A friend of mine from out of town attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and befriended the Rebbe’s son, Zisha. He became a Ben Bayis in the home of the Rebbe on Henry Street on the East Side. To witness the constant flow of Yidden with all kinds of Tzoris, my friend was moved to ask the Rebbe - “How can the Rebbe love every Yid?” To which the Rebbe replied: “I will answer you in two ways:” “Number One is “To love Rav Aharon Kotler, you don’t need Ahavas Yisroel. The second thing is: When you look at the face of a person entering the door, you can see either the joy on his face or the troubles and burdens he carries. When I see the door open and the foot come through the door, I do not wait to see the face- I say ‘Ehr Iz A Yid, Un Ich Gay Ehm Leib Huben”-He’s a Jew and I will love him.”.
Yisroel Safrin author. As featured in the Monsey Mevaser 'Klal Personalities' series
