Boreh Nefashos Rabbos

On Shushan Purim it was the Rebbe's minhag to go from one family home to the next, calling on his children and close relatives and blessing each household. The custom was called rimplin. One Shushan Purim he told the chassidim with him to stop at the house of a devoted chossid who was no relation. This young man had been married a number of years without being blessed with children.

When the Rebbe came in, his host offered him a cup of wine. The Rebbe declined and asked for water, because he wished to say a Boreh Nefashos. Another chossid, who was standing next to him and also wanted a blessing, understood the moment and said in Yiddish, “Rebbe, me too.” The Rebbe answered: “Nu, nu, Boreh Nefashos Rabbos.”

The Rebbe made the bracha. Within the year the first chossid had a son, and the other had a daughter. About two decades later the two families became mechutanim, when the children born of the Rebbe's bracha married each other.