Love Everyone

In 1947 the Rebbe went to Paris to bring his mother, Rebbetzin Chana, to America. The Rebbe spent several months there. The Rebbe went to an eatery or grocery store, and after ascertaining that it was up to his standards in kashrus, became a regular customer. The Rebbe also introduced himself only as "Mendel."

Before leaving for America, the Rebbe thanked the owner for everything. The owner said "You paid for everything you took, why the need to say thank you?" And the Rebbe answered that it's the mentschleche thing to do. Then the owner mention something he read from the Chasam Sofer, and the Rebbe said that he didn't remember seeing anything like that written in CH"S. Then the Rebbe said "Mir vellen zich vayter zen (we'll see each other again)."

In 1969, the owner fell ill, and his son visited the Rebbe and asked for a bracha. The Rebbe gave him a bracha and said "Mir vellen zich vayter zen."

(According to a trusted source, the man's doctor asked him what his connection to the Lubavitcher Rebbe was, and he answered I don't even know who that is. So the doctor said, "well, his office called and suggested I give you the medicine you're taking.").

When the man was well, he made a point ti come to the Rebbe to say thank you, and the Rebbe brought up the Chasam Sofer and said, "Although in Paris I told you I didn't think it was written, since then I have found a copy of the CH"S that does have it."

The end.

What's the point of telling such a story? The miracle of remembering what was said twenty years earlier? I don't think so. The reason the story is told is b/c it shows outstanding Ahavas Yisroel. One of the ways to show someone that you like them is to show them that you listen when they talk. Someone confides in you and they tell you they're very sad b/c their goldfish is really sick. The next time you speak, you ask about the weather, etc., and you don't mention Goldy, you're showing that you weren't even listening.

I was sitting at the Shabbos table with a bunch of bochurim (and a bunch of broccoli) and someone said to the person sitting next to him, "Can you pass the soda?" After a minute, a kid at the other end of the table got up and took the soda and brought it to the person who asked for it. That was beautiful. He wasn't asked, but he heard that someone needed something, so he got it for him.

We need to hear when people ask for help, even if they don't use the word 'help', even if they aren't screaming, and even if they aren't calling our name. And when we do hear, we have to listen.