אות - קכד

The Rebbe once asked us, “Have you ever heard me lecture you about religion?”

He said he could not lecture people in this manner. Etlichs vort fun Mussar is bei mir favashin mit trehrin – Every word of his moralizing was immersed and washed in tears. Because of this, he could not lecture people about religion.

At first, it was very difficult for us to understand what the Rebbe meant. It seemed to us that his every word was a religious lesson, literally burning with fire.

In fact it was true that he did not sermonize us like many preachers do, yet his every conversation dealt with devotion to God. All his words were literally like burning coals ( Avot 2:10) , and whoever was worthy of hearing them was literally filled with fiery inspiration.

It is impossible to describe in writing or in speech the holy fire of the Rebbe’s words. Even his most casual conversations were filled with holiness and purity. And when he presented a lesson or spoke about devotion, his every word would scintillate and sparkle. It would blaze like flames, flashing like a roaring fire (Psalms 104:4; Song of Songs 8:6) .

You would only have to listen carefully and sincerely heed his words. Then every word would literally fly into you like a bolt of fire (Exodus 3:2) . You would feel yourself being drawn to God and bound up with Him in a wondrous, fiery bond.

There were many such times when we were standing before his awesome holy splendor, that we felt that we no longer had free will. It was as if we were powerless to go against God’s will and we would never again be separated from Him. The Rebbe’s words drew us so strongly to God that we were sure we could never oppose God's will by transgressing even the most minor commandment. But experiences such as these are totally beyond description.

Even today you can become involved in the Rebbe’s works. If you study them sincerely and probe their depth, your heart will certainly be drawn to God by the Rebbe’s holy words. For all his words are like burning coals.