Excitement Buildup

Due to the large size of the crowd for davening, many hundreds of people had already arrived. Even though it was a weekday, it was decided to daven maariv downstairs in the large shul. It was crowded like on Yom Tov; people were taking their usual Yom Tov places or seats.

I stood, as usual, behind the Rebbe. After maariv (and by arrangement with Reb Zushe Wilmowsky and his Israeli friends), I started the song called “Napoleon’s March.” The Rebbe smiled, swung his arms, and we were off; it was terrific.

We followed the Rebbe upstairs and sang and danced outside his room for half an hour until the Rebbe came out again. He again swung his arms and the singing and dancing swelled up to a huge crescendo until the Rebbe entered his car. What a climax that was and what a different Rebbe this was, full of vim and fire, like a young man, in complete contrast to the very tired Rebbe who came into 770 from the ohel just a short time before.

Tzvi Fischer, who had been standing on the bimah during and after maariv, reported to me that it was wonderful to see the Rebbe’s face when he left the shul beaming with pleasure. I overheard another fellow tell his friend afterwards that “ess hot zich geshturemt” (it was energetic).