An Archivist Discovers the Rebbe

An Archivist Discovers the Rebbe http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=924216 Copyright 2009, Chabad.org - Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center, all rights reserved. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=1014644 What Would the Rebbe's Request Be? http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=1014644 The donor told the Chabad-Lubavitch emissary: "Before I enter into my audience with the Rebbe, let it be known that I support your Chabad House, and I have no interest in supporting any other Jewish – or for that matter, Chabad – causes." He entered the Rebbe's study, and the Rebbe, of saintly memory, inquired about his family, the Jewish community where he lived, and similar things. As he was leaving, the Rebbe turned to him: "Can I ask you to promise me that you will do one thing?" Here it goes, thought the visitor, he wants my cash. He nodded grudgingly. "Would you wear tzitzit every day?" the Rebbe asked. The fringes known as tzitzit are attached to a four-cornered article of clothing, usually worn under one's shirt. The Divine precept to wear tzitzit is only applicable to a four-cornered garment. When one is not wearing such a garment, it is not compulsory to wear tzitzit, but our Sages encouraged that one wear such a garment at all times. Thus, a special line of fringed, poncho-like garments is produced today to be worn by Jewish men. The Rebbe patiently explained to him the great merit of wearing the garment. He added: "It is an easy commandment to keep, for if you do not feel comfortable wearing tzitzit one day, you can remove it and wear it the next day." Upon leaving the room, the visitor was touched that the Rebbe took an interest in his spiritual life and not his financial capabilities. He began to wear the fringes daily. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=1014643 "What Enters Here Does Not Leave!" http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=1014643 When the Rebbe requested that I join his secretarial staff, he told me to speak to Rabbi Hodakov, his chief aide. "He will tell you what needs to be done." I went to Rabbi Hodakov, and he instructed me regarding the various tasks that needed doing. <co:img index="1" align="center"></co:img> "As you will be an aide to the Rebbe," he told me, "I cannot tell you not to see what is happening, because even if you do not want to, you will see things. I cannot tell you not to listen, for even if you do not want to, you will hear the Rebbe's responses to many of the questions. However, there is one thing that I can tell you—don't speak! Do not talk about what happens here. Do not reveal to anyone what is happening in these rooms." The Rebbe would personally open all of his mail; no one else would open any letters. The Rebbe would personally respond to every letter, either in writing or by giving us a response to deliver over the phone. When the Rebbe wanted us to deliver his response over the phone regarding a private issue, the Rebbe would write his response on the margins of the letter and tear the actual letter off from the response, leaving only the individual's name for us to see. People would write about their most intimate and personal issues to the Rebbe. Among the circle of aides, the essential instruction not to speak about anything we saw or heard was closely followed. For thirty-six years, I did not speak. Today, many years later, I can reveal many anecdotes that I could not previously reveal, leaving out any personal details. Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=1015617 The Rebbe and the Senator's Daughter http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=1015617 <co:glossary_ignore value="Joseph" /> At a recent Chabad-Lubavitch of Philadelphia event, Senator Joseph Lieberman spoke about an encounter he had with the Rebbe when he was on his way to Washington, D.C., after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate. The Rebbe spoke to Sen. Lieberman about the role his daughter and wife will play in assisting him in his public service. Thanks to Mendel Gurary from Jewish Educational Media (JEM), I located the video clip of this encounter. It occurred in the course of the Rebbe's distribution of dollars for charity (something the Rebbe did, in his later years, every Sunday). <co:link aid="412674">Click here</co:link> to watch the encounter. And here is the clip where you can see the Senator discussing the encounter (thanks of course to our video man, Shmuli Lifshitz): <iframe width="452" height="440" frameborder="0" src="/multimedia/mediaplayer/SharedPlayer.asp?aid=937531&bg=000000&limit=450&as=false"></iframe> <co:link aid="675643">Click here</co:link> for another encounter Sen. Lieberman had with the Rebbe, <co:link aid="651134">and here</co:link> for an article he wrote about Chabad-Lubavitch. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST