From Stuttering to Inspiring Thousands: Rabbi Butman's Remarkable Journey

Anyone who knew Rabbi Meir Shlomo Butman, the Chabad emissary serving the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Neve Yaakov and Atarot, when he was a young boy, would hardly recognize him today as he delivers regular Chassidic lectures to large audiences.

Rabbi Butman is known for his confidence, broad Torah knowledge, and exceptional sensitivity, qualities that make his classes both engaging and inspiring. Yet none of these traits were visible during his childhood. Back then, he was known by only one title: "The stuttering boy."

"The Stuttering Boy"

"When I was in third grade, my teacher in cheder asked me a question that I didn't know how to answer, and that was when everything began," Rabbi Butman recalls.

"Today I know that Chassidic thought offers an interesting perspective on stuttering. One explanation is that stuttering can occur when a person's thoughts move faster than their speech. Perhaps that is true in my case, because my mind has always raced ahead. Someone says one sentence to me, and I've already formulated responses to the next eight sentences they are about to say.

"As a child, this made life incredibly difficult. The other children laughed at me openly and mocked the way I spoke. Their imitation was deeply humiliating, and I have never forgotten it.

"There was another challenge as well. I was a child who desperately wanted to express himself. I had so much to say, but because of the stutter I gradually became 'the child who doesn't speak.' Every time I tried to talk, I struggled, and it brought me tremendous embarrassment.

"There were many occasions when I simply remained silent. Sometimes I would try to speak, but the entire class would turn and look at me. That only increased the pressure and made me even more self conscious.

"Even today, despite years of practicing different methods to manage my stutter, I still occasionally find myself standing before hundreds of people, trying to deliver a lecture, and suddenly getting stuck."

Thankfully, he says, those moments no longer frighten him.

"Because I don't panic, it is much easier to find solutions in the moment, whether through breathing techniques, choosing different words, or other strategies. Even so, whenever I am invited to speak, I still carry that concern with me. I genuinely enjoy speaking to fellow Jews and strengthening them spiritually, but that does not mean the fear completely disappears."

A Letter from the Rebbe

Rabbi Butman says he possesses a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that has been a constant source of encouragement.

"The Rebbe wrote to someone who struggled with stuttering that he should not be concerned because he would receive 'the very best marriage proposals.'

"I first came across that letter when I myself was dating, just before my very first date. Those words strengthened me tremendously. I went into that meeting with confidence, and that was where I first met my wife.

"Before our date, it was very important to me that she knew I stuttered. I didn't want her to be surprised. Later she told me that after the date she went home and said to her father, 'He doesn't stutter at all.'

"And she was right. After reading such a powerful letter from the Rebbe, I truly did not stutter."

A Chabad Emissary in a Lithuanian Neighborhood

While stuttering presented many obstacles during his childhood, Rabbi Butman says his greatest challenge began about thirteen years ago, when he and his wife accepted the role of Chabad emissaries in Neve Yaakov, one of Jerusalem's predominantly Lithuanian yeshiva communities.

"I remember that while we were dating, my wife and I decided we would accept shlichut anywhere in Israel or anywhere in the world, except Neve Yaakov, the neighborhood where she had grown up," he says with a smile.

"In the end, that is exactly where we were sent. Today we do not see it as a compromise at all. On the contrary, we understand that this mission is no less important than serving abroad. We have every opportunity to spread light and strengthen Jewish hearts precisely by working within a Lithuanian community."

The Vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

"The Lubavitcher Rebbe's vision was to spread Chassidut throughout the world. He often quoted the famous letter of the Baal Shem Tov, who described ascending to the chamber of Mashiach and asking, 'When will the Master come?' Mashiach replied, 'When your wellsprings spread outward.'

"In other words, when the teachings of Chassidut reach every corner of the Jewish world.

"The Baal Shem Tov devoted himself to spreading these teachings among Jewish communities, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe continued that mission, expanding it to every corner of the globe.

"When I arrived in Neve Yaakov, I realized that serving as Chabad emissaries in a Lithuanian neighborhood carries its own unique importance. It is not always easy, because introducing Chassidic teachings into such a community requires patience and perseverance."

Watching a Community Change

"I remember hanging posters inviting children to our Lag BaOmer parade and working incredibly hard just to attract participants," he recalls.

"When we established the Chabad House and I began teaching Chassidut, very few residents showed any interest.

"But we never stopped.

"Today, thirteen years later, we can point to an extraordinary transformation. We now have a network of kollels dedicated to the study of Chassidut, with more than one hundred married Torah scholars learning Chassidic teachings every single day.

"We operate a thriving Chabad synagogue where hundreds of worshippers gather every Shabbat. Many people are forced to stand on the steps outside because there is simply not enough room inside.

"Throughout the week I teach numerous Chassidut classes, while my wife leads extensive programming for women and delivers at least three classes every week.

"We also oversee extensive activities through the Shifra and Puah organization, which supports new mothers. My wife recently told me they have now helped more than one thousand women after childbirth.

"The activity here never stops. This coming Lag BaOmer, we expect more than two thousand children to participate in our parade."

Is an Overseas Post More Exciting?

When asked whether he would have preferred serving somewhere more exotic, Rabbi Butman smiles.

"I'll tell you something. My brother serves as a Chabad emissary in Cambodia. He does remarkable work there, bringing many Jews closer to Judaism.

"He recently spent Shabbat with us and could not stop expressing his amazement at the scope of the work taking place here.

"So yes, serving overseas may sound more glamorous. But when you serve a neighborhood of approximately six thousand families, and you know there is hardly a family whose life you have not touched in some way, you realize what an incredible privilege and success this mission truly is."

Learning from the Lithuanian Community

Rabbi Butman is quick to point out that the relationship has enriched him as well.

"Absolutely. These are wonderful people, and I have learned a great deal from them.

"The greatest lesson they have taught me is complete dedication to Torah study. It is not that the Chassidic world does not value Torah learning. Of course it does. But here I witnessed an extraordinary level of commitment.

"Today I devote many hours each day to Torah study, and I am convinced that had I not served here as a shaliach, I would probably never have reached this level of consistency."

"Do Not Pressure the Child"

Rabbi Butman says he now enjoys close relationships with many of the young scholars who attend his classes.

"At first, I worried that my stutter would prevent me from communicating my message effectively," he admits.

"But God granted me special Heavenly assistance. My lectures flow naturally. Not because I never get stuck, but because the people here are so gracious that they make me feel completely comfortable. As everyone knows, stuttering is greatly influenced by stress. When the pressure disappears, the stutter becomes almost unnoticeable."

Recently, several parents of children who stutter traveled from across Jerusalem to attend his classes together with their children.

"They wanted their children to see firsthand that stuttering does not have to prevent a person from accomplishing anything in life. Perhaps encouraging these children and their parents has become part of my own mission."

A Message to Parents

Asked whether he has advice for parents whose children struggle with stuttering, Rabbi Butman's answer is immediate.

"The most important thing is not to pressure your child and never make them feel that there is something wrong with them.

"It is perfectly acceptable if they occasionally get stuck or stutter.

"In my experience, parents should also avoid offering their own techniques for overcoming stuttering. There are professional methods that can help, but they should come from qualified specialists. The strategy that seems effective to us as parents may not be the one that works for our child.

"And above all, keep sending one message: everything is okay.

"Life goes on. There is no reason to give up even the smallest dream because of a stutter. It simply is not worth it."