He was off to an international art exhibit. But before boarding the plane, artist Hendel Lieberman wanted to meet with the Rebbe and ask for a blessing.
He managed to secure an appointment, and the yechidut (private audience) went well. The Rebbe asked him detailed questions about the exhibit. Suddenly he asked where the artist would be staying.
Casually Hendel Lieberman mentioned the name of a certain hotel. The Rebbe shook his head. “May I ask that you switch to a more centrally located hotel?” And he gave the name. Reb Hendel, although bewildered, did what he was told.
Two days after he arrived at the hotel, he heard a light knock on his door. A middle-aged man was standing outside. “May I borrow your tallit and tefillin?”
Reb Hendel was startled. This man was clearly not observant. He was clean shaven, head uncovered, and his suit and tie hinted at a life in a boardroom, rather than a synagogue. Why would he want the items used for morning prayer service? Nevertheless, Reb Hendel obliged.
The man entered the side room where Reb Hendel kept his tefillin. There he prayed, tears raining down his cheeks. This scene repeated itself for the next few days.
Finally it was time to leave. As Reb Hendel packed up his suitcase, he decided to approach the stranger and ask about the unusual behavior.
The man replied, “when I saw your Chassidic appearance – your beard and peyot, sidelocks, I was reminded of my roots. My family came from that part of the world, and suddenly I felt the urge to return.”
“Urge to Return” and “What is Most Important” from The Avner Institute, reprinted from COLlive
