Where Is Zeidy?

When the Tzemach Tzedek was a small child, his grandfather, Rav Shneur Zalman, the Alter Rebbe of Chabad, once held him in his arms. The child stroked his grandfather’s beard and said, “Zeidy, Zeidy.”

“No,” said the Alter Rebbe, “that is only Zeidy’s beard. Where is Zeidy?”

The child pointed to his grandfather’s head and said, “At du iz Zeidy. Here is Grandfather.”

“No, that is only Zeidy’s head. But where is Zeidy?”

The child pointed to various other places, and each time he received the same answer. At last he jumped off his grandfather’s lap and went to play. Then he pretended that he had hurt himself and cried out, “Zeidy, Zeidy.”

“What is it?” asked the Alter Rebbe, full of concern.

The Tzemach Tzedek smiled and pointed at him. “At dos iz der Zeidy. Now this is the real Zeidy.”