“Upon the Rebbe’s request, I delivered to his office forty volumes of scientific reports which I had prepared for the American Government. But I didn’t really think he would take a look at them,” related Dr. Velvel Green, a professor of microbiology. “After all, how would he find time to read through all this extensive research?”

Some months later, when the professor came to see the Rebbe for yechidus, the Rebbe noted that a conclusion reached in Volume 18 contradicted an assumption in Volume 38. 1

Migdal Ha’Emek is a development town in northern Israel. Anyone who meets Uzi Biton, the cook at the Migdal Or educational complex in that city, cannot see anything lacking in his manual ability. He effortlessly drags huge sacks of potatoes or large cartons of oranges around the campus kitchen.

“Look at the scar near my fingers,” he points with a smile to his hand, which is stirring the contents of a huge pot. “I was wounded in the army. The palm of my hand was severely cut and the doctors told me that I had little chance of ever moving my fingers again. I underwent prolonged physical therapy to renew the blood flow, but to no avail. Having no other choice, I learned to live with my handicap.

“After my discharge from the army, I began to plan my future. During this time, I encountered Chabad and became more committed to Jewish life. Shortly afterwards, I decided to visit the Rebbe. In those days, it was still possible to have a private yechidus. As I prepared the note for yechidus, I wondered if I would be able to understand and remember everything the Rebbe would say. I decided to record the yechidus on a pocket tape recorder which I would place in my jacket pocket.

“The two points in my note to the Rebbe reflected the two issues which were of pressing importance in my life at that time: The first was the prospect of marriage. A young woman had already been introduced to me. The second, of course, was my handicap.

“The Rebbe read the note, marked it with a pencil, looked up at me, and said: ‘Go ahead and propose marriage. Plan the wedding in the nearest possible future. And may G‑d grant you a full recovery immediately.’

“I fervently answered Amen and left the Rebbe’s study. Outside, I was eager to review the Rebbe’s words and reached into my pocket for the recorder. Suddenly, I realized to my amazement that my injured hand had removed the tape recorder a feat previously unthinkable! The Rebbe’s blessing for immediate recovery had been fulfilled in the most literal sense.

“His advice about marriage also taught me about the Rebbe’s far-reaching vision and precision of words. I proposed to my wife shortly after my return, and plans were made for the wedding. Nevertheless, for various reasons, the wedding did not take place “in the nearest possible future.” Shortly afterwards, my fiancee’s father passed away. Not only did he not merit to see his daughter married, but we had to postpone the marriage until after the year of mourning.”