Shaking Hands

A Gerrer chossid related the following story:

‘I met the Rebbe personally only once, when a friend took me to 770 to get kos shel berocho. We waited in line, slowly inching forward as we came nearer to the Rebbe’s place and to our turn to receive our wine and blessing.

‘Now (as you all know), during kos shel brocho there were in fact 2 separate lines (that were each, in turn, “fed into” from various smaller lines). One passed in front of the Rebbe, and the other passed behind the Rebbe. The Rebbe would alternate between distributing the wine to the line in front of him and to the line behind him. However, ignoramus that I was, I didn’t know any of this at the time. All I knew was that I was in line awaiting my turn to receiving kos shel brocho, and I assumed that all would receive at the same place.

‘Imagine my surprise, therefore, when, just as I reached the Rebbe’s place, the Rebbe abruptly did an about-face, and turned his back to me! I was left feeling shock, humiliation, consternation, and wondering what I had done to deserve this!

‘It took only a few moments until the Rebbe turned back to my line, and I feel that he recognized my impressions on my facial expressions. In a marked departure for his regular practice, the Rebbe – after pouring a bit of wine into my cup – put down his becher, and reached out and shook hands with me!