It happened: Israel P.M. Shamir phones the Lubavitcher Rebbe for a blessing to avert a multiple PLO terror attack

On the 28th of Nissan, 5750 (April 23, 1990) the Rebbe was notified that P.L.O. terrorists were threatening to attack various targets throughout the world.

Rabbi Binyomin Klein A”H, secretary of the Rebbe

                                                                   Former Israel P.M. Yitzchk Shamir A”H

Rabbi Binyomin Klein A”H, secretary of the Rebbe, tells the following story.

It was before Mincha prayers at 2 pm, the telephone in the Rebbe’s office rings, I pick up the telephone, Eliakim Rubenshtein is on the line who passed on the phone to Shamir, and says that PM Shamir wishes to speak to me. He tells me that information has filtered through that the PLO intends to carry out targeted terror attacks to multiple locations; not one location when protective action can be taken, but for multiple locations world-wide, so he is requesting a blessing.

I went and knocked on the Rebbe’s door, the Rebbe opened the door for me, I repeated the story, and the Rebbe showed no reaction whatsoever. I had carried out my duty by informing the Rebbe.

Mincha time came. No-body knew of this call, because no-one was in the office at 2 pm. After Mincha the Rebbe turned towards those present and began talking about the issue at hand.

The Rebbe: We received information about one hour before Mincha that the PLO has given out instructions to their cells around the world to attack targets G-d forbid to deadly harm which we will not elaborate. Therefore it is understood that we must increase all matters of holiness – since the power of the Jewish People lies in their words, beginning with increasing Torah study with great diligence; this will uproot all unwished for issues, and to the contrary, we will transform these so that greatly increased light will beam forth from the darkness, as wisdom overcomes folly.

Rabbi Klein continues: Everybody starts looking around, some gaze at me; “is this a private issue which the Rebbe is making public?” That’s what took place.

The Rebbe had spoken.  The plans were foiled.

The New York Times did not connect the foiled outcome with the Rebbe. The story in the NYT was only in the news the following day that there was a bomb threat which somehow came to naught, not mentioning the Rebbe [who had spoken of this publicly already the previous day at the time of the threat and who had given the spiritual preventive guidelines to prevent the attack].

The Rebbe continued: Since it is not the appropriate way in Chabad to call for fasting even when halachically one could suggest fasting, rather to increase in Tzedaka which will break the decree, and we have the rule ‘think positive and there will be a positive outcome’, but not to reduce the amount or quality of Tzedaka; rather one should give the value of three meals and to recite three additional chapters of Psalms, adding the last chapter which ends with the words ‘Every Soul should praise G-d, together that each of such should assess what one can contribute spiritually, in this direction and spirit, this, by men women and children, certainly not to cause fear to those around one, but to increase in both Torah and Mitzvos, amidst comfort and true trust in G-d.