Shabbos Tammuz 12

We were to leave New York on Wednesday, Tammuz 16 (July 18). Before our last Shabbos in New York, the Rebbe advised Shmuel, who was currently a counselor at the camp in the Catskills, to leave the camp in order to come to Crown Heights, where he could meet Hindy. (We were still kept in the dark as of the Rebbe's active participation).

After maariv on Friday night, as the Rebbe was leaving the shul, we all started singing a lively tune and the Rebbe encouraged the singing.

For that Friday night, Roselyn was finally prevailed upon to invite Shmuel over for Shabbos dinner; however at the last moment, she canceled the invitation.

Meanwhile there was an undercurrent of great activity going on with Rabbi Shemtov and Avrohom, whispering, plotting and maneuvering in corners.

At the Friday night dinner, Rabbi Shemtov made kiddush, and following that, had a few l'chaims. The lights were out due to a short fuse, and we were sitting around the candle-lit table. This put Rabbi Shemtov in a very emotional mood and he was reminiscing about his earlier days in Soviet Russia. In addition, he had a few more l'chaims. He then “took the chairmanship.”

In his opening remarks, he flayed Roselyn for her obstinacy and obduracy. He condemned her unreasonable attitude that prevented two young people who, in his estimation, were an ideally suited couple, from even meeting each other.

Avrohom was the second speaker. His theme was very similar to that of the “chairman.”

Under this concentrated attack, Roselyn finally relented; she consented to Hindy meeting Shmuel on Saturday night. She thought to herself “We are leaving on Wednesday, four days time, so it seems fairly safe to let them meet each other now.”

On Shabbos morning during shacharis, the Rebbe indicated that Ho'aderes vho'emunah be sung. This was definitely a break from the norm at 770.

After davening, there was a farbrengen. The Rebbe said three sichas and a maamar.

On Motzoei Shabbos, Shmuel took Hindy on the Staten Island ferry, which had become notorious and renowned as the “Lubavitcher Shadchonus Express.” (Or, as we will find out, “express” shadchonus!)