אות - קסט

The Rebbe’s eyes would literally “glow like the sun and the moon” (Shabbat morning liturgy, Nishmat ) .

This was especially true on the holy Shabbat, when his eyes would shine and his face would glow.

The Rebbe’s great holiness and fiery bond with God on Shabbat were really something to see. There was the way he said Kiddush on Friday night and his customs at the table. There was the awesome melody with which he sang Atkinu Seudata and Azamer BeShevachin . 275 "I Will Prepare the Meal” and “I Will Sing with Praises,” both composed by Rabbi Isaac Luria, the holy Ari. There was the way he sang the other Shabbat table songs, such as Kol MeKadesh , 276 "All Who Sanctify (the Shabbat),” most probably composed by Rabbi Moses ben Klonymus of Mayence (tenth century). Menuchah VeSimchah , 277 "Repose and Gladness,” possibly by the same author. Eshet Chayil 278 "A Woman of Valor,” from Proverbs 31:10-31. The order of these songs is interesting, because this is usually sung before Atkinu Seudata . See “ His Wisdom ” #153. and MeEyn Olam HaBa'ah . 279 "Like the World to Come,” the last verse of Mah Yedidut , a Shabbat table song probably composed by Rabbi Menachem ben Makhir, an eleventh-century native of Ratisbon, Germany. If you have not seen this, you have never seen anything good (cf. Sukkah 51a) .

Those who were at the Rebbe’s table on a Shabbat would be ready to bear witness that such a sight would never be seen again until the coming of the Mashiach. If all the seas were ink ( Shabbat 11a) , it would still be impossible to describe even an inkling of the great beauty, the awesome sanctity, intense awe and the sweet, pleasant, wonderful closeness to God that was there, with genuine humility. One could say that such a scene was never before witnessed.

I am only speaking about our own meager understanding of what was taking place there. Beyond that, there were deep mysteries far above our understanding.

Before Kiddush , the Rebbe would take the cup in his hand and stand in absolute silence for a long time. All we could hear was a faint yearning sound coming from his lips as he reached the lofty spheres to which he ascended. Then the Rebbe would begin the opening words of the Kiddush in a wondrous chant: “ Yom HaShishi – The Sixth Day.”

The Rebbe said, “The first word …” (see “ His Wisdom ” #210) .