The Rebbe

During the last farbrengen of Pesach, 5726/1965, in between the Rebbe’s talks, as the Chasidim engaged in song, the Rebbe pointed towards a small 11 year old boy sitting at the end of a table at the other end of the hall. The Rebbe gestured towards him with four fingers, as if to ask if he had drunk four cups of wine. At first, no one understood who the Rebbe was gesturing towards until they realized that he meant this particular boy. The next talk, then continued.

 

During the interval before the next sicha, the Rebbe again motioned towards the child and showed him three fingers as if to say, that he had consumed one of the four cups and there were three to go. Those sitting near the little boy helped him to slowly drink the wine, and the Rebbe seemed pleased with this.

 

So it continued between the subsequent talks until he had consumed all four cups of wine.

 

This little boy was Avraham Moshe Deitsch, son of the late Sholom Yeshaya Deitsch, and he grew up to become a leading member of the Crown Heights community.

 

On Shavuos that year, Rabbi Sholom Deitsch suffered a heart attack. After escorting their father to the hospital the sons rushed to the Rebbe’s synagogue 770 that afternoon, when the Rebbe was eating his holiday meal on the second floor. They asked the Rebbe for a blessing and the Rebbe responded by giving them a piece of challa and a blessing “it should be for a refuah (healing)”.

 

Some time later Mr. Deitsch was on his way to recovery but he felt requested a blessing for a complete recovery.

 

The Rebbe’s response was “I already gave your son four cups of blessing”.

 

Avraham Moshe Deitsch is my dear uncle and I share this story in honor of the upcoming 22nd anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe.

 

In every generation G-d sends leaders who besides their spiritual vision have practical vision as well.  It’s called Leadership and it is found within these great leaders in a fashion that the particular generation needs.

 

Of course this story, reflects the Rebbe’s spiritual vision.  The Rebbe’s practical vision combined with the spiritual vision provides a powerful foundation for us in our turbulent times.

 

The Rebbe understood the world and its ails and its amazing potential.  The Rebbe embraced the world and gave guidance for how to navigate this world in a manner that we maintain our equilibrium and at the same time are able to impact the world for good.

 

The Rebbe’s guidance is legendary and is available to all of us through his writings and videos which can be found in abundance at www.therebbe.org and in many other places.

 

As we approach this auspicious day, I encourage you to explore the Rebbe’s teachings and see for yourself how the Rebbe’s vision can impact your life for good.

 

Please join us Sunday for a free event commemorating the Rebbe with a guest speaker, and your choice of Breakfast or Dinner or both.

 

Ps. I will be traveling to NY today, Thursday to pray at the Rebbe’s Ohel (resting place).  If you wish for me to include you in my prayers, please email me the names of the people who wish for me to include in my prayers and any specific request.  Please send me their Hebrew names and mothers Hebrew names if you know them.