Purim: Part I

00:00 The the Purim that are coming up the end of this week, we will discuss various years of Purims, generally Purims that fell out on Friday. nineteen fifty-four was the first Purim in the Rebbe's nesius years that was on a Friday. The Rebbe, a few days before Purim, was visiting the Kopshnitzer Rebbe, was Menachem Mendel, the Kopshnitzer, an occasion that he lost his sister. And on the way back to Seven Seventy, the Rebbe was discussing with the Zikhnei HaChasidim benege to the timing of the farbrengen of Purim that year when Purim was Friday. And the Rebbe said that the farbrengen will take place on Shabbos after Mincha, and it will continue into the night in order that those who are living far from here will be able to drive in after Shabbos and participate in the farbrengen. In relationship to this, the Rebbe also mentioned that it's mentioned in the Ma'amar of the Rebbe Rashab. It's from the third sunda of Shabbos, that although it says , there's three times that the word is mentioned benege to the Man, and on the third time it says , which means, as it's also brought in Seforim as ain tzarich pas, but a person has to at least eat something. And there was the minhag by the Rebbe Rashab to, to be tayam something after Mincha, Shabbos afternoon, to mark the third sunda. In the Yoman, which was written by Rabbi Shlomo Levotov, Alav Ha-Shalom, thanks to him, we have various Yomanim diaries that he wrote and describe

02:19 what took place on certain dates, certain farbrengens. Benege to Shabbos Parshat Tzav, he writes that the Rebbe came out to farbreng after Mincha around six o'clock, and the farbrengen continued till nine PM. In middle of the sichas, between the sichas, the Rebbe asked, he should say l'chaim, and the Rebbe also asked to sing a freilechen nigun, an Ani Mamn, and the Gimel Bavis, which are from the Baal Shem Tov Maggid, the Alter Rebbe, and the Ben Oni, and the Alter Rebbe's nigun and Nezer Yitzhak. And at the conclusion, Ki Visimcha. The Rebbe did not speak so much to individual people. The Rebbe did refer to someone by his family name, and he didn't hear the Rebbe. So the Rebbe then referred to him again, Rabbi, and referred to him by his name. So then he heard. So the Rebbe says, "Ah, when we call him Rabbi, that's when he hears." The Rebbe, as an introduction to the Ma'amar, said that there are certain inyonim that don't take place on the Shabbos after Purim, but on Purim itself, the different inyonim in Halakha. So the Rebbe as a to the Ma'amar said that since the Seder Harigel is that the farbrengen of Purim is connected with the Ma'amar Chassidus, and since for certain reasons the Ma'amar was not said yesterday, b'meila the Rebbe said he will say it now. The Rebbe then delivered a Ma'amar on the Mishnah Megillah Nekras, that the Megillah is read on the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of Adar, as

04:26 it's mentioned the beginning of the tractate of Megillah. In the Yoman, he mentions some individual stories that took place over the Shabbos. There was a Yid who, uh, had a cold and b'meila he wasn't able to come to the farbrengen. The Rebbe asked about him, and the Rebbe said he should come. The sons went to bring him. When he came, it was already late. It was after the farbrengen. So he waited by the Rebbe's room since he was told by the Rebbe to come. So he waited from the, for the Rebbe when the Rebbe will go out of his, out of his room, he will see the Rebbe. The Rebbe opened up the door, and the Rebbe asked him after he went into the Rebbe's room, why wasn't he by the farbrengen? And he told the Rebbe that he wasn't well. The Rebbe gave him from the Kessel Brocha since the Rebbe washed for this farbrengen. So b'meila the Rebbe gave him Kessel Brocha, and he said that this will help more than penicillin. For another person whose wife was very ill, and, um, she was already there in the hospital for many days, and it was also an expense. And finally, the doctors made a conference amongst each other, and they suggested that there is a need for surgery. But the surgery is also very risky, could be very dangerous. So they called up this person Friday night and they told him that he should come after Shabbos to sign to consent to the

