This is a completed edited piece, (written by a client):

What an appropriate assignment to receive and to be writing just as the eleventh of Nissan, the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s birthday, is approaching fast. For you see when I was asked to write a journal entry about a leader whom I respect and from whom I can learn valuable lessons, I immediately thought of the Rebbe. His life was filled lessons, stories and examples that eventually would be teaching us how to live our lives. He would also give us many lessons that were very down to earth and easy to comprehend, as well as advising anyone from all walks of life who sought his guidance in any area that they were struggling. His days were filled with hours and hours devoted to his Chassidim and every other person who needed a hand, simply an ear or even advice. The Rebbe showed us how to live as proper people and proud Jews through his own actions. He was a man who led by example.

The Rebbe showed his love for every individual, and exhibited responsibility for the wellbeing of the entire world. He stood for many hours on Sundays giving out dollars for tzedaka, and giving blessings and encouragement to those who walked by. He held private audiences during the day and night, uplifting all of the souls of those who came to see him. The Rebbe managed to focus on every individual and their needs. He would compare each person to a whole world, so he would thereby be affecting many worlds through his work and time.

Each of us was considered to be just like a diamond is the Rebbe’s eyes and he therefore did not tire at all when doing all this work. Speaking and reciting his weekly speeches and discourses and ending them with real life lessons were another way for him to help us to learn and know how to affect the world in the best possible way. The Rebbe always expected us to do more and more and never stop. “It was not enough to be good”- the response of the Rebbe was frequently along the lines of “what else?” or “what’s next?” The Rebbe created ten mitzvah campaigns to bring Jews closer to Judaism out of his love for every single one. Additionally, he would send out his students to many different areas and locations to speak to the non-Jews as well. This was done to tell them about their laws-the seven mitzvot of Noach that they should be keeping to live a long, healthy and proper life. In so many ways, the Rebbe did what he could to make this world a dwelling place for God, in addition to making the world a better and more peaceful place to live.

As mentioned above, the Rebbe would send out his followers to streets, offices, as well as remote places around the world. This was done to find lost Jews and to help bring them back. For you see, if one knows aleph, it is his duty to teach aleph. Chief Rabbi and Lord Jonathon Sacks addressed the Rebbe’s emissaries at the banquet of the International Conference in 2011 and said that the Rebbe did not create followers; rather he created many leaders who create new leaders (Jewish Media, 2011). Indeed, the Rebbe said that each person is a street-lamp lighter (Schneerson, n.d.). Just as the street lamps many years ago were ready and waiting to be lit in the desert or sea so too, there are Jews in remote places or even nearby who are waiting to be lit up by the light of Torah.

The Rebbe is someone who I look up to and whose ways I try to learn from. The Rebbe was a man who epitomized love for every single person no matter race, ethnicity or religion. One of the ways he showed his love was that he sent people to deserted locations, for if there was even one single Jew who needed help spiritually or physically they should get the help so rightfully need. The Rebbe constantly gave talks of Torah, and gave lessons that we can learn from to apply to our lives even now. The Rebbe is my inspiration for the type of leadership that a person can aspire to follow and I will take this and many of his other lessons to heart for application in my life.