BS'D
Rabbi Dubrawsky, My Rabbi, My Mashpiah, my mentor and Friend …
i haven't been able to think of much else for the last 2 weeks - in utter disbelief that he left us so suddenly … Rabbi D. was like a 'spiritual' father to me …
I met Rabbi Dubrawski about 15 years ago at the Hadassah Bazar where Chabad had a booth every year .
That year ( 1998) in the early years of my business we partcipated in the Hadasah Bazar and as Divine Providence would have it - our booth was located across the hall from Chabad , so I went over to the table, and met Rabbi D for the first time - he immediately invited me to a Farbrenghen at his house that week. I had no idea what a 'Farbrenghen' was - he told me to just come, something about him rang true to me , his sincerity, gentleness/kind approach - I was drawn to his energy from the get go . So I arrived at his house for the first time and tasted my first 'Farbrenghen' that was ultimately to change my life forever . I had been living in China for many years and had recently moved back to Canada , I was searching for more Spirituality in my life, and I sensed that there was tremendous depth in Judaism that I had never touched on , I started attending Rabbi D's classes and was invited for shabbes and yomtov meals at his house where I met his wonderful wife Dina and their adorable children ,
Rabbi D's was like a magnet to my soul - after a few months Rabbi D arranged for me to go to NY for a shabaton in Crown Heights where he arranged for me to stay with his family , I ended up staying 2 weeks, and when I returned to Vancouver decided that I wanted to continue keeping the Holy Shabbes. my relationship to Rabbi D grew over the years , and under his guidance continued growing in my Yidishkeit , as he taught me more about Torah and Mitzvot and how to connect to something Higher . He encouraged me to take some time off and go to Israel to learn , and then he encouraged and councelled me on the path to find my soul mate. After my marriage to Shoshana - the Dubrawski's took Shoshana in , and she was immediately drawn to him aswell.
He became our Rav, Mashpiah, confident, marriage councellor and good friend . There wasn't anything that we couldn't speak to Rabbi D about - no matter what it was , he always related to us with a gentle kindness and sensitivity. We will miss him terribly. I am greatful for having had him in my life for these years and know that his memory will stay alive in me and will be a source for Blessing for the rest of my life .
He taught me that Chassidim never really say good by , so I won't say good by to you Rabbi D, Mashiach should come very soon and we should be together again B'mheira ve yameinu !
Ari & Shoshana Schwartz
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