Berel Yunik, a bochur who had recently arrived from Europe, knocked on the Rebbes door on 7 Iyar 5710. This was before the Rebbe had started accepting yechidus, but when Berel asked for a yechidus, the Rebbe put on a gartel, closed the window and sat down. The Rebbe burst into tears.
Following the yechidus, the Rebbe agreed to edit Berel’s transcription.
At one point, Berel shared with the Rebbe his frustration with his highs and lows in avodas Hashem.
The Rebbe seemed surprised. “In heaven there are constantly changes, and you expect there not to be any fluctuations in this world?!
“This is the problem with many bochurim, that they think about themselves too much. One must think about others, at least an hour a day. This is what the [Frierdiker] Rebbe demanded in his sichos and letters, tohn mit yenem.”
As the yechidus progressed, the Rebbe gave Berel detailed directives in his hisbonenus before davening. Then the Rebbe said, “if you will get active with influencing others, this will assist you with your hisbonenus. As the Alter Rebbe says, that with tzedaka, one’s mind becomes one thousand times clearer...”
(Ovinu Roeinu p. 27)
