for his seemingly unresolvable problem.

Unbelievably, just an hour after he arrived home, he got a call from his attorney who informed him that it had all been resolved and cleared up.

“This is the craziest story ever. I’ve never had a story like this before or since. It was mamosh amazing,” Schnitzler later shared in a voicenote.

After visiting the Ohel, Shnitzler gave a ride to R’ Meish Wolf of Chicago, with whom he shared the incredible story. Schnitzler admitted that miracle stories about rebbes and tzaddikim never meant much to him, yet after witnessing this miracle with his own eyes, he recognized the Rebbe’s greatness.

Wolf’s brother-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak Raskin, director of Machon Stam and leader of the RebbeStory initiative together with R’ Mendel Myers to record stories about the Rebbe after Gimmel Tammuz, immediately got in touch with him and encouraged him to share this incredible story with the RebbeStory project, but Schnitzler was hesitant. Living in the Williamsburg community, he worried about how people would react and how it might affect his career. 

“I told him to return to the Ohel and ask the Rebbe whether to publicize the story, and the Rebbe would certainly find a way to answer him,” Rabbi Raskin shared. Schnitzler promised that he would do so at the next opportunity; however, sadly, shortly after, he suffered a heart attack and passed away.

“We are pleased to share the story now l’ilui nishmaso,” Rabbi Raskin added.

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