With these words, during a personal yechidus, the Rebbe demanded of longtime Detroit shliach, Reb Berel Shemtov, to be happy. When Reb Berel asked the Rebbe for a bracha, the Rebbe clarified what he could and should do.

“Throw you mara shechora into the dead sea!”

Longtime Detroit Shliach Reb Berel Shemtov, was standing in a personal yechidus, and with these words, the Rebbe demanded of him to be happy.

Reb Berel, taken by the Rebbe’s direct instruction, stood frozen in his place. “The Rebbe should give me a bracha for simcha,” he asked the Rebbe.

“You are a chossid,” the Rebbe responded, “and your father is a chossid…

“In di daled amos darf men zain b’simcha – in this space one needs to be joyous!”

(As heard from Reb Kasriel Shemtov)

From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash