As we approach the Rebbe's yahrtzeit, (the 27th anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing will be observed on Saturday evening and Sunday), the familiar "what made the Rebbe so special?" questions seem to come at a faster clip. The answer is not as easy as you may think.
How can I possibly encapsulate spiritual and academic depth which 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 essay.
So I’ll settle for a tiny snapshot of this great man, which will hopefully trigger more exploration and further study.
When discussing the Rebbe and his gifts to the world, my mind instinctively goes to the observable 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 the Rebbe encouraged us to ask ourselves is: 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 technology to empty relationships, the Rebbe was an unshakable Rock of Meaning.
I miss him very much.
Join us this shabbat for a special kiddush after services, where we'll explore this more.