06:18 surgery because we cannot do the surgery otherwise. He went in the morning to see the Rebbe, Shabbos morning, and he waited for the Rebbe. When the Rebbe came out of his room to go to shul, he told the Rebbe the entire issue, and the Rebbe said they should not do surgery. When he came back to the hospital and the doctors asked him about his consent, he said he is not giving any consent. He is not doing surgery. Eventually, it became lighter for her till over a short time she was cured completely. Rab David Raskin asked the Rebbe as a preparation for his wedding how he should prepare the invitation. The Rebbe said you should be medayik in loshon ha'rav, which means to refer to the invitation that the Friediker Rebbe prepared for the Rebbe's wedding. The hemshech to the earlier installment in the year to Purim Tosch in the Dalet 1954. The next occasion that Purim fell out on a Friday was 20 years later, Tosch in Lamad Zayin 1977, which was also on a Friday. It was Parsha Skisisa, Tosch in Lamad Zayin, the Rebbe released a letter on the 11th of Adar to the sons and daughters of our people Israel everywhere. May Hashem bless you all. Greeting and blessing. Based on the saying of our sages of blessed memory, we encourage a person before the act and encourage him again at the time of the act. Today, the 11th of Adar is a most opportune day in accordance with the Mishnah's ruling

08:17 at the very beginning of the tractate of Megillah. And in its words, the Megillah is read on the 11th, on the 12th, on the 13th, on the 14th, and on the 15th. Neither earlier nor later. To encourage again, circulating that the Rebbe sends Shlomo to a Chacham that came from Russia and came to Purim to the Rebbe. This is, of course, in addition to the Rebbe's custom sending Shlomo to a Kohen, a Levi, and a Yisroel. Originally, the Kohen was Rab Be, who was one of the less hidden in the Rebbe's secretariot about all this. The Levi was one of the older Chassidim where Shmuel Witten and Yisroel was the Rebbe's chief secretary, Rabbi Kavidov. At the Farbrengen Shabbos, the Rebbe spoke about the connection between Purim and Shabbos and the connection to Parsha Kisisa of Matanos L'eviyonim. And ideally to also attach a synopsis of the most relevant laws of Purim and at the very best an abridged version of the Purim story and the power of the miracle. Also stating, and this is vital, that this is not a reading in reverse, meaning it is not merely an account and propagation of a miracle from the past. Indeed did a past rather it is a portion of our Torah which also means a structure which is eternal for all times in all places and for every man and woman. Which also means that just like then now too and always the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The king alluding to the

10:20 king of the universe and thus the words of the Megillah they at rest from their enemies because the fear of the Jews was upon them shall be fulfilled. And for Jews in all provinces of king the king of the universe both those who are near and those who are momentarily far for they have been returned by any impulse of folly and committed a transgression heaven forbid. There will be light joy gladness and honor both in the plain sense as well as in the meaning of those terms according to all their interpretations by our sages of blessed memory. And may you go to him in the year to the end of the Megillah Rebbe from when it with every day the discourses of increased in joy in a true and simple sense particularly in the joy that accompanies a mitzvah. The Rebbe continued briefly from the point of mitzvah Purim and also the 10 point mitzvah campaign and the Rebbe begins concluding the letter and the activities in all of Lubavitch in a continually increasing manner and with continually increasing joy with esteem and blessings that it should be as our Chachamim say the joy and do good to the Rebbe loudly the names of the doers of these Purim days at the conclusion of the Gobos where we ask the and other Chassidim The Rebbe answered other Mizuter Chassidim but with healthy Chassidim. This year it brought a Lign to the Farbrengen and we sang it then in front of the Rebbe. May they be

