by Rabbi Aron Moss
A friend of mine tells the story of his family’s visit to the Rebbe. They were not at all a religious family, but my friend had had his Bar Mitzvah a year before at a Chabad shul, and since they were going on a family trip to New York, their rabbi encouraged them to go to Brooklyn and see the Rebbe.
They figured, why not? As Aussie tourists in New York, they wanted to see the sights. Between the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, they may as well take in 770, Lubavitch World Headquarters but also known as the Rebbe’s shul. They thought it would be another photo opportunity in the Big Apple. That’s what they thought.
They arrived at 770 one Sunday morning, and joined the long line to see the Rebbe. After waiting expectantly for some time, finally they reached the front of the line, and had their moment standing before the Rebbe. They each received a dollar and a blessing for success, and they moved on.
The whole thing was over in seconds. It was a special moment. But what no one expected was the 14-year-old’s reaction. After leaving the Rebbe’s presence, he made a sudden announcement to his parents: “From now on, I’m only eating kosher. And I want to keep Shabbat properly. I am going to be religious.”
His parents were completely taken aback. There had been no discussion about taking on more Jewish observance before then. And the Rebbe had not mentioned anything in their momentary encounter about keeping kosher or Shabbat. So where did this sudden turnabout come from?
It came from being in the presence of a truly holy man. That experience, the experience of authentic transcendence, makes you want to be more holy, more pure, more you. That’s who the Rebbe is. He connects you to your essence, to your soul, to G-d. He gives you back what is yours. Because he lives a completely selfless existence, dedicated to a higher purpose, he inspires the same in you.
For some the impact is subtle and gradual. For others, like my friend, it can be quite dramatic and instantaneous. But you can’t help being touched by truth. Starting that day, he became an observant Jew. Since then he has gone on to become an influential rabbi, and his family are all observant today. All sparked by that moment in front of the Rebbe.
This is not an isolated incident. Countless lives have been touched by meeting the Rebbe. And you can meet him today. Read the Rebbe’s writings. Watch the recordings of the Rebbe’s talks. Visit your local Chabad Center. Attend a class that focuses on the Rebbe’s teachings. Get to know the Rebbe’s students and admirers.
But be warned. You might come out of it a better you.