This week, a beautiful video was circulated on social media: A compilation of people thanking the Rebbe for his blessings.
The setting was “Sunday Dollars.” Starting on his 84th birthday in 1986, the Rebbe stood in the hall adjacent to his office every Sunday as thousands came to seek his blessing and counsel. The encounters were brief and the Rebbe handed each person a dollar bill to be given to charity.
Many experienced miraculous results and appropriately returned to express their appreciation. These clips are candid and emotional and the Rebbe’s responses inspire me each time I watch.
The Rebbe expected of the beneficiaries of his blessings to report even better news in the future. The couple who miraculously gave birth to children were blessed to have more and the gentleman whose business venture succeeded against all odds was told to make even more money to be used in a healthy manner.
These recorded encounters are a microcosm of the hundreds of thousands who turned to the Rebbe each year for blessing and guidance - by mail or in person. He lovingly handled each request as if it was his singular concern. No person too small, no request insignificant.
Communicating with the Rebbe was an interaction of souls. He saw the core of every person and sought to reveal the divine spark within. This is the intellectual premise for the Rebbe’s infinite love for every Jew and he gifted us this knowledge through his countless Torah teachings so that we too can learn to love unconditionally.
This dynamic continues today. Although the Rebbe’s physical presence has left our world 24 years ago, the unending stream of humanity that continues to flock to the Ohel, the Rebbe’s holy resting place, at all hours of the day, every day of the year, bears testimony to the Rebbe’s continued and ever stronger impact on our world.
The soul is immortal. Every level of Torah scholarship is replete with reference to the fact that the truly righteous continue to live beyond their physical limitations. Today we can communicate with the Rebbe just as before and experience the same joy, hope and refreshing empowerment the people you just watched in the video merited - close to three decades ago. By writing a letter to the Rebbe and having it placed at the Ohel, we access a heavenly door that is always open to us all.
Please click here to learn more about writing to the Rebbe.
As we observe the Rebbe’s 24th Yartzeit this Shabbat, I invite you to learn more of the Rebbe’s teachings and to reflect on how you can participate in the Rebbe’s mission to prepare our world for the coming of Moshiach when peace and prosperity will abound for all.