Rosh Chodesh

But R. Yisroel’s connection with the Rebbe was more than just special moments; it was an ongoing relationship. As R. Yisroel once told the Rebbe, “I am here because my father, my grandfather, and my great -grandfather were with your father and grandfather in the cold and in the heat, in all the difficult times. ” Once, the Rebbe held a farbrengen despite being burdened by a severe cold. During the sichos, he coughed repeatedly. Afterwards, R. Yisroel commented to those around him, “It’s a shame that there’s no one like my father around. Once, when my father entered yechidus, the Rebbe began to cough. ‘Let me get you tea, ’ my father said. ‘When a Jew coughs, he should drink tea. It helps. ’ ”

It was that type of intimate attachment to the Rebbe that motivated R. Yisroel to spontaneously throw a huge Kiddush in 770 on the night following Rosh Chodesh Kislev when the Rebbe first went home after his heart attack in 5738. R. Yisroel was simply overwhelmingly happy and he wanted others to share in his happiness.

His connection to Rebbe expressed itself in a love for 770. Whenever he was in town, he would visit 770 every day, and after a long day of work, he would go to 770 before going home.