By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Shabtai Slavatitzky, the Head Shliach of Antwerp, Belgium, told the following story at the Kinus Hamechanchim in Israel:
An air conditioner in the Rebbe’s home on 1304 President Street in Crown Heights once broke and a technician was called.
They called a non-Chabad chossid who worked as a heating and air conditioning mechanic. They did not call in a Lubavitcher who will be intimidated by the task of working in the Rebbe’s home.
The technician they hired was not told whose home it was.
After finishing the work, the man turned to Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson and asked, “are there many Lubavitchers in the neighborhood?”
Yes, she answered.
“But, you are not Lubavitchers. Right?” the man inquired.
“Why do you think so?” the Rebbetzin replied curiously.
“Because you don’t have a picture of the Rebbe hanging in your house. All the other homes I’ve been to in the neighborhood, there have been photos and portraits of the Rebbe hanging.”
To which the Rebbetzin replied, still not revealing her identity, “by us the photo can also be in the heart.”
Rabbi Slavatitzky also told another inspiring story of a non-Chabad chossid who started learning chassidus and becoming inspired by Lubavitch.
“His wife later said: In the beginning I thought my husband brought home a new Rebbe, but then I realized, that the Rebbe brought to my house a new husband…”
