This week, I received a truly invaluable gift—a bottle of the Rebbe’s mashkeh. Not just any old bottle of vodka, this one is sacred—a symbol of blessing and connection to the Rebbe.
Having never had the opportunity to meet or receive anything from the Rebbe myself, this was my first opportunity to drink the Rebbe’s mashkeh and I am still overflowing with excitement and gratitude.
This particular bottle was gifted to one of the Rebbe’s nurses in the 1990s. And because it comes from the Rebbe, it is associated with tremendous blessing.
How did I come into possession of such a rare and cherished item?
We recently brought a wounded Israeli soldier to NYC for medical treatment. While attending Shabbat services at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, he met a Chabad supporter. When the soldier shared with this person how deeply connected he felt to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, this Chabad supporter was moved to gift him a bottle of the Rebbe’s mashkeh.
How did the philanthropist have the bottle?
As it turns out, he received two bottles earlier this year from Chabad emissary Rabbi Mendel Shemtov as a token of appreciation for investing in his work. Rabbi Shemtov intended to send him one bottle but accidentally sent two. And when the philanthropist called to let him know, Rabbi Shemtov said, “Keep it! I’m sure it will come to good use.”
Upon meeting the soldier and seeing how deeply he feels for the Rebbe and the tremendous sacrifices he has made for Am Yisrael, the philanthropist felt moved to give him one of the precious bottles.
So this week, at our farewell party for this brave soldier who has become close to many in our community, we all had a tiny sip of the Rebbe’s mashkeh, spreading his holy blessings through the room.
What’s remarkable about the Rebbe’s mashkeh is its unique properties. It can be diluted over and over again, allowing its blessings to be shared with countless people, and by diluting it with my own mashkeh, I was able to obtain my own mini bottle to use and share in the future.
Receiving this gift has been a reminder of the Rebbe's ongoing presence and influence in our lives. Even though he is no longer physically with us, his legacy and blessings continue to flow through his emissaries, his teachings, and even his mashkeh.
Kindness has a ripple effect, seen so evidently in this case. The Rebbe sent shluchim out to build communities for Jews all over the world. Grateful for the Rebbe’s vision and his shliach’s implementation, the philanthropist donated to support the shliach’s work. The shliach thanked the donor by gifting him not one but two bottles of the Rebbe’s vodka. The wounded soldier did the ultimate kindness—putting his life on the line (with terrible consequences) to protect all of us and our homeland. In gratitude, the philanthropist passed his gift on to the wounded soldier and everyone in our community who attended his goodbye party. Now I have a bottle of my own, in my home, to share with guests on special occasions.
Look how many people benefit when we pay it forward, sharing blessings and kindness with those around us.
As I reflect on this experience, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to connect with the Rebbe's blessings in such a tangible way. May we all continue to be inspired by the Rebbe's love, wisdom, and generosity, and may we strive to share those blessings with others—paying it forward, one step at a time.