The vintage chassid, Reb Mendel Futerfas, was wont to say: “There are chassidim who would say: A dank der Oibershter far’n Rebbe’n. “Thank You G‑d, for giving us the Rebbe,” expressing their genuine appreciation to G‑d for giving them the opportunity to know and appreciate the Rebbe.

Others would say: A dank der Rebbe’n far’n Oibersht’n; “Thank you, Rebbe, for giving us the opportunity to know G‑d.” The intent is not merely that the Rebbe’s teachings open up new windows of spiritual awareness. Although this is true, these chassidim meant more: Their intent is that from watching the Rebbe, and seeing his uniqueness, they were able to appreciate G‑dliness.

R. Leib Sarah’s would say that he went to Mezritch not to hear the Maggid’s teachings, but to watch the way he tied his shoes. For everything that a tzaddik does is a lesson.

The chassidim of the early generations would ask: Why isn’t there a tractate of the Talmud that focuses on the knowledge of G‑d? And they would answer that this is unnecessary, because in every generation there are tzaddikim who, in our Sages’ words:1 “resemble their Creator,” and thus enable us to perceive Him.

The understanding of G‑d generated by observing a tzaddik is not abstract. On the contrary, it comes from watching how a person actually lives his life. This makes it possible for us to have actual awareness of the G‑dliness which we possessed within ourselves and which is latent in every element of existence.

In this chapter, we have included various stories that did not seem to fit any of the others. Each one of them is, however, significant, for it sheds light on still a different element of the Rebbe’s character, adding one more way to enable us to know him, and thus know G‑d.