Menachem Mendel Futerfas: Difference between revisions

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== Early Life ==

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.

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. In 1915, when her grandson turned seven, she brought him with her on her trip to the Rebbe. The pair were granted an audience with the [[The Rebbe Rashab|Rebbe Rashab]]. The Rebbe gave the young Mendel a blessing for fear of heaven and long life. From then on, their trips 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.

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.

== His Yeshiva Studies ==

At the end of 1920, he was accepted to Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Kremenchug where he studied until 1924. That year, the Soviet secret police discovered the yeshiva and he was forced to flee. From 1925, he studied in underground yeshivas in Kharkov, Vitebsk, and Nevel until 1929, when these yeshivas were also closed, and the many students were forced to disperse among various underground yeshivas.

At the end of 1920, he was accepted to Yeshivas [[Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim|Tomchei Tmimim]] in [[Kremenchug]] where he studied until 1924. That year, the Soviet secret police discovered the yeshiva and he was forced to flee. From 1925, he studied in underground yeshivas in [[Kharkov]], [[Vitebsk]], and [[Nevel]] until 1929, when these yeshivas were also closed, and the many students were forced to disperse among various underground yeshivas.

Years later, the mashpia described his memories from those days: Every Thursday night was entirely dedicated to learning. There were students who diligently studied Gemara and others who studied Chassidus; he himself would dedicate this night to studying Gemara.

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== Mashgiach in Tomchei Temimim ==

In 1930, he was ~~called to serve~~ as a Mashgiach and Mashpia for the ~~Temimim~~ students in the underground yeshiva in Yekatrinoslav. In his memoirs from that period, he notes the great reverence that the yeshiva bochurim had for the city's Rav, ~~HaRav HaGaon Rabbi~~ Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father.

In 1930, he was appointed as Mashgiach and Mashpia for the students in the underground yeshiva in [[Yekatrinoslav]]. In his memoirs from that period, he notes the great reverence that the yeshiva bochurim had for the city's Rav, [[Levi Yitzchak Schneerson|Rav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson]], the Rebbe's father. That same year, he also served as a Mashgiach in Odessa.

That same year, he also served as a Mashgiach in Odessa.

== "The Karalevitz Suggestion is Correct" ==

Reb Mendel traveled to his mother's home in Kharkov and began arranging shidduchim for his two older sisters, aiming to match them with the finest among the Temimim. His efforts were successful, and shortly after, his eldest sister married ~~Rav~~ Ben Zion Shem Tov, and his younger sister married ~~Rav~~ Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebransky.

Reb Mendel traveled to his mother's home in Kharkov and began arranging shidduchim for his two older sisters, aiming to match them with the finest among the Temimim. His efforts were successful, and shortly after, his eldest sister married [[Benzion Shem Tov|Ben Zion Shem Tov]], and his younger sister married Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebransky.

During this period, respectable shidduchim were suggested for him as well. He compiled several proposals and reported them to the Frierdiker Rebbe, who was then in Poland, requesting his guidance and bracha. The Rebbe's response was: "The Karalevitz suggestion is correct" - referring to Rav Ben Zion Robinson, who lived in Karalevitz and had suggested his daughter to Reb Mendel.

During this period, respectable shidduchim were suggested for him as well. He compiled several proposals and reported them to the [[The Rebbe Rayatz|Frierdiker Rebbe]], who was then in Poland, requesting his guidance and bracha. The Rebbe's response was: "The Karalevitz suggestion is correct" - referring to Rav Ben Zion Robinson, who lived in Karalevitz and had suggested his daughter to Reb Mendel.

He therefore traveled to Karalevitz, arriving before Shabbos Kodesh. After davening, he participated in a farbrengen where he took mashke liberally, resulting in him falling under the table and falling asleep. When he awoke, still under the table, it was after midnight on Motzei Shabbos, and he suddenly heard Reb Ben Zion telling his wife: "It seems this bochur is an 'emesdiker chassidisher bochur' (a true chassidic young man), for he came 'to be seen,' and nevertheless took mashke, farbrenged, and is now where he is... This is a sign that he is a true chassidic bochur. We must make every effort to have him stay here and complete the shidduch with us."

