Rachmastrivka Rebbe's Stunning Gesture: Hands Over Lakewood Beis Medrash to Vizhnitz Monsey Cousin After Rebbetzin's Passing
Lakewood Rebbe personally calls Vizhnitz Monsey Rebbe offering his beis medrash after shiva plans changed • Hundreds of chassidim spend Shabbos in Torah city | A story of royal generosity (Jewish World)
A remarkable display of chassidic brotherhood unfolded in Lakewood last Shabbos, when the Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Lakewood personally offered his spacious beis medrash to his cousin, the Vizhnitz Monsey Rebbe, enabling hundreds of chassidim to spend Shabbos in the Torah city with dignity and comfort.
The gesture came in the wake of the passing of the Rachmastrivka Rebbetzin, Rebbetzin Miriam Twersky, who was niftar at age 90. Both Rebbes are grandsons of the legendary Skverer Rebbe, creating a bond that transcended the logistical challenges facing the Vizhnitz Monsey court that week.
Originally, organizers from Vizhnitz Monsey had rented the massive Bais Faiga school hall in Lakewood to accommodate the hundreds of chassidim traveling with their Rebbe for Shabbos. But plans shifted dramatically when the Rachmastrivka Rebbetzin was niftar during the week.
The Rachmastrivka court in Lakewood had originally scheduled a massive sheva brachos celebration for the Rebbe's grandson that Shabbos, to be held in their magnificent beis medrash. Following the shiva, however, the Lakewood Rebbe decided to join his brothers, the other Rachmastrivka Rebbes, in Boro Park for a unified Shabbos of consolation and family unity.
That left the Lakewood beis medrash available. In what sources described as an act of pure nobility, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Lakewood personally telephoned his cousin, the Vizhnitz Monsey Rebbe, and offered him the hall for the entire Shabbos.
"He Called Me Himself"
The Vizhnitz Monsey Rebbe revealed the behind-the-scenes story during seudah shlishis, expressing profound gratitude to his cousin. According to the Rebbe, the Lakewood Rebbe didn't stop at the phone call, he asked senior members of his kehilla to formally invite the Vizhnitz Monsey court to use the space.
"The Rachmastrivka Rebbe called me personally to offer the beis medrash," the Monsey Rebbe told his chassidim, his voice filled with emotion. "And he sent his gabbaim to invite us officially. This is true ahavas Yisroel."
In a striking gesture of respect for his host, the Vizhnitz Monsey Rebbe adopted several Rachmastrivka customs throughout Shabbos. During Kaddish, he added the phrase "v'yatzmach purkanei v'ykarev ketz meshichei" - a nusach specific to Rachmastrivka chassidus.
At seudah shlishis, the Monsey Rebbe extended the meal a full 72 minutes past shkiah, following the stringent halachic practice of the Rachmastrivka court. The move underscored the depth of his gratitude and the seriousness with which he honored the minhagim of the beis medrash hosting him.
The story resonated deeply within chassidic circles, where such acts of generosity between courts, particularly during times of mourning, are seen as embodying the highest ideals of Torah leadership. Both Rebbes are descendants of the Skverer dynasty, a lineage known for its emphasis on ahavas Yisroel and unity among Torah Jews.
Hundreds of Vizhnitz Monsey chassidim spent an uplifting Shabbos in Lakewood, davening and celebrating in the spacious Rachmastrivka beis medrash. The atmosphere, witnesses said, was one of profound simcha mixed with gratitude, a Shabbos that will be remembered for years as a model of chassidic brotherhood.