The Yanuka's Eyeglasses

The chassid Reb Chaim Yitzchok Schwartz had been childless for over thirteen years since his wedding. In 5683 (1922), during the first year of Rav Avrohom Elimelech of Karlin’s leadership as Rebbe, after he had succeeded his father, the Yanuka of Stolin, Reb Chaim Yitzchok traveled to chutz la’aretz to see him.

His son, Reb Alter Avrohom Schwartz, related, “When my father handed the Rebbe his kvitel, Rav Avrohom Elimelech said to him, ‘Der Tatte zichrono livracha hut mir iber gelazt zeine brilen, mir zalen leinen in dem a kvitel (My father, of blessed memory, left me his eyeglasses with which to read a kvitel).’ Then he added, ‘Mir huben es nuch keinmul nisht ungetin, far aich velen mir es untihn (I have never before put them on, but for you I will put the glasses on).’ Rav Avrohom Elimelech then put the Yanuka’s glasses over his holy eyes and read my father’s kvitel. I was born the next year.”