12:21 adjoined Towards the end of the farbrengen, which was about five forty-five, five fifty Speedily in our times and with blessings for a happy Purim. And may its joy be extended throughout the entire year. The Rebbe made a Bracha Achreine. Im Yirtza Hashem, in the next installment, we will discuss what took place by the Rebbe Friday and Shabbos, when the Rebbe walked out from Shul, it was already getting close to sunset. The Rebbe waved Beyadei HaKdesha to the children while he is walking in the street, going, returning home after the farbrengen. The hemshech to the earlier installment be negia to Purim Tov Shin Lamed Dalet 1974. We continue now to discuss Purim Tov Shin Lamed Zayin 1977, which was also on a Friday. In the year Tov Shin Lamed Zayin, the Rebbe released a letter on the 11th of Adar to the sons and daughters of our people Israel everywhere. Hashem bless you all. Greeting and blessing. Based on the saying of our sages of blessed memory, we encourage a person before the act and encourage him again at the time of the act. Today, the 11th of Adar is a most opportune day in accordance with the Mishnah's ruling at the very beginning of the Tractate of Megillah. And in its words, "The Megillah is read on the 11th, on the 12th, on the 13th, on the 14th, and on the 15th, neither earlier nor later." To encourage again, in addition to the encouraging in the past, and particularly since Rishonim regarding the Purim campaign,

14:22 to endeavor that every man and woman fulfill the mitzvahs and themes of the days of Purim in accordance with their halachic requirements, endeavoring both through conversation, speaking to others with words that emanate from the heart about all this, as well as through deed where necessary, by providing a proficient reader of the Megillah and by day of the Torah reading of VaYovet Amolek. Foodstuffs prepared for use in observance of the mitzvah of Mishlach Manos and coins for the observance of the mitzvah of Matanos Lavonim for the poor. And ideally, to also attach a synopsis of the most relevant laws of Purim and at the very best, an abridged version of the Purim story and the power of the miracle. Also stating, and this is vital, that this is not a reading in reverse, meaning it is not merely an account and propagation of a miracle from the past, indeed the distant past. Rather, it is a portion of our Torah, which also means instruction, which is eternal for all times, in all places, and for every man and woman. Which also means that just like then, now too, and always, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The king alluding to the king of the universe, and thus the words of the Megillah, they had rest from their enemies because the fear of the Jews was upon them shall be fulfilled. And for the Jews in all provinces of king, the king of the universe, both those who are near and those who are momentarily

16:25 far, for they have been beset by an impulse of folly and committed a transgression, heaven forbid. There will be light, joy, gladness, and honor, both in the plain sense as well as in the meaning of those terms according to all their interpretations by our sages of blessed memory. And may every man and woman fulfill the directive from when Adar arrives every day of the month we increase in joy in a true and simple sense, and particularly in the joy that accompanies a mitzvah. The Rebbe continues briefly from the point of Mivtza Purim, mention also the 10-point mitzvah campaign. And the Rebbe begins concluding the letter and the activities in all of the above in a continually increasing manner and with continually increasing joy, with esteem and blessing that it may be, as our sages say, to adjoin geulah to geulah, namely the geulah of these Purim days at the conclusion of the galus when we are still servants of Achashverosh with the fulfillment of the promise, the glory and strength of the tzaddik shall be uplifted, meaning every Jew since your people are all righteous. With the true and complete geulah through our righteous Mashiach, may they be adjoined speedily in our times and with blessings for a happy Purim, and may its joy be extended throughout the entire year. Im Yirtza Hashem, in the next installment, we will discuss What took place by the Rebbe Friday and Shabbos, Purim and Shushan Purim in this very same year, Tov Shin Lamed Zayin. Perhaps a closer

18:37 look at the early years of the Rebbe will help us understand the Purim of Tov Shin Lamed Zayin 1981 and continue now the next occasion when discussing the unique quality of Purim when it is on a Friday, four years the next day of Shushan Purim, which in this year, Tov Shin Lamed Zayin, was on Friday night and Shabbos. About one o'clock Friday afternoon, the Rebbe went home and he returned at about 2.15. And he remained in his study until Shabbos. There are several days left to Purim. It is high time to remind ourselves and others of the importance that has to be given to the sixth day of the week in keeping with its special creation. This coming Purim occurs on the sixth day of the week. The first man and Adam was created as the king of the universe. This accounts for a unity between Purim and creation. The claims of Purim, which is why David says, I quoted the psalm, the inanimate world, the natural world, the entire animal world and the plant world were moved towards joy and celebration. With the new, the entire creation takes upon itself the approach of young and old, children and women. And therefore when Purim falls on a Friday, upon observing the crest that it involves saying L'chaim, singing and dancing with great pleasure, he touched both with his hands to the sick and encouraged the celebration of the sick as well. And of course, every time also there is a emphasis on the mitzvahs of

