Reb Levik

 

The architect R. Mordechai Gorelik and his family repeatedly had tried to apply to leave the Soviet Union, but they kept getting denied. Somehow, they managed to send a letter to the Rebbe, King Moshiach asking for a blessing and  the following response was received: 

“You should go to Alma-Ata to the grave of my father, prostrate yourself there, read the appropriate prayers and ask for blessings. And everything will definitely be decided positively and there is no need to be afraid.

They immediately went to Alma-Ata. With them was Mordechai's cousin, who was an amateur photographer. He brought a camera with him and took dozens of photographs of  Levi Yitzhak’s tombstone from different angles. After that, a miracle happened - they received permission to leave. This was in the early 70s.

First stop for Rabbi  Gorelik was at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn , where he was honored to receive an audience with the Rebbe. He brought with him photographs of the tombstone which the Rebbe began to examine carefully. He even took out a magnifying glass from his desk drawer and looked at picture after picture in great detail. The Rebbe then turned to R. Gorelik and he, in his words, saw that "the Rebbe is not here."

A few minutes later, the Rebbe King Moshiach looked towards the window and said, “What do you think? Is it possible to transfer my father's grave here, from Alma-Ata to New York? Has there been such a precedent? Some time passed and then the Rebbe said : "Let him stay there."

“In my personal opinion,” said R. Gorelik, — The Rebbe really wanted to be with his father and therefore wanted to take him to New York. But, obviously, the Rebbe saw that it would be more beneficial for  Jews if the burial place of his father remained in Alma-Ata. And again, as always, the Rebbe gave up his personal desire and right in the commandment to honor his father in favor of other Jews...