By SHARYN PERLMAN

“You hear all the timeabout stories of peoplewho go to the Ohel [the

Lubavitcher Rebbe’s grave] and haveall kinds of miracles happen, and you

think they’re bubbe meises [oldwives’ tales], but this one is real,” saysGeorge Zobel.

Zobel knows about miracles. InDecember, he was at death’s door,lying in the Cleveland Clinic,barely conscious, nearly succumb-ing to advanced liver disease. Hisonly hope for survival was a livertransplant.

Several months before complica-tions from his disease landed him inCleveland, Zobel, 55, a Great Neckresident, asked several local rabbisif they knew of any agencies thatcould help him find a suitable liverdonor.

Enter Rabbi Yoseph Geisinsky,spiritual leader of the Chabad ofGreat Neck. The Zobel andGeisinsky children both attendedNorth Shore Hebrew Academytogether and the parents becamefriendly. So when Zobel’s healthstarted to fail, Geisinsky was one ofthe rabbis he contacted. And it was

Geisinsky who made the “shidduch”between Zobel and the gift of a newliver he received just five monthsago, on Jan. 3, at Mt. Sinai MedicalCenter in New York.

Zobel and his wife, Doreen, willreceive the Miracle of Life Awardon June 19 at the Chabad of GreatNeck Annual Dinner, celebrating14 years of excellence at theSilverstein Hebrew Academy andseven years of The FriendshipCircle, which helps children withdisabilities.

Reflecting, Zobel says that whenhe thanked Geisinsky for makingthe shidduch, the rabbi replied,“The shidduch was made byHashem; it was a match made inheaven. I was just the shaliach, themessenger.”

Geisinsky knows the family of

Nicole, the 44-year-old woman, alsofrom Great Neck,who donated herliver to Zobel.Nicole, who waschildless and issurvived by hermother and brother,was dying in NorthShore UniversityHospital when Zobelwas in Cleveland.Geisinsky knewabout Zobel’s condi-tion and intervened.

The rabbi says that“Nicole’s mother andbrother felt very pos-itive about helpingand saving otherlives [in addition toZobel, another per-son received a kidney from Nicole].It’s really a mitzvah to save lives,an opportunity to do somethinggreat,” adding that the process wasdone “within Halachic and legalparameters.”

Zobel says that “as hard as it’s beenfor Nicole’s mother, she is happy thatat least people gained life fromNicole’s death by donating her liverand kidney.” The Zobels have stayedin touch with Nicole’s family. “In

fact, we had her mother over forShabbat dinner recently,” says Zobel.

As often happens, a miracle’s jour-ney does not travel in a straight line.As Zobel explains, the twists andturns of the miracle that today allowshim to enjoy life with Doreen, hischildren and granddaughter, involveother people — especially one RabbiChaim Slavaticki, of Chabad of Ft.Lauderdale Beach.

Some nine years ago, Slavaticki,then an 18-year-old descendant of aprominent Chabad family inBelgium who was doing outreach inNew York, found his way intoZobel’s Manhattan office, gentlycoaxing him to put on tefillin. Theyoung man came back often and,over the years, Zobel befriendedSlavaticki and came to “think of himas my son.”

Slavaticki gently suggested thatZobel visit the Ohel, saying, “George,

whenever you wantto go, I’ll dropeverything and takeyou.” Zobel nevertook the offer.

In the fall of 2011,Slavaticki, now mar-ried with a baby,was in New Yorkjust for the day. Hecalled Zobel, whowas by then verysick. Zobel said toSlavaticki, “I thinkit’s time to go to theOhel.” They went,both praying for amiracle. Two monthslater, when Zobelwas at death’s door inCleveland, Slavatickiflew up from Ft.Lauderdale and

prayed by Zobel’s bedside. Nicoledied on Jan. 2; Zobel’s new life began

on Jan. 3.Zobel, who is “not a religious per-

son, but I’m very traditional,” says,“Thank God, today I’m totally fine. Ilook better than I’ve looked in a long,long time. I’m totally able to live mylife with no restrictions.”

Geisinsky would agree with thatassessment, adding one thought, “Ithink George now has to live a lifethat’s not only his own life, but he hasto complete the life of Nicole. Heneeds to make the world a betterplace.”

Also being honored at the Chabadof Great Neck dinner will be

Abe and Afsaneh Daniels, who willreceive the Chesed (Kindness)Award, for their commitment to theChabad of Great Neck FriendshipCircle. Other honorees include CurtisKatz (Founders Award), Jerry andMojgan Kahen (Builders Award),

continued on page 23

‘Miracles Do Happen’Organ transplant recipient to be honored by Chabad of Great Neck

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‘As hard as it’s been for Nicole’s mother, she is happy that at least

people gained life from Nicole’s deathby donating her liver and kidney.’

—George Zobel,liver transplant recipient

‘The shidduch [between the liver andthe recipient] was made by Hashem; itwas a match made in heaven. I was

just the shaliach, the messenger.’ —Rabbi Yoseph Geisinsky

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JEWISH WORLD • JUNE 8-14, 2012 17

Goerge Zobel (left) is alive today because he received a liver transplant. RabbiYoseph Geisinsky (right) made the “shidduch” between Zobel and the liver.

Congressman Steve Israel (NationalLeadership Award), CouncilwomanAnna and Darren Kaplan(Community Service Award), andAsher and Lauren Abesera (YoungLeadership Award).

Abe Daniels, who is receivingthe Chesed Award in recognitionof his commitment to the Chabadof Great Neck Friendship Circle,says, “I am involved with the dis-abled children. The communityneeds Chabad to help these chil-dren to be able to do simple tasksso they can be part of the generalsociety.” The Daniels do not haveanyone in their family who hasspecial needs, but Mr. Danielssays he supports the FriendshipCircle because “the childrentouched my heart.”

The Daniels, who are “not reli-gious, we are traditional PersianJews who believe very stronglyin Judaism and Zionism,” accord-ing to Mr. Daniels, have beeninvolved with the Chabad for 25years and, as he says, “I believein their cause and support them

with a full heart.”Daniels, 67, is president of

Abraham Daniels Real EstateInvestors, Inc., in Great Neck. TheDaniels are the parents of twogrown sons, Adam and Aaron, andhave been Great Neck residentssince 1980. They met RabbiGeisinsky in 1985, “when he justcame to Great Neck,” says Mr.Daniels. “He was a very sincereand likeable individual, and I real-ly believe in him. He loves to servethe community.”

This is the second time theDaniels are being honored by theChabad. Mr. Daniels explains, “Iam not a public person, but sinceRabbi Geisinsky asked, I couldn’trefuse him. I want to truly honorRabbi Geisinsky for the impossibletask that he was able to do — creat-ing a Chabad. He became very suc-cessful and I wish him a lot of luck.”

The Chabad of Great NeckAnnual Dinner will be held onJune 19, 6:30 p.m., at TempleIsrael of Great Neck, 108 OldMill Road. For more informa-tions or to make a reservation forthe dinner call 516.487.4554, e-mail dinner22@chabadgn.comor visit www.chabadgn.com.

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