20:29 Purim. And not only travelers, orphanages, hospitals and correction institutions to enable them to celebrate Purim fully. The first point of special relevance to this coming Purim is in connection with the fact that Purim occurs on Purim before it becomes an extended Purim for the holy city of Yerushalayim. Extended Shabbos, that one through Shabbos, the Rebbe came in with Purim, with Purim, Mishlei Achamanes at the late. When Jews went into Yerushalayim after the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, they vowed they would never forget Purim, Yerushalayim. As members and non-Jews among every song, as Rabbi says, we too are sent our gift Israel for wherever it is distributed, it would therefore be appropriate, indeed very much so, for Jews everywhere to make a stunning song here to last a particularly joyous one by additional activity that would bring joy. Take a study which brings rejoicing. The hearts of many Jews in the spirit of our expression, and if suitable in every area of mission of our national friends and gifts to the poor and particularly in gatherings to spread Yiddish pride. The Rebbe concluded that for the leading spirit of Yerushalayim is for his room. That is the acronym of the word Yerushalayim, complete all Shabbos. To do all that he moves towards Purim according to the calendar said of this year that Purim was Friday. Therefore Purim immediately begins Purim earlier because of the honor of the house. Whoever was in Yerushalayim to which not once every day a prayer as is written, they will pray

22:30 to Hashem. This is merely a few short moments after the Rebbe had left and now he was coming back for the Minigee suspension. Shushan Purim entering the person that just as the day of Purim closed the door and windows, but the fullness blew up enough. Upon leaving his room, any sense of his room as he went out by the window in peace and joy. So be careful be for us and with you. With the soul of the people who are probing for what is a very big part. Arriving at his place, the Rebbe told him to say L'chaim twice. A geulah similar to the liberation of Bnos from the land of Mitzrayim. Before that, the Rebbe's ringing until we you encourage the singing of your pastor very will thank you forever. It was a very joyous Purim. At the end of one of his recitals, the Rebbe spoke of the opinion of Adeliyoda. This was Chapter of Tehillim that when the soul is fulfilled on the page, an inner Shabbos to recite Tehillim will still be, will still be on Shabbos. The Rebbe concluded with a joyous point. The person who you made to record his words with this Tehillim of Adeliyoda to memorize the maimer. But a few of those present did the best they could to transcribe a nochah of the maimer as the Rebbe spoke. Hence, between these nochahs and with the assistance of Rabbi Mentlik, the maimer was quickly published in time for Shabbos. The maimer lasted around seven minutes. Afterwards,

24:18 the Rebbe asked that a glass of wine be filtered him. When asked if he wanted his regular becher, his regular kos, the Rebbe declined and Rabbi Mentlik poured wine for the Rebbe into a plastic cup. After saying L'chaim, the Rebbe asked that all those present should do as well and then began singing Ufaratzna, standing up and responding L'chaim v'levracha to all. Then the Rebbe asked for another L'chaim, drank a second cup and recited the Bracha Achreina. Before leaving the zal, the Rebbe reminded everyone to recite the Bracha Achreina and encouraged all to utilize the time that I'm still here and say L'chaim without limits. Leaving the zal, the Rebbe waved his hands encouraging the singing. During the ma'amar, one of Anash who had heard about the surprise ran to 770 and knocked on the window of the zal. After someone opened, he put his ear to the window to follow along. Seeing the open window, this is after the Rebbe already was walking out after the ma'amar, the Rebbe turned to the maskir and said, "Didn't we decide that the windows would be closed?" After a few minutes, the Rebbe left for home. Meanwhile, scores of bochurim and Anash returned to 770, and hearing what had happened, a joy celebration ensued. Overjoyed by the immense g'luim of the day and hearing about the Rebbe's request to say l'chaim, Chassidim sang and danced, welcoming the Shabbos with tremendous joy. When the Rebbe entered the shul for Kabbalah Shabbos that evening, the Chassidim were in particularly high

