In this episode, Rabbi Mayer Plotkin of Montreal, Canada, shares a candid and entertaining conversation about his life experiences- growing up in Montreal, eventually coming to Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn, and, through hashgacha pratis, finding his way to the Rebbe and joining the Lubavitch Yeshivos in Montreal and 770. Rabbi Plotkin experienced being by the Rebbe as a bochur in the late 1950s and early 1960s, giving him unique and up-close memories of the Rebbe during those years. He shares many personal memories and fascinating experiences from over the years, including his interactions with the Rebbe’s mother, moments surrounding the Rebbe’s heart attack, and stories he heard firsthand from elder Chassidim such as R’ Zalman Gurary and R’ Shmuel Zalmanov. A conversation filled with stories and an inside glimpse into the world of Lubavitch in those early years.

In this episode, Reb Avraham Shmuel Levine of Eretz Yisroel discusses his family’s Litvishe background, including his grandfather’s position as a rav near Yekaterinoslav and his interactions with the Rebbe’s father, Harav Levi Yitzchak. He describes how his father came to learn in Tomchei Temimim and eventually escaped from Russia, as well as his own birth and upbringing in New England and his years in the yeshiva at Bedford and Dean. Reb Avraham Shmuel recalls his early encounters with the Rebbe, his journey to learn in Kfar Chabad, the yechidus he had beforehand, and the letters he received from the Rebbe while he was there. He also shares memories of the famed mashpia Reb Shlomo Chaim Kesselman and the profound influence he had on him. Upon returning to America, Reb Avraham Shmuel unexpectedly became involved with Ezras Torah, eventually serving as secretary of Agudas Harabanim—a position he held for many years, until moving to Eretz Yisroel. Through this role, he developed close relationships with many of the leading non-Lubavitch Rabbanim of the previous generation, including Reb Moshe Feinstein, Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin, Rabbi Simcha Elberg, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, and Reb Gedalia Schorr. At the same time, he served as a discreet Lubavitch liaison, keeping Rabbi Hodakov and the Rebbe informed and working behind the scenes to advance many of the Rebbe’s initiatives. He shares story after story of fascinating encounters and the remarkable things he was able to accomplish—including how Reb Moshe Feinstein came to be mesader kiddushin at his wedding and had a yechidus with the Rebbe during that visit. This is only a glimpse of a fascinating episode filled with history, personalities, and firsthand memories. Listen and enjoy!