By Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson
In the early chof’s (1960s), the custom that a group of Bochurim (students) from Eretz Yisroel come and learn by the [Lubavitcher] Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson) for a year, began. To those Bochurim who merited to be part of the kevutzah (group) it was a wish and yearning coming true, they are finally able to see the Rebbe with their own eyes, and not through a picture (or a video which was a rarity in those days), but to stand in his presence and see and hear him.
One of those that came in those first few years, was a young man whose parents grew up in Russia, in the province of Poltava. In their home, they often discussed aspects of the Rebbe’s courtyard, where in addition to his house there was the Shul, and Yeshiva as well as other buildings.
While he was thrilled beyond description to have this tremendous zechus (merit) to see the Rebbe and stand close to him, however, his wish was not complete. He also wanted to see the Rebbe’s house, just as his father and grandfather had seen the house of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe Rashab.
His fortune was that one of his close relatives had the merit from time to time, to help out in the Rebbe's house. He ran over to this relative and asked (almost as a demand), if he could please bring him into the Rebbe’s house the next time he goes there. To his dismay his cousin told him, I'm sorry, but that is not how it works. No one but no one, is allowed into the house without explicit permission of the Rebbetzin [Chaya Mushka Schneerson]. However, there are sometimes I am allowed to bring somebody in, and that is when there is a job that I cannot do on my own.
Being that you are my relative, the next time such a situation occurs I will ask the Rebbetzin if I could bring in someone who I know to help me. This satisfied him as he realized that his relative is going out of his way to arrange it for him but he's doing it a manner that is appropriate. Sometime passed, maybe weeks or months, and his relative came to him and said tomorrow there is going to be a curbside delivery of an air conditioner to the Rebbe’s house.
Being that it is beyond my ability to carry it in on my own I asked the Rebbetzin if I could get someone to assist me and she replied yes. So, you should be ready at this time to help me bring it in. The bochur was in the Seventh Heaven, he is finally going to have the zechus and ability to enter the Rebbe's house.
At the appropriate time he came and helped his relative carry it into the house and place it next to the window where it would be installed the following day. While he was walking his eyes looked in every direction trying to remember and take in as much as his eyes could see and remember from the few rooms that he was able to see.
As they were about to leave the Rebbetzin came into the room and asked him, “Vei’mins bist du - who are your parents? When he mentioned his parents’ name, the Rebbetzin said, “I remember that when I was growing up and they discussed the Chassidim of the Poltova region your family was discussed.”
She then continued and said to the two people, Bochurim’lach .... - Students (young men) I left some food in the kitchen., I will not be around there in order that you should not be uncomfortable eating.
I don’t know why, but for whatever reason that bochur felt that he had to reply, and said, I was raised in the chassidishe house, and I was taught that one should not eat in the Rebbe's house. [Author’s note: Probably meaning, don’t make yourself too comfortable there, or in other words, remember that the Rebbe is Rebbe and not just a great tzaddik.]
The Rebbetzin replied, I too was raised in a chassidishe house, and I was taught (or my father taught me) that when we enter someone's house, you are to leave a brocha, meaning say a brocha.
Obviously, they went into the kitchen and said the appropriate brochos. From then on until now, whenever he enters someone else’s house, he makes sure to say a brocha.
Reprinted from the Parshas Yisro 5786 email of Rabbi Avtzon’s Weekly Story.
