Ahavas Yisroel on a Plate of Goose Liver

Once the Rebbe visited Marienbad, the famed resort, to relax and regain his strength. Rav Aharon of Belz recalled how astonished everyone was when the Rebbe asked the proprietor for the best, fattest goose-liver pate for lunch. The news spread by word of mouth, and all the chassidim discussed the holy tzaddik's strange request.

When lunchtime came, an entire plate of the finest goose-liver pate awaited the Rebbe. On his way to lunch he tapped on the shoulder of one of his chassidim, whom he knew loved goose-liver pate, and told him he wanted him to join him as his guest of honor. The chassid joined the Rebbe, and all watched as the Rebbe carefully examined the plate and praised its virtues, how pleasant, fat and rich the liver was.

Then the Rebbe lifted the plate and said, "The truth is that I have a great desire to eat this goose liver. There are many holy, G-d-fearing Jews who do so, and I wish to count myself among them. But what shall I do? My family custom, inherited from my holy forefathers, is that we do not eat from geshtupte ganz, fattened geese, and so it forbids me to partake of this dish. How then shall I count myself among all those precious Jews? You," he said, pointing to the chassid, "you shall be my shaliach, my emissary. Through you I will enter into their fold, for Chazal say, 'A man's emissary is like himself,' and this will include me among them all." So saying, he presented the chassid with the liver.