When elder chossid Reb Berke Chein aged, he could no longer collect maamad funds as before. When some chassidim suggested handing it over to someone more capable, the Rebbe rejected the idea since it could hurt his feelings.
“Mamad” served throughout the generations as the Rebbe’s budget, from which the Rebbe funded various activities and covered personal expenses. Chassidim would see it as a great zechus to contribute, and the responsibility of collecting it was bestowed to an esteemed chossid in each community.
The venerable chossid, Reb Berke Chein, famous for his mesiras nefesh in soviet Russia, finally breached the Iron Curtain in 5724 and made his way to Eretz Yisroel, and within a few years was given this holy task.
After a few years, when Reb Berke was already not in his best of health, the collection began to decline. Around 5748, a group of well-meaning yungerleit, approached Reb Efraim Wolff, the administrator of Chabad activities in Eretz Yisroel, with an offer to get involved, to strengthen the Rebbes mamad.
Reb Efraim asked the Rebbe whether to allow this development, but the response was negative. Reb Berke may feel like he is being treated as a weakened person, the Rebbe explained, and this may cause him pain.
And so it remained until his passing; the feelings of this special Yid were more important to the Rebbe than the lost funds.
(Teshura Bar Mitzva Wolff)
From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash
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