Towards the end of my first audience with the Rebbe, he made various comments and suggestions about my commercial activities, and then asked if I intended to continue practicing accountancy. I responded strongly that I did not believe this was the right course for me.
The Rebbe told me a lesson from bookkeeping, "You should be aware of the importance of bookkeeping in Jewish thought. It is necessary to balance the right side of the ledger exactly with the left. The bookkeeping is wrong no matter whether there is a difference in one shilling or one hundred pounds. This too applies with regards to the Divine commandments – all 613 of them – the great or the small; if even one is neglected, the account will not be balanced."
The Rebbe suggested that I should learn Jewish law and "of course, to study Chabad thought."
Referring to my personal Torah study he said, "You don't need to spend time reading in the original Hebrew since there are excellent translations in English. The sages say to begin with studies that are pleasant and of interest to you."
I rose and thanked the Rebbe. The Rebbe also stood up and said, "The Almighty should bless your personal life, your business life and the Lubavitch side also."
A Lesson from the Energy Crisis
"Do not be afraid of additional burdens or additional budgets – everything is written down by G‑d Almighty Himself." During a later audience the Rebbe told me, "President Nixon has cut down travelling on Sundays due to the energy crisis. Thus the free hours on Sunday can be spent in Torah study. In the same way, the time that is unsuitable for investments can be used for spiritual benefit. Do not be afraid of additional burdens or additional budgets – everything is written down by G‑d Almighty Himself."
An Example for Others
In 1977, the Rebbe told me that he would like to bring up another subject, saying that, "it would be good if you would have regular Torah study sessions."
I responded that I would try to study at least twice a week. The Rebbe said that "it would be good to have a few moments every day. It is not necessary to read in the original since many books have been translated to English, but a few minutes every day. And if you would do it without making it a secret, you may become a shining example for others!"
I responded that I will do it.
The Rebbe then concluded the audience with a blessing, "May you continue to give your energy, charity and help of all kinds to Judaism."
The audience was on January second and the Rebbe then told me a story:
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev was always searching for an occasion to give a blessing to another. Once he gave someone a blessing on the secular New Year. People asked, "How can you, a rabbi, pay attention to this secular special date?" He said, "To make a blessing, all occasions are okay." The Rebbe said that the same is "now, when it is also a day or two since the secular New Year."
The Rebbe stood up and shook hands.
I left the Rebbe's room but the Rebbe's aide called me back to the room.
"It has lately been a habit of mine of giving charity via others," the Rebbe said. "Perhaps you will be my emissary and give this [handing me £18] to a charity of your choice and also to your wife [handing me £18] to a charity of her choice."
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