The Angel From Westchester - Monthly Gedolim Story
The following story was originally told over by Rabbi Yoel Gold on his "Hashkifa" YouTube channel. The message of keeping a Jewish identity and legacy alive, is one that, as we get closer to the Yamim Noraim, we should keep in mind. We have an opportunity to crown G-d as our one King and ask of Him to grant us another year of life. But all the more so, we ask Him that this year, His glory should be seen, His name should be known, the world over, and our name, the name and nation of Israel should be praised, only in order to spread His light to every corner of the earth and with this new year, we should return anew to Yerushalayim, Bimhera BeYamenu, Amen.
I now invite you to read this beautiful and touching story, which I am thrilled to share with you.
All the best,
Yitzy Schweitzer
The Angel From Westchester - Monthly Gedolim Story
Levi Welton grew up in Berkeley, California and when he got married, moved to the East Coast where his wife, Chavi, was in university. About five years ago, Levis parents moved from Berkeley to Sacramento, California and Levi and his wife really wanted to show their support and help to ease the transition. So they figured that, if one week, his wife can get the request put in and receive permission then they can go over there for Shabbos.
Well, indeed they managed to fly out to Sacramento and visit Levis parents in their new home. Levi was really happy to see his parents so content and pleased with their home and was ready to spend the Shabbos with them.
Shabbos morning, Levi went with his father to daven at the local Chabad shul and after davening there was a Kiddush for a Bas Mitzvah girl. Although Levi wanted to return home, his father insisted they stay and participate in the simcha.
During the Kiddush Levi went over to the father of the Bas Mitzvah girl to say Mazal Tov. He introduced himself and ended up having a little conversation with him. As they were talking, Levi finds out that the father, who had introduced himself as Chaim Valencia, was a convert, who along with his entire family had converted some years before.
"Oh, wow, that's so interesting" Levi remarked to him, "How did you chose your name if your a convert? You must have some kind of story behind it?"
Mr. Valencia told Levi, that whilst on his journey to discovering Yiddishkeit, he had attended a class, where thr Rabbi made the following statement: "If you see a Holocaust survivor and he does not believe in Hashem anymore, he is a normal human, you have to respect him, you don't have to criticize him. Just leave it as it is. But if you have the opportunity to see a Holocaust survivor who believes in Hashem, that person is not a human no more. That's an angel."
Mr. Valencia then told Levi that a couple weeks after hearing that statement from the Rabbi, he was in Westchester in Yonkers, davening Friday night at the shul in Lincoln Park Jewish Center. When everyone began Lecha Dodi, they all danced whilst holding hands and Mr. Valencia was holding the Rabbis hand on his right. On his left, he held the hand of an elderly Yid, who was dancing with the energy of a kid, with such simcha and life, you could see the light in his eyes. Mr. Valencia turns his face to look at this man and saw the numbers in his hand. When he saw the numbers, he felt the chills go right through him "Oh my gosh!" he said to himself, "I am dancing with an angel!"
He turned to this man and asked him what his name was, and the Holocaust survivor said "My name is Chaim". Mr. Valencia heard that and the first thought that entered his mind was, "You know what? When Hashem helps me and I complete my conversion I will pick that name. I want this mans history, his values, his personality">
Levi, who was listening with great interest than asked Chaim Valencia, "Is this man who you danced with is his name Chaim Grossman?" to which Mr. Valencia's eyes popped out, "How did you know?" he asked, to which Levi replied "Because I am the Rabbi, now, of Lincoln Park Jewish Center and Chaim Grossmna comes to my shul every Shabbos". Now, Mr. Valencia started to cry, becuase he did not know Chaim was still alive.
After Shabbos Levi got back together with Chaim Valencia and they took a picture together. Levi went and printed the picture and framed it and afterwards called the President of Lincoln Park Jewish Center and told him to please send an email to the entire congregation to tell them "This coming Shabbos, the Rabbi has a surprise speech. Make sure to be there."
That Shabbos, the shul was filled to capacity. Everyone came to hear what Rabbi Levi Welton had to say. When it was time, Levi got up and began speaking about that weeks Parashah, the Parashah Shemos, the Parashah of names. He spoke of how, during their time as slaves in Egypt, the Yidden, suffered and sacrificed to keep their Jewish Identity and names alive. He than said, "Here with us, today, is man who has been through his own Modern Day Egypt - the Holocaust. He risked his life to put on Tefilin secretly in Buchanwald. He sold an extra precious shirt, so he could buy another piece of bread so that he could fast on Yom Kippur". Than, Rabbi Welton asked Chaim Grossman to come to the podium, He took out the picture of himself and Chaim Valencia and he turns to Chaim Grossman and says "Chaim, that man in the picture, is carrying your name today and he is keeping your legacy alive".
