As one of the Rebbe's aides, I did many tasks for the Rebbe. The Rebbe, without fail, always said thank you, adank in Yiddish. Why, I wondered, was the Rebbe always thanking me, just a young student when I began working in his office?
Whatever I did, whether it was driving the Rebbe, opening a door, closing a door, the Rebbe said, "Adank."
When requesting something of me, the Rebbe would ask, "Perhaps if this is not too difficult for you to do..."
The Rebbe was always, as we call it, a mentch.
The Individual's Greater Potential
The Rebbe appreciated each individual. The Rebbe saw the world, humanity, with a unique set of eyes, through a different perspective.
I remember the Rebbe saying many times that people's accomplishments are often greater than their own assessment of their deeds. The Rebbe saw the greater picture and therefore had a different appreciation about what was accomplished. The Rebbe often said that the same way one needs to know his own shortcomings, he needs to know their virtues and talents.
The Rebbe spoke about the potential of every person—no matter his background or education; the Rebbe saw great promise, an entire world, in each of us. This is why the Rebbe always worked to tap into every person's massive individual potential.
