The winter of 1942–43 was extraordinarily frigid. Rebbetzin Chana fell ill with a high fever. Fearing that her illness might be contagious, Rebbetzin Chana asked no one for help. Her condition deteriorated from day to day.

Postcard sent by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana to their eldest son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, in 1943. The postcard was sent from Chi’ili, Kazakhstan, to Brooklyn, New York. Though marked ‘express,’ the postcard took more than three months to arrive.
Postcard sent by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana to their eldest son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, in 1943. The postcard was sent from Chi’ili, Kazakhstan, to Brooklyn, New York. Though marked ‘express,’ the postcard took more than three months to arrive.

Postcard sent by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana to their oldest son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, in 1943. The postcard was sent from Chi’ili, Kazakhstan, to Brooklyn, New York. Though marked ‘express,’ the postcard took more than three months to arrive.

One day, a couple visiting with Rabbi Levi Yitzchak observed him struggling at the stove trying to cook a pot of kasha (buckwheat). The woman realized that her help was needed, and stayed for several days. As the woman nursed the rebbetzin back to health, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak prayed for his wife’s recovery. Soon she regained her health.