Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik, shliach in Milan, Italy relates: I recall one Elul when I was in New York, after moving on shlichut to Italy, rumors circulated that a chartered airplane full of Chassidim would arrive in New York just before Tishrei. You can only imagine how I felt. The atmosphere of Tishrei was approaching, so many Chassidim would be coming to the Rebbe to spend these precious moments in his holy presence. Yet I was bound to return to Italy that day. I felt dejected, to say the least.
I stood there outside 770 (Chabad Headquarters) lost in thought, when suddenly I was approached by the Rebbe’s mazkir, secretary, Reb Moshe Leib Rodshtein. Noticing my down face, he rebuked me: “Why are you so downcast?”
A short while later, the Rebbe arrived at 770 and I was summoned to the Rebbe’s room. The Rebbe looked at me with the most fatherly, loving smile, and said: “It is the month of Elul; the King is in the field, and He shows each one a smiling face!”
I left the Rebbe’s room overwhelmed by what had just transpired. I remember thinking to myself: We always learn about these revelations in Chassidus; describing how the king comes out into the field and uplifts the simple people. But now I have actually experienced it! The feeling was unbelievable.
reprinted from Derher
