When the Rebbe was a child, before his father was appointed rav in Yekatrinoslav, his family lived in Nikolayev. Once a pogrom broke out. Fearful of the danger, the Jews concealed themselves until the peril passed. His mother took him and his brothers to a shelter, where they joined many other women and children.

Some of the terrified children began to cry loudly. This was very dangerous, because their cries could lead the violent rioters to their hiding place. While everyone else was paralyzed with fright, the Rebbe who was less than five at the time, calmly soothed the crying children one by one with a pat on the cheek, a finger to the mouth, and so forth, until quiet was restored.