When Mr. Zalman Shazar visited America for the first time in his capacity as president of Israel and wanted to see the Rebbe in 770, various members of his party and the government stated that this would be disrespectful to the State of Israel. They felt that the country's president should not visit the Rebbe in the manner of a regular chassid, but rather that the Rebbe'should come to the president.

Mr. Shazar approached the mazkirus and told them that from his point of view he was perfectly happy to visit the Rebbe in 770. However, due to public pressure, he wanted to know if the Rebbe could visit him at the hotel where he was staying in Manhattan.

The Rebbe replied that he did not want to make this decision on his own, and that he would ask his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz. When the Rebbe returned from the Ohel, he sent a message to Mr. Shazar that ?we do not travel from here.?

When Mr. Shazar heard that this was the answer, he defied the criticism of the members of his entourage and he visited the Rebbe in 770, just like any other chassid. The Rebbe greeted Mr. Shazar at the entrance to 770 and ushered him inside. As the president walked in, the Rebbe'showed him the Small Zal, pointing out the place where the Rebbe Rayatz would celebrate on Simchas Torah, where he would cry on Tisha b?Av, and where he would give over his Chassidus. ?I could never have brought any of this to your hotel in Manhattan,? the Rebbe remarked.

When they entered the Rebbe's room, the Rebbe pointed to the table and said, ?Above this table, the weeping of many Jews can be heard. This room brought Jews out of Russia, and from here Chassidic discourses are given. I could never have brought this with me if I had come to visit you.?

Translated from the Kfar Chabad Magazine