The "Detroiter"

Harav Yaakov Chaim Perlow, the third son of Harav Yisroel the Rebbe of Stolin, was born in
1888. On July 7 1923 he came to America. There were already many Chassidim in the USA, many of whom were in the audience by the Bais Aharon, Harav Aharon of Karlin. There were
chassidim in Detroit, and in NY. There were 3 shuls in the East Side of Manhattan, the
most famous one was at 48 Orchard St. Reb Nisson Pilchick z’’l always related to us the
impact that their Avodas Hatfilah with Mesiras Nefesh; as well as the Ahavas Chaveirim, had on him. The Rebbe, at first lived in the East Side and he went to work on many chesed projects together with the Rebbitzin Chana Chaya.


Builds a Shul and Home for Chesed


The Rebbe seemed that Yiddishkeit was moving to Williamsburg and he yearned to have a large Shul as well as an adequate space for his vast chesed empire. The Rebbe made a special trip to Detroit where many rich Stoliner chassidim [as many as 700] lived there. The Rebbe raised $7000 which was enough to buy two buildings 159 and 161 Rodney St. St. One building 161 was renovated into the big Shul and 159 was a three story building for his residence and chesed.
It is told of a Yid who dropped off his sick son at the doorstep of the Rebbe who cared for the sick person and after a few weeks the father came to pick him up, and no
thank you was exchanged. The father understood that the home of the Rebbe was for healing sick people for chesed. The Rebbe had an entire floor for all type of homeless people. The Rebbe had one request: All guests must leave their shoes at the doorstep. The Rebbe then inspected the shoes and the shoes that needed repairs were sent to a private shoemaker who fixed the shoes and brought back to the door step. Everything done in a discreet manner. The couple began to work tirelessly to open a kitchen for all the poor Yidden. The Rebbe had a history of being a Baal Chesed and that is why his heilge father agreed he come to America.
They didn’t rest a moment and were always busy helping another Yid, especially in the days when the economy was very bad and it was common that the landlords evicted many
Yidden who couldn’t pay the rent. The Rebbe teamed up with the Boyaner Rebbe and the Kapitchnitz Rebbe to raise thousands of Dollars to pay for food, rent, electric bills, and other expenses. He was also instrumental to help Yeshivas to cover their payroll. Reb Nisson related that the Rebbe covered the entire Payroll of Beis Yaakov!
There is so much that can be told of their chesed. The Rebbe was the back bone of the Vaad Ha’ezra to help Rabbonim during the war, as well as the Agudas Ha’Admorim to help
the Rebbe's settle in America. He received thousands of letters from Europe for all kinds of help, and he never turned anyone down. There was not a person that didn’t have a fond memory of the Rebbe. Always with a smile and his extraordinary Ahavas Yisrael. The Rebbe himself lived very plain. His clothing were real worn out. All his seforim were in crates as to buy a bookcase was a waste. The money can be used to help a Yid. Whenever Hagaon Reb Shlome Heiman needed some obscure sefer, the Rebbe had it!

The Rebbe used to visit Montreal and the Tolna Rebbe, Rav Yochanan, resided there, and one Erev Shabbos he was desperately looking for sefer Meor Vashemesh. The Tolna Rebbe was in seventh heaven when the Stoliner Rebbe gave the sefer which was in his wooden crate loaded with seforim that the Rebbe always took along. His Chesed was great but the Rebbe still managed to learn many hours a day and nights, it is known that he never slept in a bed. Reb Nisson related that Friday nights, the Rebbe learned all night. Once a chosid peeked through the key hole and noticed the Rebbe up all night, yet when the Rebbe exited his room, he rubbed his eyes, as to show that he just woke up. The Rebbe always tried to hide his greatness!


Hundreds of Bachurim at the Table


His Shabbos table was full with guests, and the Stoliner Shul on 161 Rodney St. in Williamsburg after Davening friday night became a dining room full with hundreds of boys who learnt in Yeshivos especially Torah Vadaas, as well as many other poor people. The Rebbe and the Rebbitzin were the host and parents to all, and she knew exactly what each boy wanted. The Simcha and delight on their faces were obvious. The Rebbe spent time with the many guests and listening to their problems. The Rebbe brought many neshamos closer to
Hashem, with his warmth.


A Home for all


Being the only Chassidishe Shul in Williamsburg the Rebbe’s personal Tish drew many Yidden and Rabbonim from all different Chassidus. The Rebbe was Mechabed the guests with niggunim and Sippurei Tzaddikim that the Tish was Mamash Olam Habah which ran till the wee hours of Friday Night. Having ended so late, the Rebbe started Davening at 10 am as the Chassidim should have a chance to regain their strength and stamina to deliver a Stoliner
davening with the usual screaming and geshmak. The shul also was a welcome home for many Chassidishe Yidden who came from Europe, where they found their warmth.


Niggunim


The Rebbi was a special maven in music and had a great musical ear. He played the violin and saxophone. He introduced many niggunim as he had music notes, from the past Rebbe’s
and composers which he brought along from Stolin. Every year before Rosh Hashana as the Minhag is in Stolin, the Rebbe introduced 6 new songs to be sung Yomim Noraim. Rav Ben
Zion Shenker frequented the Tish and was very close to the Rebbe and sat with Rebbe on Friday afternoon reviewing and helping him with reading the stack of music notes. The Rebbe
was a great Baal Tefilah which brought teshuva to those who heard his Davening. Such a Mesikus!


Mechaya Maisim


Mariam’ke the wife of Volf Aba Bigman, who was by the Heilige Bais Aron from Karlin, was a Chassidista and when the Rebbetzin Chana Chaya passed away in 1939, She did the
housekeeping and cooking. One day while walking up the steps of the Rebbe’s house at 159 Rodney St., she slipped and tumbled down the steps. She was around 90 years old then and
she lost her consciousness and it seemed as she had passed away. One of the Chassidim ran up to the Rebbe to pray for Mariam’ke. The Rebbe smiled and told the chosid to whisper in her ears: ”The Rebbe wants You to make a kugel for him!” That revived her and she got up as if nothing happened to her.


Final Trip


The Rebbe led the Chassidim for 23 years. He traveled to many cities to spread Yiddishkeit and to raise money. He visited Bangor Maine, Chicago, St. Louis, Toronto, Montreal and Detroit. There, it was his untimely passing at the age of 58, 6 days in Iyar 1946,
while visiting his Chassidim in Detroit. After mincha on ו' אייר he said the time has come and put his head down and his Heiligeh Neshama passed on.


There was a question where to bury the Rebbe. But when they opened his suitcase and saw the Rebbe prepared his Tachrichim -burial clothes- they understood that the Rebbe
chose Detroit as his resting place. The Boyaner and Kapitchnitz Rebbe’s attended the Levaya. The Kapitchnitze Rebbe told over then, that the Stoliner Rebbe always borrowed money from him. Before the last trip, the Stoliner Rebbe visited the Kapitchnitze Rebbe, and paid him
off. Now the Rebbe had understood!


Till today the Stoliner Chassidim and Yidden in Detroit visit the Heilige Tzion on ו' אייר Hence, the Rebbe is known as “The Detroiter”. The Rebbe didn’t leave over any children but his Chesed and Good name will always be remebered also the chesed of the Rebbetzin who passed away 16 days Cheshvon 1939. May the Rebbe be a Mailitz Yosher for all as he was a Pillar of Chesed and Ahavas Yisrael to all.