Yankel Blotner

Many great memories and moments of inspiration from Reb Volf.

I learned in montreal in the late chofs and early lameds.

At a fabrengen, he once taught the bochurim a Nigun from Otvotsk and made great
effort to see that we learned it. He told us that they heard it from some other
(non-Chabad) bochrim and would sing it by the Frierdiker Rebbe.

Several nites later, we had a fabrengen with a yunger man-who was unfamiliar with this nigun. When we started singing it, he looked upset and asked why we were singing
what sounded like a Polishe Nigun. When we told him that Reb Volf taught it to us
he turned white and needless to say now "approved" the Nigun.

Several years ago, I visited Reb Volf in the hospital. Because of his condition
and treatments,he could have Tefilin on for just a short time. He said to me with a smile

Ich bin a Mivtza Tefilin Yid- Ich leg tefilin nor far Shma.

One evening ,he came to our dorm and saw that we were frying potatoes-he
commented-S'iz nit gezunt esen gepregelte far'n shlofen.

Once he asked me to go to his house to give him a haircut. I nervously agreed.
Just before starting to cut, he saw my hesitance and said-Yankele kenst ton
Du bist a kol boynik.

Throughout the haircut, he held on to his payes with clenched
fists.