A Story of the power of faith to transform lives

Manchester Piccadilly to Euston train via Austria, Budapest and Williamsburg!
– A Story of the power of faith to transform lives

On a recent train journey to London for the Chief Rabbi’s annual conference, I met
an amazing woman from the Satmar community who inspired me with her story of
faith and hope in the face of adversity . This is the story …

I was supposed to take the 10:15am train to Euston but ended up arriving early at
Piccadilly and so took the earlier train at 9:35am.
I found myself a seat by a table in the nearest coach that had ‘available seating’ and
as soon as I had settled down I noticed a book of Psalms on the seat to my left over
the aisle in front of a Jewish lady. It looked quite old and unusual and so I asked the
lady who owned It about its origin.

The lady (Mrs Weisz) introduced herself as originally from Williamsburg, New York
from the Satmar community now living in Manchester.
With great warmth and a glow in her eyes seemingly expressing joy that I had asked
about the book of Psalms(Tehillim), she answered that the Tehillim had originally
belonged to the holy Satmar Rebbe,

Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum may his righteous
memory be a blessing! (Joel Teitelbaum was the founder and first Grand Rebbe of
the Satmar dynasty. A major figure in the post-war renaissance of Hasidism, Born in
Romania 1887 he escaped Nazi Germany and set up the Chassidic community in
Williamsburg, New York. Today Satmar is one of the largest Chassidic groups
numbering around one hundred thousand.)
I was intrigued by how I had been drawn to this book of psalms and hoped she
would reveal more of the story! She went on to explain the story behind her
acquisition of the Tehillim.
In 1975 her father went with his younger brother – who was about to be bar mitzva –
to see the Rebbe for a blessing in Williamsburg where they lived.
The family were very close with the Rebbe. Her grandfather was the “Rosh Kohol “
essentially the head of the community like a president of a shul and so he came into
regular contact with the Rebbe on all communal related matters.
Mrs Weisz’s grandparents had originally come from Austria and had escaped the
Nazis to Budapest eventually coming under the control of the soviets. Her father was
15 at the time his parents sent him to America on his own to join the fledging post
war Chassidic community in Williamsburg. Her father is still alive aged 92 and tells
how he always remembers saying goodbye to his mother and thinking this would be
the last time he would see her. By God’s grace her grandparents were able to obtain
exit visas and made their way to America some years later.
Her grandfather had been very involved in helping numerous great Rabbis escape
the clutches of the Nazis including the Satmar rebbe and the Belze rebbe of Poland
(there is a book documenting the miraculous escape of the Belze rebbe always
staying one step ahead of the Nazis see
https://www.jewishpress.com/judaism/jewish-columns/chodesh-tov/the-belzer-
rebbes-flight-to-freedom/2007/03/21/ ) who were hunting these holy men and
spiritual leaders.
Coming back to the pre bar mitzva meeting of the brothers and the Satmar Rebbe:
The bar mitzva boy (Mrs W’s nephew now 62 years old ) in a moment of Chassidic
fervour and desire to draw close to the Rebbe, asked the Rebbe for his Siddur that
was at the side of the lectern!
Despite the unusual request the Rebbe lovingly picked up the Siddur gave it a gentle
kiss and handed it to the young boy. He now had his most precious Bar Mitzva gift !
Mrs Weisz’s father seeing this exchange certainly did not want to be left out of this
opportunity to receive a holy gift from his rebbe and so asked the Rebbe for his
Tehillim!

The Rebbe without skipping a heartbeat closed his Tehillim kissing it and handed it
over. And so the Weisz family came into possession of the rebbes Tehillim.
But the story of this Tehillim is not finished. Years later Mrs Weisz’s father gave this
special gift to the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva also a righteous man who dedicated his
life to plumbing the depths of Torah and our spiritual tradition bringing hundreds and
thousands closer to Yiddishkeit and providing blessings to the wider public.
Mrs Weisz’s voice became more serious a she continue her story as to how the
Tehillim was back in her possession.
She continued, “I went through a difficult period and needed something extra to get
me through and so I requested the return of the Tehillim from Mrs Ehrentrau.”
I did not press her further feeling it inappropriate and so I thanked her for the story
and began to daven Shacharis with tallit and Tefillin. However Mrs Weiz interjected
and said I was most welcome to use the Rebbes Tehillim. I thanked her and had in
mind to recite Psalm 27 from it, said during Elul at the end of davening.
Meanwhile Mrs Weiz returned to saying Tehillim. Her sincerity and faith were
apparent in every word. As I davened I could not help but overhear from time to time
she took a phone call from a family member to provide support in some kind-
emotional and logistical support and guidance wrapped with love.

