Zalman Jaffe, a businessman from London, England, had a very interesting, and we could even say entertaining, relationship with the Rebbe. the first time he came to the rebbe was in the early ‘60’s. When he went into the rebbe’s room for yechidus, a personal audience, the rebbe, as was his custom, showed him a chair to sit down. He refused the invitation and remained standing; he wouldn’t sit.
After a few introductory words, the rebbe said to mr. Jaffe “i’m uncomfortable with you standing.” He responded, “i can’t sit down.” the rebbe asked, “Why can’t you sit down?” “i was told not to sit.” “Who told you?” the Rebbe asked. “the man who told me, wouldn’t want me to share that.” the rebbe smiled and said, “listen, if you won’t tell him, i won’t tell him.” mr. Jaffe said, “well, it was Rabbi Ben-Tzion Shemtov, one of the Rebbe’s emissaries in London. Rabbi Shemtov instructed me, “i won’t tell you much, but when you go see the rebbe you should know that a chassid doesn’t sit in the rebbe’s presence. the rebbe’s the rebbe. a chassid stands with derech eretz, with respect.” after listening closely, the Rebbe said to mr. Jaffe: “to be a chassid does not come automatically. You have to earn it. You come three times to see me and then you can decide. You want to be a chassid? then you’ll stand. meanwhile you can sit.”