Chaim Grossman took the picture. He got up and he gave a breacha to the whole community. The community was applauding. It was a truly surreal feeling to be in that moment. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Everyone was crying...
Because Chaim Grossman never had any children of his own.
While doing the filming and interviews for the video, Rabbi Gold interviewed Chaim Valencia, who said afterwards "Chaim is a beautiful name. Its a beautiful name. But for me its not only the name, it's about the person who is holding that name on this earth. I had the opportunity to hold his hand and understand, how many tragedies this man went through, how many bad things he had to see, but now I have the opportunity to keep this legacy in my future generations."
Well, indeed they managed to fly out to Sacramento and visit Levis parents in their new home. Levi was really happy to see his parents so content and pleased with their home and was ready to spend the Shabbos with them.
Shabbos morning, Levi went with his father to daven at the local Chabad shul and after davening there was a Kiddush for a Bas Mitzvah girl. Although Levi wanted to return home, his father insisted they stay and participate in the simcha.
During the Kiddush Levi went over to the father of the Bas Mitzvah girl to say Mazal Tov. He introduced himself and ended up having a little conversation with him. As they were talking, Levi finds out that the father, who had introduced himself as Chaim Valencia, was a convert, who along with his entire family had converted some years before.
"Oh, wow, that's so interesting" Levi remarked to him, "How did you chose your name if your a convert? You must have some kind of story behind it?"
Mr. Valencia told Levi, that whilst on his journey to discovering Yiddishkeit, he had attended a class, where thr Rabbi made the following statement: "If you see a Holocaust survivor and he does not believe in Hashem anymore, he is a normal human, you have to respect him, you don't have to criticize him. Just leave it as it is. But if you have the opportunity to see a Holocaust survivor who believes in Hashem, that person is not a human no more. That's an angel."
Mr. Valencia then told Levi that a couple weeks after hearing that statement from the Rabbi, he was in Westchester in Yonkers, davening Friday night at the shul in Lincoln Park Jewish Center. When everyone began Lecha Dodi, they all danced whilst holding hands and Mr. Valencia was holding the Rabbis hand on his right. On his left, he held the hand of an elderly Yid, who was dancing with the energy of a kid, with such simcha and life, you could see the light in his eyes. Mr. Valencia turns his face to look at this man and saw the numbers in his hand. When he saw the numbers, he felt the chills go right through him "Oh my gosh!" he said to himself, "I am dancing with an angel!"
He turned to this man and asked him what his name was, and the Holocaust survivor said "My name is Chaim". Mr. Valencia heard that and the first thought that entered his mind was, "You know what? When Hashem helps me and I complete my conversion I will pick that name. I want this mans history, his values, his personality">
Levi, who was listening with great interest than asked Chaim Valencia, "Is this man who you danced with is his name Chaim Grossman?" to which Mr. Valencia's eyes popped out, "How did you know?" he asked, to which Levi replied "Because I am the Rabbi, now, of Lincoln Park Jewish Center and Chaim Grossmna comes to my shul every Shabbos". Now, Mr. Valencia started to cry, becuase he did not know Chaim was still alive.
After Shabbos Levi got back together with Chaim Valencia and they took a picture together. Levi went and printed the picture and framed it and afterwards called the President of Lincoln Park Jewish Center and told him to please send an email to the entire congregation to tell them "This coming Shabbos, the Rabbi has a surprise speech. Make sure to be there."
That Shabbos, the shul was filled to capacity. Everyone came to hear what Rabbi Levi Welton had to say. When it was time, Levi got up and began speaking about that weeks Parashah, the Parashah Shemos, the Parashah of names. He spoke of how, during their time as slaves in Egypt, the Yidden, suffered and sacrificed to keep their Jewish Identity and names alive. He than said, "Here with us, today, is man who has been through his own Modern Day Egypt - the Holocaust. He risked his life to put on Tefilin secretly in Buchanwald. He sold an extra precious shirt, so he could buy another piece of bread so that he could fast on Yom Kippur". Than, Rabbi Welton asked Chaim Grossman to come to the podium, He took out the picture of himself and Chaim Valencia and he turns to Chaim Grossman and says "Chaim, that man in the picture, is carrying your name today and he is keeping your legacy alive".
Chaim Grossman took the picture. He got up and he gave a breacha to the whole community. The community was applauding. It was a truly surreal feeling to be in that moment. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Everyone was crying...
Because Chaim Grossman never had any children of his own.
While doing the filming and interviews for the video, Rabbi Gold interviewed Chaim Valencia, who said afterwards "Chaim is a beautiful name. Its a beautiful name. But for me its not only the name, it's about the person who is holding that name on this earth. I had the opportunity to hold his hand and understand, how many tragedies this man went through, how many bad things he had to see, but now I have the opportunity to keep this legacy in my future generations."
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