Editing A special child (section)

==== Closer to Hashem ====
Chazan Reb Yosef Malovany has a special child named Zeevi, who was born with severe autism.

During the period when he lived in London, he placed him in a local Jewish institution, and when he moved to New York, the Rebbe's recommendation was that it would be better not to disrupt him by moving him to another unfamiliar institution overseas. Over time, it became apparent that the school in London for children with special needs was better than other institutions they had seen, so he decided to leave him there, in accordance with the Rebbe's recommendation.

In the month of Kislev 5750, he went together with his wife to the distribution of dollars for tzedakah and requested a special blessing for his son, Zeevi. In response, the Rebbe gave them an answer that changed their worldview.

"Autistic people," the Rebbe explained, "does not mean they have no connection to anyone; they have no connection with people, but with Hashem they have a connection like others, and even more so. Since they are not busy with people, they are more available to engage in a connection with Hashem."

This changed their entire thinking about their child, and Reb Yosef discovered that the child could make brachos and also greatly valued his tzitzis, and he reported this to the Rebbe.

"Does he have a tzedakah box in his room?" asked the Rebbe. When he replied negatively, the Rebbe instructed that they should install a box in his room. The Rebbe noted that the management of the institution would surely not object to this, as tzedakah is something everyone appreciates. "It will be for his benefit," added the Rebbe. "When people come to visit him, he will be able to remind them that they should donate to tzedakah."

Reb Yosef followed the Rebbe's advice, and after two years, he came to the Rebbe and told him about the positive impact his advice had on their son. Since receiving the tzedakah box and the Rebbe's blessing, Zeevi began to respond better. He began to be more active and to show more understanding of what was said to him.

Upon hearing this news, the Rebbe gave us another dollar, saying, "Send this dollar to the management of his institution, and ask them to put it in the tzedakah box in his room."