26:17 spirits, singing the Hakofes nigun joyously. Reaching his place, the Rebbe put down his siddur on the shtender and turned around to encourage the singing. The scene that unfolded that night reminded everyone of Sukkot celebrations with the Rebbe. Im Yirtze Hashem, in the next installment, we will continue what took place at the farbrengen on Shabbos afternoon. A freilechen Purim. To exempt others by being metzii them with the chiyuv of ad d'lo yada, which is the obligation of the simcha of Purim. Interesting to note, this was the Shabbos after the Shtalkos of the Gerrer Rebbe, the Beis Yisroel. The Rebbe dedicated an entire sicha in regard to the relationship between Ger and Chabad. After one of the sichas, a Yid from Eretz Yisroel went over to the Rebbe with a kos of mashke and said to the Rebbe that he's mezake everyone with ad d'lo yada. He is going to be metzii everybody with ad d'lo yada. So the Rebbe said that there is a svora that the city of Haifa is considered a walled city. This Yid came from Haifa. He then approached the Rebbe and he asked, "The children are asking when is Mashiach coming?" So the Rebbe said that at this point we don't ask questions and when Mashiach will come, the children will ask him why did he come so late. The Yid asked l'chaim from the Rebbe, that the Rebbe should give him l'chaim. The Rebbe gave him a little mashke and the Rebbe smiled and motioned with his hand that it's

28:22 enough. After Mincha, this was the conclusion of the farbrengen at five fifteen and Mincha was five fifty. The Rebbe went home then. Before Ma'ariv, Chassidim were singing and dancing upstairs in the zal, in the shul upstairs, and when the Rebbe came in, the Rebbe looked at the floor and motioned with his head, and it was understood that it should become quiet, and the Rebbe then davened Ma'ariv with Chassidim. The hemshicha to the earlier installment then began by the Purim of Purim by the Rebbe in 1981, which is in fact the second installment of Purim which took place by the Rebbe on very last Friday. This continuing now took place a year earlier. Many years earlier about Purim 1958. At the farbrengen of Purim, the Rebbe gave many brochos to people who then were waiting for children at the time. The Rebbe delivered a ma'amar which the Rebbe broche. The Rebbe asked that the whole of the Purim farbrengen should be related to the Purim of Purim and explained that we allow the brocha of l'shana haba'ah b'Yerushalayim. The Rebbe turns also to this brocha. The Rebbe told him that you are also a brocha to me. This was applying the megillah to l'shana haba'ah. In the Chassidic discourse, the Rebbe taught us that this was a classic instance taking place about this brocha. As natural as it would have been different that if you had the telegraphs, we will surprise literally the whole world with the message of the megillah to Purim starting over now.

30:14 He related the following story. When my children were growing up, I began to bring them to the Rebbe every Purim. The Rebbe accepted that they would actually help with bringing in seforim on Purim. Although most presentations have an impact on the content Chabad's ma'amars and elsewhere, they relate to and address the time when essentially we should have made aliyah to Eretz Yisroel. What is the meaning of an opening verse which they say l'chaim? In the farbrengen, the Lameds, etc., there were families who brought seforim on Purim. One of them was Rabbi Leibele Strichsky of Jerusalem and his family. We are starting over now. He related the following story. Out of all the years that the Rebbe said this on the same day, Purim falls out on Friday like a Purim Shabbos. The meaning of the divrei Torah continues to stand as a source of light and presentation and other world Chabad's ma'amars and elsewhere. My daughter, who was dressed as Esther HaMalka, wanted to say something. The Rebbe's moment In 1980, I told you that in the Rebbe's room, there are people who sit. The Rebbe coming in and says, "Esther Amalka", and he's asking the groom, implying she's entitled. In the year Taf Shin Lamed Aleph, 1971, the Rebbe began the Purim farbrengen in a very interesting way and he related in an unusual way. In the weeks, Rebbe opened his words as follows. Gentlemen, if I could, coming into the farbrengen takes place as usual. But this year, I'm giving you in honor

