In selecting the stories for this book, we had to define what is a story about the Rebbe and what is a story about one of his chassidim. Often the Rebbe gives a single directive or a blessing, and everything else in the narrative was accomplished by a chassid.

Why then do we consider this a story about the Rebbe? Because the chassid will tell you that he would not have been able to achieve what he accomplished on his own power; he relied the Rebbe’s influence.

The nature of this dynamic of empowerment requires explanation. Often we see one or two Lubavitch shluchim begin activities in a city and, despite limited human and financial resources, within a short time, they bring about a heightening of Jewish consciousness. If you ask the young emissary how he was able to accomplish what he did, he will tell you in homely Yiddish, “Mit der Rebbe’s kochos” (“With the Rebbe’s power”).

What does he mean? When we look up to someone with well-earned respect and feel that he genuinely knows us and believes in us, it is natural to want to live up to his expectations. With a pride that goes much deeper than self, we apply ourselves to the tasks before us with the intent of giving shape and form to the ideal we share. And we achieve far more than we ever might have dreamed of.

There is a Yiddish adage which says, “When G‑d wants, even a broom can shoot.” When a person thinks of himself as no more than a broom, and while not shirking responsibility, does not rely on his own unaided power, he opens himself up to a greater force. He becomes aware that something much larger than himself is working through him. And this is what the shluchim mean when they attribute their success to the Rebbe.

This dynamic of empowerment is not restricted to any exclusive group. On several occasions the Rebbe, of righteous memory,has explained that everyone is a shaliach in his home, in his workplace, and in his environment to use whatever potentials he has to spread the awareness and the observance of Jewish values.