The Rebbe

The answer is not as easy as you may think.

How to encapsulate spiritual and academic depth I cannot grasp, let alone the multi-faceted characteristics that I can?

One thing is for certain: I can't do it justice in a brief conversation.

So I settle for a verbal snapshot of this great man, which will hopefully trigger more exploration and further study.

Personally, I focus on the fact that the Rebbe deeply respected and valued every person, every living being, and every situation.

To the Rebbe, I truly mattered. And so did you.

The fact that we exist, that G-d intentionally creates each of us, gave every person de facto importance in the Rebbe’s mind.

If G-d considered you important enough to create, there was absolutely no question as to your importance in the cosmos. The only question we needed to ask ourselves was: Am I living up to my life's mission?

The Rebbe saw importance in every event and every interaction. There was no such thing as happenstance. If I bumped into you on a street in Manhattan, found myself with an extra hour on a layover in Frankfurt, or was faced with a sudden challenge in my life, I and the world needed to be better for it.

Every situation beckoned: “engage me; embrace me as an opportunity for learning, moral growth and a better world”.

If life was intrinsically valuable, then every step of the journey was necessarily important.

There was no throwaway in the Rebbe’s lexicon. No irrelevant people. No thoughtless comments. No 'flings'. No 'down' time (sleep - and this would apply to vacation too - was about recharging the batteries to re-engage the journey).

In our shaky world of impermanence, from disposable cameras to empty relationships, the Rebbe was a Rock of Meaning.

I miss him very much.