The Rebbe's dog

Eliezer was a young child, growing up in Crown Heights in the mem’s (1980’s). Although, generally speaking, he was a regular Lubavitcher kid, there was one thing unique about him. Because his father was a diamond dealer, the family owned a dog – a Rottweiler – for security reasons. The dog was, by necessity, a big and vicious one, and practically towered over the little boy. When they walked together on the streets of Crown Heights, it was the dog that forcefully led the way, while Eliezer was pretty much dragged along at the end of the leash. Needless to say, anyone else out walking at the same time gave the two of them a wide berth.

Once, Eliezer was out walking with the dog, barely restraining the powerful and energetic dog – as usual -, when suddenly the dog stopped in his place, literally slinking down, with his tail between his feet. Before Eliezer had too much opportunity to wonder at the dog’s uncharacteristic behavior, he suddenly saw the Rebbe pass by right in front of him. Amazed, he turned to the Rebbe and asked: “how is it that you’re not afraid of my dog?” The Rebbe smiled to him and replied: “When I was your age, I had an even bigger dog than this.”

Naturally, Eliezer found the Rebbe’s words puzzling, and shared them with his father. His father later shared with him what he had learned from eltere Chassidim, that would shed light on the Rebbe’s words: When the Rebbe was a young child, the streets in Russia were not a safe place for Jewish children (to put it mildly). Therefore, for added security, the Rebbe would take a large dog with him when he went to the beis medrash.