By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
When London diamond dealer Freddy Hager entered the Rebbe’s Brooklyn study in the wee hours of the morning, he was feeling down. Mr. Hager had taken over the family business in 1974 on his father’s sudden passing.
It was now the summer of 1979, and the diamond business was going through a rough period. After hearing about these difficulties, the Rebbe said with a twinkle in his eye, “You are being too negative, too pessimistic. You need to meet positive people in the diamond trade.”
It was a variation on the Hasidic axiom that the Rebbe had frequently mentioned to Mr. Hager: “Think good and it will be good.” If he could not do it on his own, the Rebbe suggested, he should befriend positive people and they would help him.
The Rebbe advised him to visit the New York diamond district while he was in town. Mr. Hager said that would be impossible, as he would be flying out shortly to attend a meeting in London.
“Are you sure?” the Rebbe asked. Mr. Hager said he was. The Rebbe shrugged and said, “You should have much success. Have a safe trip, and do not forget to make it your goal to meet positive individuals.”
Mr. Hager arrived in London to find that the meeting had been canceled.
A week later, there was a commotion at the London Diamond Bourse. The newly elected president of the New York Diamond Dealers Club, Mr. William Goldberg, had come to visit.
Mr. Goldberg, a large man with flowing gray hair that reached his shoulders, had a boisterous sense of humor and a booming voice. He also had an infectious positive attitude.
He was known to purchase the most expensive and glamorous diamonds, and that day Mr. Hager arranged a deal for him for one of the finest diamonds available at the time.
Impressed with Mr. Hager, Mr. Goldberg gave him a commission and then handed him his business card and told him to be in touch.
In contrast to the atmosphere of discretion and covert competition that prevailed in the diamond trade, Mr. Goldberg was always happy to see others succeed, and glad to assist whenever he could.
This attitude greatly influenced Mr. Hager. Mr. Goldberg became his mentor, and from then on the two men spoke to each other several times a day.
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