The widow of renowned sculptor Jacques Lifchitz came for a private audience with the Rebbe shortly after her husband’s sudden passing.

In the course of the meeting, she mentioned that her husband had been working on a massive sculpture of a phoenix (a mythical bird) for the Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus.

A sculptor in her own right, Mrs. Lifchitz had considered completing her husband’s work, but had been advised that the phoenix is a non-Jewish symbol.

How could she complete such a sculpture and have it brought to Jerusalem?

The Rebbe called for his secretary, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, and asked him for the book of Job. When he received the sacred text, the Rebbe opened it to chapter 29, verse 18, which reads: “and I shall multiply my days like the chol. ”

The Rebbe proceeded to explain the Midrashic commentary1 to the verse, which describes the chol as a bird that lives for 1,000 years, dies, and then is resurrected from its ashes.

Clearly, the phoenix was a Jewish symbol!

Mrs. Lifchitz was delighted at the explanation, and dedicated herself to the project, which she completed shortly thereafter.

The Rebbe had given her a gift of personal rejuvenation that enabled her to complete a symbol of rejuvenation for others.