31:47 of every year to say Purim. And likewise, every year, a group of students study the meaning of this unity between Yidden and other Jews. The previous Rebbe once said that when they ask Amalek about the Jews, why he tries to erase the Jewish nation of the world, for they are all one nation. The common story of Purim is the same thing as the letters written on of what is discussed in the Bible. But where Haman was not a place to hide them is one entity. But in addition, they also put on films as many do. The Melier Rebbe continues that those that put on films on their own also benefit. The Melier Rebbe is talking of special nights when many Yidden are gathered together. This has been a year for every mitzvah, and surely when it comes to the mitzvah of film, and as which the Talmud tells us in that verse, that 10 Kol HaMeor is to show Hashem Nigra Kol HaYoram. That it makes an impact on the nations, and it refers to children. The Rebbe continues, the Melier, they just came back now, since there is a difference in the times in here and in Jerusalem. For these six, seven weeks, they related that they were presentedly in every way in order that they should be able to reach all the locations where they were. There it goes, and hence the Purim farbrengen was so successful. A Purim story that took place in the year Taf Shin Lamed Tes, 1978. In that

33:36 year, many Yids were studying a lot of siddhis, and that was by beta, according to the teachings of Chabad. Thus, as the years moved on, and as Rebbe begins to distance himself from the Rebbe and from these siddhis. In late 1977, early Taf Shin Lamed Tes, in which many aperes, the Rebbe suffered a heart attack. The Rebbe, and when this person found out about it, he was very shocked. And he's just thinking to himself, how is it that the Rebbe is not feeling well? What will happen to my Yiddish home? And he decided right there and then that there is a connection. He has to travel to the Rebbe to see the Rebbe, which was chosen around Purim time. And he travels to 770. And since it was already many years that he was distant from the Rebbe, so he's embarrassed to approach the Rebbe. And he decided he's not gonna approach the Rebbe and not sit from a close location near the Rebbe, but from a distance he will say LeChayim to the Rebbe. And then he will leave 770 and return back. There will give us a passport. But at the conclusion of the farbrengen, to his surprise, and not as it usually takes place, the Rebbe announced that those that are going back to their country, although they are not traveling for a purpose of a shlichas of a certain mission, otherwise they should go up on the bimah to receive mashke that brings simcha in order to be able to bring

35:29 it back to the people in their community. This person didn't know what to do. What is he gonna do now? And he said to himself, "I will go over to the Rebbe, and since there are many people that approach the Rebbe at that point, so the Rebbe won't really pay so much attention to me. He won't actually be involved with me. He will give me the bottle of mashke, and I will go further." But when he approached the Rebbe, the Rebbe turned to him and said, It seems to me, the Rebbe says, that a lot of time has already passed since we saw each other. Understandably, that this revelation had a very positive impact on him, and he returned to Lubavitch with a greater fervor, with a greater chais. In Taf Shin Mem Tes, 1989, when Purim came, there was a Yid, a Sefer, Rabbi Eliezer Zurkin, Alav Ha-Shalom, who would customarily send to the Rebbe every year a sugas Purim. He would send to the Rebbe the Sudah for Purim. Tovshe Mante, since the Rebbe was already in 770, it was a year after the Ptirah of the Rebbetsin, he felt he can't send it to 770 because he didn't want this to be known in the public eye. And he asked the Rebbe what should he do. Since every year he sends the Sudah, the Rebbe answered him that if you're going to send Mezeines, I will come home and I will take it. various occasions when the Rebbe delivered them. In 1954,

