Indelible Mark
Those who merited to speak privately with the Rebbe always left with deeper insight and appreciation of his influence. The Avner Institute presents three such encounters – a scientist in the midst of research; a prominent rabbi on a covert Russian mission; a businessman in awe of human connections – which show the impact of the Rebbe’s legacy and his constant encouragement.
In Loving memory of Hadassah Bas Schneur Zalman.
“A Physical Mark Remains”
Mrs. Yonina Fallenberg relates:
My father, Arye Weinreb, was a respected professor of physics at Hebrew University, in Jerusalem. In 5731 (1970-1971) he spent his sabbatical year in the United States, together with his family Through the influence of an acquaintance, he managed to arrange a yechidus, private audience, with the Rebbe.
The Rebbe greeted him warmly. During the course of their audience, he asked my father questions regarding his work and research. My father, assuming the Rebbe was only being polite, answered in generalities.
But the Rebbe persisted. Still, my father answered in generalities.
Finally, my father felt compelled to explain in greater detail about the nature of his work.
The Rebbe listened thoughtfully, then said, “May I recommend that you take a look at a particular scientific publication.” He gave the title. “I believe this will be most helpful to your research.”
(My father remembered the title. When later he returned to the university, he looked it up. To his astonishment the journal included a highly relevant article, which he read to his great benefit.)
As they continued to talk, it came my father’s turn to ask a question.
“I see how constantly busy is the Rebbe. What exactly is he trying to achieve? What is the Rebbe’s objective?”
The Rebbe replied, “When a Jew dons tefillin in the morning, the tefillin leave a physical mark on his arm. Even after quite a while, since he wore the tefillin, a physical mark remains on his body.”
The Rebbe took an expansive breath. “This is what I seek to achieve spiritually. When a Jew donned tefillin in the morning, the mark it left should be noticeable on him even in the evening, long after he has worn it. The mark should be visible and proclaim – this is a Jew who performed the mitzvah of tefillin this morning!”
My father, a Torah-observant Jew, maintained a set schedule for Torah study. However, he told the Rebbe, “My scientific work takes away from my time for Torah study. Therefore, I am considering leaving my work for this reason.”
The Rebbe sternly rejected this idea. “You must continue your involvement in your work. May the Al-mighty grant that the matters should resolve themselves such that you may integrate your scientific work with your Torah studies.”
It should be noted that the Sichat Hashavua (weekly discourse) from the week of Bereishis 5751 featured a short interview with him, and he is quoted there as saying: “I am not a Chassid, but I cannot recall a man who impressed me as much as the Rebbe. At the end of the conversation, the Rebbe smiled and said to me: ‘Go out and tell everyone that science isn’t sacred.’”
“The Power of One Saying”
At the farbrengen of 20 Cheshvan 5778 (2018) at Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Bukiet related the following:
During the 1970s, when the Iron Curtain was firmly in place, Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung, of blessed memory, head of the Chabad yeshiva in Montreal, planned a visit to Russia. When he informed me and the other students, I presented him with a recently published ma’amar, Chassidic essay, which had been edited by the Rebbe, to take along to Russia.
Arrived in Russia, Rabbi Hirschprung met with the local Chabad Chassidim, who asked him if he had brought anything new from the Rebbe.
“Oh yes,” he declared. He withdrew from his coat the ma’amar, which he handed over to them.
To his amazement, the Chassidim proceeded to cut out the pages and distribute them among themselves so that everyone would receive a part of the ma’amar that had managed to penetrate the Iron Curtain. This left a deep impression on the yeshiva head.
Later, in yechidus, Rabbi Hirschprung shared with the Rebbe this incident.
“This truly gave me deeper insight into the statement of Pirkei Avos,” the rabbi said, referring to Ethics of the Fathers, “that the world could have been created with the power of one saying.” Here he’d witnessed how merely a single page of the Rebbe’s ma’amar had renewed vitality among his Chassidim.
With deep appreciation, the Rebbe agreed.
“A True Friend”
At the Shluchim Convention 5777 (2017), Rabbi Shaul Wilhelm related the following:
Somewhere in the U.S. was a Chabad House, where the local shliach, emissary, was trying to bring an acquaintance, a businessman, closer to Torah observance.
“If only I could him this person to travel and meet with the Rebbe for yechidus,” the shliach thought. He even tried to persuade the guy to hop on a plane to New York.
But this guy was in no hurry. “Sorry,” he answered, “but I don’t view this matter as urgent. The next time, maybe, when I’m in New York for business, I’ll pay the Rebbe a visit.”
After a while he did, in fact, make his way to New York, and the shliach arranged for yechidus.
It was late at night when the man arrived at 770, and he waited a long time in line outside. Finally his turn came.
When the man entered, the Rebbe asked, “Can I be of assistance with a blessing or with something else?”
The man shrugged. “Well, to be honest, I have no special request. All is well with my family and business, thank G-d. I only came here because of your shliach’s advice to say hello.”
The Rebbe persisted. “But if you’re already here, perhaps there’s something you’d like to ask?”
The man began to fidget. “Well, to be honest, I did have a question. While I was standing outside, I wondered – why do all of these people come to the Rebbe in the middle of the night and wait such a long time? What do they see in the Rebbe?”
The Rebbe smiled. “They come to me because I am their ‘good friend.’”
The man shook his head. “I too am a ‘good friend’ to many. Yet I don’t have many waiting in the middle of the night to speak with me”
The Rebbe chuckled. “Do you know what it means to be a ‘true friend’?” A true friend is such that when you speak with him, nothing else in the world exists except the friend with whom you are speaking.”
Then he narrowed his gaze. “Are you also that kind of ‘friend’?”
It was then the man understood. The Rebbe had not only explained the true definition of a friend, but the true nature of a Rebbe.
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