Diary is a Hit

I had not been, as yet, criticized or reprimanded by the Rebbe about my diary, so I took a chance and distributed copies to our Rebbetzin, Rabbi Chodakov, Leibel Groner, Yudel Krinsky and two friends. I was extremely gratified to receive the following complimentary comments.

“It was wonderful, so easy to read and it paints such a vivid picture.”

“Marvelous zichronos; keep writing.”

“I have learnt quite a lot which I did not know before. It’s history.”

“Don’t wait till next year, but send it to us straight away. I must have a copy for the library.”

“How can you write so much about such a short stay?”

“Ha ha, the train didn’t stop at the station. How very funny.”

Actually the main reason for writing these diaries is so that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, will, after 120 years, be able to read how their Bobby and Zaidie spent their time with the Rebbe in Brooklyn, and to learn of the great humility, humor and humaneness of our most wonderful Rebbe. (The whole world knows already, of course, of his renowned and extraordinary scholarship and learning.)

We met our friend Rabbi Shemtov. He looked fine. He was busy printing the Rebbe’s sichas. He is the typical and ideal chossid, and he has only good to say about people.

(I have a movie of Rabbi Shemtov and Dayan Golditch on a see-saw at the American Lubavitch Summer Camp. I laughed, it was so very comical. But Rabbi Shemtov remarked that one should learn a lesson from everything and everyone. In the instance of the see-saw we are taught that if one wishes to elevate another person, one must be willing to first lower oneself.)