"It's been a long time since we met. I met my father only three years ago and it's been 15 years since I saw my mother, 21 years since I saw my sister and the children don't even know who I am."

This is an excerpt of a letter written by the unforgettable Shliach Rabbi Yehuda Leib Raskin of blessed memory, the Rebbe's Shliach in Casablanca, Morocco since 5720 where he was involved in teaching the Jews Torah and Chassidut and connect them with the Rebbe until he passed away eight years ago.

Rabbi Raskin's phemomenal achievements have already been described at length in a series of articles that have appeared in the Kfar Chabad Magazine throughout the years.

During his years as a Shliach he would travel from time to time to the Rebbe from Morocco but he never travelled to visit his parents and family in Israel. He met his father in 770 but he didn't see his mother and sister for many years.

In 5735 there was a golden opportunity for the entire family to meet together. Rabbi Raskin's niece, Mrs. Rivkah Gurary the daughter of Mrs. Tzivia Bravman (Rabbi Raskin's sister) of Kfar Chabad, was going to marry Yochonon Gurary (who today is Chief Rabbi of Holon) in N.Y. and the grandparents of the Kallah, Rabbi Raskin's parents and of course his sister, the mother of the Kallah, were planning to all be at the wedding.

But a Shliach doesn't leave his location of Shlichus without first asking the one who sent him there, the Rebbe. So he sent an express letter to the Rebbe's mazkirus asking them to find out what the Rebbe thinks about his coming to N.Y. for the wedding. He also asked the Rebbe if he can bring along his entire family or just several of his children.

Actually, Rabbi Raskin's letter itself is a very compelling document in which one sees how a Shliach is devoted to his Shlichus with mesirus nefesh.

The Rebbe responded to Rabbi Raskin's letter on the margins of his letter. Responding to his question whether he can bring along all of his family, the Rebbe wrote "No." As for the rest of his questions the Rebbe responded "Regarding the remaining questions go by the advice of Rabbi Binyamin Eliyahu Gorodetzky who is now in Europe."

Rabbi Raskin understood that the Rebbe is not so happy about his leaving his venue of shlichus, even for a short time. In the end he stayed in Morcco and did not travel to the wedding.

In honor of Rabbi Raskin's eighth yohrtzeit, to be commemorated on Erev Shabbos by family, Anash and mekurovim, Shturem.org presents a copy of that letter and the Rebbe's response to him.  We also present a video of Rabbi Raskin's fiery speech in 770, inspiring Anash to go out on the Rebbe's Shlichus, at all costs. Rabbi Raskin himself was a dugma chaya, an exemplary Shliach and soldier of the Rebbe.

To view, click play