In the 1970’s when Zeide Galperin was already in NY but before he was married, his cousin Chaim Dovid Tsinman (of blessed memory, he passed away on Shemini Atzeret some years ago) asked the legendary Chassid (an iconic Chabad symbol of Soviet Jewry) Reb Mendel Futerfas to farbreng a Russishe farbrengen for only the Russian bochurim (many of who emigrated from Russia in the early 1970’s during a window of opportunity).
Reb Mendel asked what farbeisein (farbrengen-food/snacks) there would be? Aunt Mera Galperin, Chaim Dovid’s mother, was hosting, she lived then on 810? 808? Eastern Parkway, there was a Sukkah accessible via the basement or something. Chaim Dovid told Reb Mendel Futerfas there would be Grikene Kashe (buckwheat Kashe) and a Russian Marinated Fish – where soaking up the Yoych was tastier than the fish itself – and Reb Mendel was very happy with that.
Reb Mendel just asked if he could invite one non-Russian friend and that was R’ Shmuel Dovid Raichik, who ended up standing the whole night, sometimes with a knee up on a bench, but stood the whole farbrengen.
Zeide Galperin shared 2 things Reb Mendel farbrenged about that long memorable night in the Sukkah together:
(1) “A Chassid is nisht a Flyuger” a Flyuger is Russian for a weathervane which spins around whichever which way the wind blows. A Chassid is/ought to be more grounded and rooted than just to spin around uncontrollably every time some strong force blows at it.
(2) and Reb Mendel Futerfas farbrengened very hartzik and emotional about the “Halevay baKodesh Chazisicha” may we have the same thirst and yearning and striving for connection when it it is accessible and available and present, and not take it for granted, the same way as when it seemed so out of reach.
And R Shmuel Duvid Raichik stood, or with one foot on the bench, the whole long night in the Sukkah, never sat down, leaning in close to Reb Mendel Futerfas and listening intently the whole time.