There was something intangibly inspiring about her complete dedication to her family
and simultaneous seamless bond with Hashem. She really is an example of
someone who walks every step with Hashim at their side.
Some 40 minutes later I was ready to recite Psalm 27 whose theme is about King
David’s absolute trust in Hashem’s providence and protection.
I looked over to Mrs Weisz and literally at that moment she closed the Tehillim she
had been reciting. It was as if the Rebbes Tehillim had declared itself ready for me to
immerse my soul into.
After davening I thanked her for letting me use her Tehillim and she was eager to
reveal more of her story ..
11 years ago her daughter who was pregnant with her first child fell seriously ill with
a brain tumour. She was taken to Salford Royal Hospital where she remained for 13
months mostly in an unconscious state. Tragically both her daughter and the baby
died.

It was during this time that she had requested the return of the Satar Rebbe Tehillim
(from Mrs Ehrentrau who is connected to the Manchester yeshiva). She needed to
hold onto something and she says that since then the Tehillim never leaves her side
and she davens from it every day.
Mrs Weiz spoke of the amazing way they were treated by all the hospital staff during
those dark months. Family members would come in regularly to sing and celebrate
Jewish life with their daughter. Special permission was obtained to light Chanukah
candles in the hospital which is unheard of!
When Pesach arrived she koshered a window sill which was used for all the Pesach
goodies. She remembers how the staff of their own accord placed a sign prohibiting
anyone else making use of the window. The mutual bond of love and respect
between the wider family and the staff at the hospital was truly unique.
She recalled how a nurse remarked “Mrs Weisz I don’t know where you and your
family get your faith from which gives you such strength . We have never seen
anything like this before .“
Following the death of her daughter Mrs Weisz volunteers as a health
advocate/liaison for the member of her Chassidic community. She goes in once at
least once a week.

The religious cultural sensitivities of her community sometimes can lead to fear in the
community that hospital medical policies or procedures are against Jewish law. Mrs
Weiz liaises with hospital staff and with sensitivity she navigates the complex issues
which in some cases relate to questions of life and death.
Mrs Weisz speaks with confidence in her approach of tolerance, active listening and
sensitive and loving communication as the best way to navigate the gaps in
cultural/religious knowledge that may exist in the NHS setting. And she speaks in
glowing terms about the front line staff in Salford Hospital who go to great lengths to
accommodate her communities needs.
She lovingly makes large amounts of chocolate cake (she calls babkes) for staff
which have become so popular that she often finds herself in the corridors where
staff say they are really missing her wonderful cake! She gets the hint and makes a
mental note to make another large batch for the Salford Royal as soon as possible.
She reiterates throughout her story how imperative Hakarat Hatov is (recognising the
good and expressing gratitude for even the smallest things we receive from others).
She was also eager to tell me with great pride about her elderly father who is now 92
and lives still in Williamsburg.
In his younger years, he had sought advice from the Rebbe about his life path. He
was a very diligent Torah scholar and was unsure as to whether he should
continue investing in his learning or to leave the four cubits of the Bet Midrash to
pursue a livelihood. The Rebbe strongly advised that he find a livelihood and
answered his concerns about his spiritual development saying he could learn each
morning and after work.
Her father did exactly that. Every day he would awake and begin study at 5am to
7am after which he went to Shacharis and the to work returning at 5pm where he
continued his learning schedule until 11pm ! He would then return home to spend
time with his wife. I asked her if her mother missed her father and she said they have
a wonderful relationship.
Now as an elderly man he dedicates most of his day to Torah study. She describes
her father’s immense Torah knowledge but also the spiritual glow on his face. And
thank God his wife is still alive and well aged 89 who shares this spiritual journey.
The train pulled into Euston station. Mrs Weisz leaving her seat wished me
“ a good gebenched yar “ (a good and blessed year). I responded in like wishing “A
good gebenched yar”.
As I turned away a tear began to emerge from the corner of my eye as a deep
emotions welled up inside of me.
My train journey had concluded but my spiritual journey this Elul had only just begun.
I was so thankful to Hashem for bringing me into connection with this inspiring lady.

Her deep simcha and joy at living life with Hashem enables her to overcome her grief
and dedicate her energy to giving to others and especially her family.

The Yahrzeit of her daughter had recently passed and was marked with a. Special
family Shabbes in Manchester with a marquee in the garden required for the some
70 close family members !
Some of her children never met their sister but through video footage and stories of
her pure life her legacy lives on in them.
When we travel somewhere we step out of our normal hectic routines where we are
often so overwhelmed we don’t notice the gem souls that pass us by.
The month of Elul we begin our spiritual journey back to God through introspection,
prayer and good deeds. We blow the shofar each day to awaken our souls from their
slumber.

This Elul my recital of Tehilim has been infused with more depth and meaning as I
think of the Satmar Rebbe’s Tehillim and tears of faith, love and hope that have been
poured over it.

Shanna Tova