Recently a colleague of mine recounted an incident that he experienced as a young child in the 1970’s when he experienced a bad sports injury that almost left him blind in one eye. After having several procedures on his eye, he had to wear a big bandage on his eye for several weeks. Being the young boy that he was, he was extremely embarrassed and felt out of place among his friends and in school. However, his misery was yet to get worse, as a few days later on the holiday of Lag Baomer his class was going to be one of the groups that would march along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn in a parade presided over by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in front of thousands of members of the community. He was dreading the moment of having thousands of onlookers see this awful bandage on his face and wanted to disappear into thin air or find a way to be invisible.
His class was next in line to march along the parade route as thousands of spectators looked on and the dreaded moment had arrived. His friends were cheerful and full of smiles and they walked along, but he tried to minimize his exposure and wished a hole would open up in the ground below him. The music was blaring, the crowds were cheering and singing and he was just wishing he wasn’t there. Suddenly, he noticed the Lubavitcher Rebbe motion and wave to him, the sudden attention made him forget his pain and embarrassment for a moment. But then the Rebbe continued waving, smiling and encouraging him for the entire period of time that his group passed under the Rebbe’s dais. He couldn’t believe what was happening to him, an entire parade is going on next to him with beautiful floats, thousands of participants, music and singing and the Rebbe is busy waving to him and getting him to smile. As much as he didn’t want to he couldn’t help but smile and beam and he once again felt special, uplifted and joyful.
The young boy in the story is now known as Rabbi Shmuli Posner and runs the Chabad at BU in Boston. He related that throughout his life he has reflected on this story and what it showed him on the Rebbe’s leadership and impact on society. Yes the Rebbe was a world leader who met other world leaders, Israeli Prime Ministers and dignitaries and leaders of world Jewry would flock to him from around the globe, and the Rebbe was involved in matters of importance that were changing the Jewish map around the globe. However, for him the Rebbe’s attention to a small child who was embarrassed and unhappy spoke of a depth of care and sensitivity that embodies a true leader, and embodies the message the Rebbe spoke of his entire life in how we reach out to our brethren with love, care and sensitivity no matter who they are or where they are.
This Shabbat marks 18 years (Chai) since the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1994. Personally, the Rebbe was someone whose leadership, teachings and inspiration has had a huge impact on my own life and Shayna’s life. It was the Rebbe’s calling to reach out to our fellow Jews around the globe that led to the establishment of the Chabad Center of Sudbury and over 3000 Chabad Centers around the world to be part of this work and carry on this message.
Please consider taking on an extra Mitzvah this weekend and Shabbos as we mark the 18th Chai Yahrziet of the Rebbe, by either lighting Shabbat Candles, coming to Shul, committing to get together and put on Tefillin next week, giving extra charity, or any other Mitzvah of goodness & kindness that will be the Mitzvah that changes the world around us.
This Shabbos we will have a special Shabbat Prayer Service and Luncheon after the service to mark the Yahrziet and I ask you to please consider joining us to mark this special date.
To learn more about the Rebbe and to read some of his letters, articles, and messages on life click here.
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Yisroel Freeman