37:50 Purim was on a Friday. The Rebbe's Fabregen took place on the next day, Shabbos Shushan Purim, in the late afternoon. The Rebbe then delivered the Maimer after a brief introduction about the customs of the day and the general timing for a Maimer, a discourse delivered on Purim. The Maimer began with a verse of the Mishnah, the Talmud, in the beginning of the tractate of Megillah, where the Mishnah states, The Megillah is read on the 11th, the 12th, the 13th, the 14th, and the 15th of Adar. Precisely mentioning the 15th of Adar, which was on that very Shabbos Shushan Purim in 1954. 20 years later, in Tovshin Lamadalet, 1974, when Purim once again was on a Friday, something different took place. The Rebbe opened his discourse with the verse of the Shabbos Parsha, Parsha Kisisa, the beginning of the Parsha. And immediately after brief remarks on the verse and questions, the Rebbe began elaborating in great length on the verse Ish Yehudi, which is a key verse in the Megillah. After a lengthy elaboration on the verse Ish Yehudi, and based on this elaboration, the Rebbe answered the questions he asked at the opening of the Maimer. He also connected the beginning of the Maimer with Purim. Three years later, in Tovshin Lamadzai in 1977, Purim fell out again on Friday. At the beginning of the Fabregen, the Rebbe asked for the name of Chassid Rabbi Lemelech, the Maimer, at the conference of this Maimer was identical to the topic delivered in 1954. As mentioned earlier,

40:04 from the tractate of Megillah to his Talmidim, an experience that he had during the Fabregen of Purim Tovshin Chavov. It was then towards the conclusion of the Maimer The Rebbe spoke about the timetables of the Megillah readings and the mitzvahs of Purim. In Tovshin Mem Aleph 1981, the Rebbe opened the Maimer with the verse The Rebbe then announced that everyone who wants to receive Mashke from him will be given to them. Of course, Chassidim understood this as an auspicious time to receiving Mashke, receiving Gralight. And there was a big confusion that took place then when Purim was celebrated in Shushan. From all this we learn how precisely the Rebbe chose an opening verse for a Maimer. Rab Melech, as he was known fondly with this reference, related that he also tried, exerted himself, pushed himself, but to no avail. He did not manage to receive Mashke from the Rebbe at that point. After the Fabregen, when the Rebbe went out of 770, going home, the Rebbe went out from the main entrance. And while the Rebbe was on the steps going to the street, someone handed the Rebbe a bottle of Mashke and the Rebbe continued to distribute the Mashke. Whoever was not able to receive Mashke earlier tried again to push and receive Mashke. But also there, there was a big crowd and there was a lot of pushing. But Rab Melech relates that I really held on strong and I was already standing face to face right near the Rebbe. I extended my

42:31 hand with a little cup in the hand to receive Mashke. But since there was so much pushing, my hand couldn't remain in a steady position and it was swaying back and forth. And I was afraid that I'm going to lose the Mashke that I will be receiving from the Rebbe. Then I realized that also the Rebbe's hand was swaying back and forth because of the pushing. And the Rebbe wanted that I should receive everything he is going to pour in. Therefore, the Rebbe was waiting. Rab Melech concludes the story That I was by many fabrengans. I was in yechidas, private audiences with the Rebbe. But till then, I did not feel such a closeness. When my hand was swaying and the Rebbe's hand was swaying, I felt as the Rebbe is mit mir zusammen. The Rebbe is with me together. The second story is when I get to the mashpia, Rab Nissen Nemanov, who was a distinguished mashpia in Brunois, in Temchi Timim in France. And already during the wartime, he was already considered a distinguished mashpia and chasid. And he once participated in a fabrenge by the Rebbe on Purim. And at times, between the sichas, some chasidim during the nigunim would stand up and just sing and dance in their place. Melodi was singing a very joyous nigun, and Rab Nissen began to dance. The Rebbe was not able to see his face. He only saw a hat moving up and down, but did not see who was the one dancing. And it

44:39 was obvious from those who observed it that it was for quite a while the Rebbe is lowering his head to see who is dancing right there near the Rebbe's table on the floor, which was a level lower than the Rebbe's platform. Till finally, the Rebbe bent his head down more, and he saw it was Rab Nissen Nemanov. And a broad smile appeared on the Rebbe's face.