06/18/2026
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮
Today marks the Rebbe's yahrzeit, the third day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz. We would like to share with you what the Rebbe taught us about love.
Lately, we’ve been contemplating love and realizing that our understanding of it was a bit narrow.
Previously, if you had asked us to describe a loving person, we would have said they are kind, empathetic listeners who go out of their way to show care and support for others. And while these qualities are essential, we overlooked another crucial aspect.
Each year, we reflect on the Rebbe's impact and try to focus on ideas that can help us become better persons in our own lives. It was during this introspection that we started thinking about love.
Many people who visited the Rebbe spoke of his love. They felt he was fully present during conversations as if nothing else mattered. They felt loved and accepted. However, something more profound occurred during these encounters. The Rebbe would gently encourage them to exceed anything they had ever done, to push themselves further and reach greater heights.
Allow us to share three stories that illustrate this point:
Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, the first and only Chabad Rabbi in Maryland in the 1970s, arranged a successful Simchat Torah program for 3,000 people. Proud of his accomplishment, he rushed to share the news with the Rebbe. The Rebbe looked into his eyes and asked, "30,000?" Rabbi Kaplan corrected him, saying it was only 3,000. But the Rebbe persisted, indicating that 3,000 was good, but he could aim for 30,000.
Jonathan Sacks, a young student from Cambridge, visited the Rebbe. Years later, he recalled that meeting when he became a world-renowned Rabbi, lecturer, and philosopher. The Rebbe asked him about the number of Jewish students in Cambridge, their involvement in Jewish life, and what he was doing to bring others in. Sacks had not come seeking to become a Shliach, but the Rebbe challenged him nonetheless. The Rebbe interrupted him mid-sentence, stating that people don't find themselves in a situation; they put themselves in one. And if they can put themselves in one situation, they can put themselves in another. That moment changed Sacks' life.
In the late 1980s, a delegation from the newly merged UJA Federation of New York visited the Rebbe. They happily informed him of a quarter-million-dollar allocation towards Torah educational projects, expecting his satisfaction. However, the Rebbe smiled and exclaimed, "You expect me to be satisfied with a quarter million?"
These stories made us realize that the Rebbe's love was rooted in wanting the best for everyone. True love desires the highest potential for those it embraces.
When the Rebbe looked at Rabbi Kaplan, Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks, and the UJA Federation delegation, he saw their untapped potential. He believed they could achieve far more than they had already accomplished. Unlocking their full potential was the Rebbe's way of expressing his profound love—a deep belief in their capacity for greatness.
On the Rebbe's yahrzeit, we aspire to bring more of his love into our life. We want to remember that caring for others, including ourselves, goes beyond acceptance and meeting needs. It also involves nurturing growth and maximizing the gifts bestowed upon us by G-d.
May all our prayers be answered and fulfilled.
Rabbi Yisroel and Shainie Weingarten
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[📷 Pictured: Rabbi Weingarten and his son Levi Weingarten receiving a dollar for tzedakah from the Rebbe, along with his heartfelt blessings. 1991.]
To learn more about the Rebbe and his incredible life: TheRebbe.org
Chabad Flint
