As a Yeshivah University student in the early 1960’s, I used to
attend a Thursday night class on Chabad philosophy. The class was
interesting and highly informative and I was never shy about asking
questions. How could you say such-and-such when other Jewish
philosophers posit other theories? How do you reconcile their
disagreements?The teacher’s recurrent answer was, “The Rebbe knows,”
referring to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of
saintly memory.
Although the teacher was very familiar with Chabad philosophy, he was not as informed about other Jewish philosophers like
Maimonides and
Rabbi Saadia ben Joseph (882-942), known as
Saadya Gaon.
One day, after another round of my incessant questioning, the teacher
suggested, “Why don’t you write a letter to the Rebbe requesting a
private audience? There you can spend some time with Rebbe, ask him all
your questions, and receive the answers you need.”
| One
day, after another round of my incessant questioning, the teacher
suggested, "Why don’t you write a letter to the Rebbe requesting a
private audience?" |
I wrote a letter to the Rebbe in Hebrew outlining what I was studying,
and explained that I had some philosophical questions that I would like
to discuss with him if possible.
Within a couple of days I was contacted by the Rebbe’s secretariat
and given an appointment for three weeks later at 3:00am. On certain
nights of the week, the Rebbe would begin holding private audiences just
after the time that most people would be coming home from work,
continuing throughout the night until everyone had had their turn.
When the time arrived, I traveled by subway to the Rebbe’s office at
770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Before entering the Rebbe’s room I was
instructed to listen closely for the sound of the bell signifying the
end of the audience.
