Editing Rabbi Menachem Mendel Futerfas (section)

== Life History ==
Reb Mendel was born on 20 Tishrei 1907 in the town of Pleshnitz in White Russia, to his father Reb Menachem Mendel and his mother Maryasha Badna (who passed away on 5 Menachem Av 1958) - daughter of the Segalovitz family and her mother from the Kugel family. He was the fourth child after two daughters and one brother. His father passed away shortly before his birth during a typhus epidemic, and his mother named him after his father. Being fatherless, Reb Mendel grew up with his grandfather, the chossid Reb Chaim Futerfas in Kharkov, who was one of the shapers of his personality and from whom he received many chassidic stories. Reb Mendel spent his childhood with his grandmother Rachel-Leah from Nevel, who was the niece of the famous chossid Reb Chanoch Hendel Kugel. Many stories circulate about her chassidic conduct and enhancement of mitzvos.

Grandmother Rachel Leah was a childhood friend of Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, wife of the Rebbe Rashab. When visiting Lubavitch, she would visit the Rebbetzin's home, where they would discuss Chabad stories and chassidic customs. In 1915, when her grandson turned seven, she brought him with her on her trip to the Rebbe. On this trip, he merited to have his first yechidus, following his grandmother's request to the Rebbetzin to ask her husband, the Rebbe Rashab, to receive him for yechidus. After the holidays, she indeed entered her husband's room with the child and said: "He is named after his father, he is Rachel Leah's grandson, receive him for yechidus and bless him!" The Rebbe gave him a blessing for yiras shamayim and long life.

From then on, this became a more regular practice. Almost every year, she would take him with her on her trips to the Rebbe. In Tishrei 1920, when he turned 12, was the last time he merited to be with the Rebbe Rashab.
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