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 == Early Life ==
-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.
+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. In 1915, when her grandson turned seven, she brought him with her on her trip to the Rebbe. The pair were granted an audience with the [[The Rebbe Rashab|Rebbe Rashab]]. The Rebbe gave the young Mendel a blessing for fear of heaven and long life. From then on, their trips 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.
-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.
 == His Yeshiva Studies ==
-At the end of 1920, he was accepted to Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Kremenchug where he studied until 1924. That year, the Soviet secret police discovered the yeshiva and he was forced to flee. From 1925, he studied in underground yeshivas in Kharkov, Vitebsk, and Nevel until 1929, when these yeshivas were also closed, and the many students were forced to disperse among various underground yeshivas.
+At the end of 1920, he was accepted to Yeshivas [[Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim|Tomchei Tmimim]] in [[Kremenchug]] where he studied until 1924. That year, the Soviet secret police discovered the yeshiva and he was forced to flee. From 1925, he studied in underground yeshivas in [[Kharkov]], [[Vitebsk]], and [[Nevel]] until 1929, when these yeshivas were also closed, and the many students were forced to disperse among various underground yeshivas.
 Years later, the mashpia described his memories from those days: Every Thursday night was entirely dedicated to learning. There were students who diligently studied Gemara and others who studied Chassidus; he himself would dedicate this night to studying Gemara.
@@ Line 28: / Line 24: @@
 == Mashgiach in Tomchei Temimim ==
-In 1930, he was called to serve as a Mashgiach and Mashpia for the Temimim students in the underground yeshiva in Yekatrinoslav. In his memoirs from that period, he notes the great reverence that the yeshiva bochurim had for the city's Rav, HaRav HaGaon Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father.
+In 1930, he was appointed as  Mashgiach and Mashpia for the students in the underground yeshiva in [[Yekatrinoslav]]. In his memoirs from that period, he notes the great reverence that the yeshiva bochurim had for the city's Rav, [[Levi Yitzchak Schneerson|Rav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson]], the Rebbe's father. That same year, he also served as a Mashgiach in Odessa.
-That same year, he also served as a Mashgiach in Odessa.
 == "The Karalevitz Suggestion is Correct" ==
-Reb Mendel traveled to his mother's home in Kharkov and began arranging shidduchim for his two older sisters, aiming to match them with the finest among the Temimim. His efforts were successful, and shortly after, his eldest sister married Rav Ben Zion Shem Tov, and his younger sister married Rav Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebransky.
+Reb Mendel traveled to his mother's home in Kharkov and began arranging shidduchim for his two older sisters, aiming to match them with the finest among the Temimim. His efforts were successful, and shortly after, his eldest sister married  [[Benzion Shem Tov|Ben Zion Shem Tov]], and his younger sister married Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebransky.
-During this period, respectable shidduchim were suggested for him as well. He compiled several proposals and reported them to the Frierdiker Rebbe, who was then in Poland, requesting his guidance and bracha. The Rebbe's response was: "The Karalevitz suggestion is correct" - referring to Rav Ben Zion Robinson, who lived in Karalevitz and had suggested his daughter to Reb Mendel.
+During this period, respectable shidduchim were suggested for him as well. He compiled several proposals and reported them to the [[The Rebbe Rayatz|Frierdiker Rebbe]], who was then in Poland, requesting his guidance and bracha. The Rebbe's response was: "The Karalevitz suggestion is correct" - referring to Rav Ben Zion Robinson, who lived in Karalevitz and had suggested his daughter to Reb Mendel.
 He therefore traveled to Karalevitz, arriving before Shabbos Kodesh. After davening, he participated in a farbrengen where he took mashke liberally, resulting in him falling under the table and falling asleep. When he awoke, still under the table, it was after midnight on Motzei Shabbos, and he suddenly heard Reb Ben Zion telling his wife: "It seems this bochur is an 'emesdiker chassidisher bochur' (a true chassidic young man), for he came 'to be seen,' and nevertheless took mashke, farbrenged, and is now where he is... This is a sign that he is a true chassidic bochur. We must make every effort to have him stay here and complete the shidduch with us."