After the untimely passing of Rabbi Aaron Chitrik, renowned expert on Hebrew manuscripts, family and friends gathered for shiva.  Among the noted visitors was Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau - former Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel and today Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv - and a friend of Rabbi Aaron Chitrik’s brother, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Chitrik. 

While reminiscing about his various encounters with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, as well his experiences with the Rebbe’s emissaries around the world, Rabbi Lau recalled an interesting story: 

His best-selling autobiography, Do Not Raise Your Hand Against the Boy, originally published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Buchenwald, had recently been published in China. 

The Chinese censors carefully combed through the book before its release. Dozens of pictures of Rabbi Lau posed with prominent rabbis and Chasidic rebbes were removed. 

“Only the picture of me with the Lubavitcher Rebbe remained,” Rabbi Lau noted. “I can only imagine that the government, familiar with the personality of the Rebbe through the work of his Shluchim, allowed the picture to remain.”