My son, Rabbi Avrohom Jaffe, and his wife Susan took a party of thirty people to Brooklyn for Yud Shevat. They persuaded a number of their friends to accompany them. The following story illustrates the wonderful powers of the Rebbe over the dormant goodness of every Jew.

One of the young men who joined the group came from a very fine and Orthodox family but had unfortunately slipped a lot in his observances. After his yechidus with the Rebbe, he certainly seemed most impressed, yet he repeatedly stressed that although the Rebbe was a fine man, the Rebbe had not had any influence on him. He commenced attending our shul again. Soon he was participating in shiurim (Torah study classes), all the while repeating how the Rebbe had not had any influence over him. He used to drive to his mother for Friday night dinner but now started leaving the car at home. Recently I saw him with a full beard; but of course, this too was not any of the Rebbe’s influence, it must have just been a “Sefira Bord!” [Beard of Sefira. During the weeks of the sefira, even those men who normally trim or shave their beards refrain from doing so. –Ed.]