A Moment with the Rebbe: In the early years of the nesius, a college student took the courage and asked the question: “What is a Rebbe?”

In a joint yechidus for college students in Elul 5712 (1952), one student took the courage and asked the question: “What is a Rebbe?”

The Rebbe responded, “A Rebbe’s neshama carries a part of the neshamos of those that are connected to him. When a chossid comes to his Rebbe, he is looking to find that part of his own neshama in his Rebbe. Thereby, he also develops a connection to the Rebbe’s neshama.

“An example could be brought from a light bulb. The bulb doesn’t have the power to create its own light, therefore it receives energy from a generator. For this to happen, there must be wires, and the light fixture must be compatible.

“Similarly, a Rebbe is like a generator, and the chossid’s neshama is like the bulb. In order for him to be ignited, he has to connect to the Rebbe through his wire, which is his neshama.

“And the fixture, the chossid, also has to be compatible and turn his switch on.”

(Teshurah Sandhaus, Shevat 5768)