When the Bergstein family entered yechidus, the Rebbe asked young Chaim Moshe how many strings he had in his tzitzis. When the boy didn’t know, the Rebbe taught him a lifelong lesson from money.

After eighty years of spreading chassidishe warmth in Russia and in England, Reb Avrohom Sender Nemtzov on vacation in New Haven, CT, when he received a letter from the Rebbe inspiring him with a sense of mission.

A recurring theme in the Rebbe’s correspondence is the potential and power of chassidishe farbrengen. Advising a chossid who was bringing someone closer to Yiddishkeit, the Rebbe recommended a chassidishe farbrengen as the way to make him more receptive.

Reb Eliyahu Kitov, an activist and author, had a brilliant idea: he would gather all leading rabbonim in one room to find solutions for Klal Yisroel’s issues. The Rebbe agreed that this would bring the solution, but for a different reason.

Every summer, bochurim would set out in pairs to do Merkos Shlichus work. One year, the Rebbe reminded them that although they were teaching the basics, their goal should always be “to establish a Yeshiva like in Lubavitch.”

When a bochur returned from Merkos Shlichus disheartened having reached relatively few people, he shared his disillusionment with the Rebbe, who responded with three points.

The Rebbe saw a direct correlation between gashmiyus and ruchniyus. When R’ Simcha Werner looked surprised that learning more Chassidus would help his mother’s health, the Rebbe made the connection clear.

“You can remove your tie, and you don’t need to look so meticulous…” the Rebbe told someone at the Shavuos 5711 farbrengen, proceeding to relate a story of Reb Michoel der Alter and polishing shoes in Lubavitch.

In the Rebbe’s interactions, a distinction was always drawn between sharing challenges, and complaining. When an early shliach regretted having asked to be relieved of his shlichus, the Rebbe stipulated that there would be no complaining.

Unsure whether to send their daughter to a professionally-run frum preschool or a disorganized chassidishe kindergarten, a parent wrote to the Rebbe. The Rebbe’s response didn’t leave any room for doubt.

When young Gershon Shusterman began to snap pictures of the Rebbe at a chuppa, the Rebbe asked his principal, Rabbi Mendel Tenenbaum, to take it from him to return it after he is tested on some learning.

After Reb Moshe Yitzchok Hecht received an Honorary degree, the Rebbe received a letter referring to him as “Doctor Hecht.” The Rebbe immediately sent him a letter expressing his dissatisfaction.

After a fiery sicha at the Acharon Shel Pesach 5711 farbrengen, the Rebbe began handing out wine to all Torah teachers present. When some yeshiva supporters asked for wine as well, the Rebbe didn’t give them with the teachers, explaining that the gashmiyus and ruchniyus must remain separate.

At the Acharon Shel Pesach farbrengen of 5711, the Rebbe began handing out wine to the assembled yeshiva bochurim. But then the Rebbe made an unusual statement about himself.

During the seder, the Rebbe would be particularly elated and would read the Haggada in a heartfelt tune. When Reb Berel Junik took the Rebbe’s becher to wash it, the Rebbe told him off for the “balebatishkait” at such an opportune time.

Though some chassidim avoided the Tiferes Yisrael commentary on Mishnayos, the Rebbe said he used it. But when Reb Osher Sasonkin said he would therefore copy the Rebbe, the Rebbe advised him to copy him in other ways.

A famous poet and novelist, Shimon Halkin was considered by many the greatest Jewish poet of his day. When he told the Rebbe why he didn’t visit, the Rebbe told him that it was actually a good sign.

As a bochur, Reb Simcha Werner questioned the Rebbe why it was so bad if he did an aveira once in a while. The Rebbe gazed at him strongly and gave him a contemporary example.

When the Rebbe announced Mivtzah Purim in 5722, some questioned the significance of these “minor mitzvos.” In a yechidus with R’ Yaakov Hanoka, the Rebbe provided an explanation he could share with his former colleagues at Penn University.

R’ Hershel Fogelman merited a unique relationship with the Rebbe. When the Rebbe once wished him to be besimcha, he responded “omein,” but the Rebbe was not satisfied with that.