A Moment with the Rebbe: When the Rebbe paid a visit to the Machon Chana Women’s Institute, the Rebbe asked “Why aren’t there any mirrors?”
Every year, before sitting down at his own Pesach seder, the Rebbe would visit the seder of the students of the Machon Chana Women’s Institute in their dining room on President Street.
In 5736 (1976), the Rebbe came in and gave the traditional bracha, and then wished the girls that by next year they will host their own sedarim.
The Rebbe then turned to go upstairs, to pay a visit to the dormitory. As the Rebbe walked into one room, he immediately asked, “Why aren’t there any mirrors?”
Reb Leibel Groner quickly moved a door and showed the Rebbe that there was a mirror hanging on the inside. The Rebbe said, “Itzter ken ich shlofen ruig – now I can sleep calmly.”
Reb Yaakov Yehuda Hecht, the administrator of Machon Chana, chuckled lightly to himself. The Rebbe turned to him and said, “Why are you laughing? Yiddishe girls have to care for their beauty!”
(Levin Teshurah, Nissan 5769)