On the second day of Shavuos, just prior to the farbrengen, mincha took place in the upstairs shul. Most of the people were already downstairs (in the large shul) making sure of their places for the farbrengen. There was still a good crowd upstairs with the Rebbe.

After davening the Rebbe started toward the exit. At that very same moment I was in a bit of a “dream.” I was thinking back to a conversation I had earlier with Yossi, my grandson. He asked me, “Zeide, why do you always sing when the Rebbe leaves the shul?”

“Because the Rebbe likes it,” I had told him.

“But everyone laughs at you,” he retorted.

I am of course aware that some laugh at this, but, I explained to Yossi, “As long as one is doing what is right and correct, in spite of what others say or do, one should continue. In any case the Jewish people are used to others laughing at them.”

Now, as I was recalling that conversation, I suddenly realized that in a few seconds the Rebbe would have left and no one was singing. The truth was I was kind of getting tired of having to continually start the singing and, on most occasions, not having even one single person join in with me.

Just then the Rebbe turned around, looked straight at me, gestured with his hand and said, “Nu?”

That was all I needed.

What a justification of my attitude hitherto and what an uplift to my ego! I can tell you I felt good, on top of the world. Furthermore, both Yossi and Mendel (my grandsons) were present and saw what happened.

Everyone of course then joined in and sang with vigor and gusto. We then made our way downstairs for the farbrengen.

We washed, made hamotzie, and I rushed to my farbrengen seat. I beckoned and shouted to Shmuel to tell him how the Rebbe had encouraged and vindicated me in my singing. I need not have bothered. Everyone already knew – in less than five minutes!