THE REBBE'S DEVOTION The Rebbe told us about his youth when he once visited Rabbi ….

He said, “I had not yet attained my present level, where I could speak to a group and still be literally involved in the Torah and attached to God.

“You think that everything comes at once. This is far from the truth. You must work and toil before you can achieve any good quality [devotion].”

At this point in his youth, it was very difficult for the Rebbe to spend time with others because he always wished to be involved in his devotions.²⁶⁷, p. 98).

footnotes: ²⁶⁷ This was also true of the Baal Shem Tov (Shevachey HaBaal Shem Tov

Many times when his unique qualities were mentioned, the Rebbe would say, “Ich hab aber zeir geharivit. Ich hab asach gefast – But I struggled very much for it. I fasted very much” (see “His Wisdom” #165).