[Photo from the mid 1970s]Rabbi Mendel Gluckowsky spoke very well on Motzoei Shabbos in my (not so) humble opinion. Fortunately the MC was very brief - usually they want to give a long speech as well - and Gluckowsky spoke for about an hour.
He had a number of ideas that he wanted to emphasise which he did clearly with quite a few relevant stories. Two of the main points were ideas that I wanted to bring out in my post last night - the individual attention and concern that the Rebbe gave to everyone and the importance of mivtzoim.
Gluckowsky illustrated the importance of mivtzoim with a story of the Chiddushei HaRim who was walking in the town when a rich man passed in his carriage and offered him a ride. During the trip the rich man asked him why Hashem has given him all these riches. The man confessed to not keeping Torah and Mitzvos and said that he has read in Shema that we should not pursue false gods as it will lead to punishment by heaven. He asked if I do not do mitzvos why am I so wealthy. The Chiddushei HaRim answered that the wealthy man had already supplied the answer. The fact that he had recited the Shema shows that he has some merits which is why he is wealthy.
He related other stories about mivtza tefillin etc which all emphasise the chizuk and benefit to be derived from doing a mitzva even once. The Rebbe wanted us to have a positive effect on the world around us.
He spoke about how the Rebbe cares for everyone with many stories about the brochos received from the Rebbe. He mentioned a story with the Capland family - Shlomo Capland obm used to be a melamed in the schools here in Melbourne.
All in all it was an inspiring evening and worth attending.
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