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Reb Yaakov Kadaner, a chasid of Rabbi Dov Ber of Lubavitch, once accompanied Rabbi Dov Ber, known as the Mitteler Rebbe, on his travels.

One morning, after arriving in a certain town, the Rebbe delivered a Chasidic discourse of great depth. Afterward, Reb Yaakov went to have breakfast.

Soon thereafter, the Rebbe's attendant came to Reb Yaakov breathlessly and said, "If you want to look at the Rebbe's face, now is the time!" Reb Yaakov hesitated. For, while Jewish teachings explain that when one looks at the face of a great tzadik it brings one to a higher level of G-dly Awe, it was bold and even disrespectful to peer directly at the Rebbe.

"I don't want to," replied Reb Yaakov, "because I know that the Rebbe dislikes such conduct." The attendant assured the chasid, "Don't worry, the Rebbe won't even see you."

Reb Yaakov followed the attendant into the Rebbe's room. The attendant opened the door. Standing in the middle of the room utterly motionless, his face burning and his eyes wide open, was the Mitteler Rebbe.

It looked as if the Mitteler Rebbe was staring straight at Reb Yaakov. Reb Yaakov stepped away but the attendant pushed him forward and said in a loud voice, "There's nothing to fear. Right now the Rebbe doesn't see or hear anything. He is up there in the higher worlds presently."

"How do you know that?" Reb Yaakov asked.

"I am not speaking from my own personal experiences of the 'other worlds,' " responded the attendant, "I am just an ordinary person. But I am speaking from my having seen the Rebbe in this state many times." Reb Yaakov looked closely upon the Rebbe's holy countenance and saw that though the Rebbe's eyes were open, none of his physical senses were "of this world." From ten in the morning until three in the afternoon, Reb Yaakov stood and gazed upon the holy countenance of the Rebbe. Servants walked in and out of the room but the Rebbe stood motionless.

At 3 o'clock the attendant ordered one of the servants to set the table in the room for lunch as the Rebbe hadn't eaten anything all day. The servant did this and then brought a pitcher with water over to the Rebbe so that the Rebbe could wash his hands for the meal.

The Rebbe did not notice the servant so the attendant told the servant to wake the Rebbe up. But the servant refused to touch the Rebbe. The bold attendant then approached the Rebbe and tugged at his sleeve. "Rebbe, please wash your hands to eat," he urged the Rebbe. Instead of answering, the Rebbe walked from the middle of the room to the wall, and stood there as before.

Reb Yaakov left the room as he could no longer see the Rebbe's face. The next day, the attendant approached Reb Yaakov once again. He informed Reb Yaakov, "The Rebbe remained in that state until four o'clock, at which time he walked over to the table and sat down to eat in a spirit of total elation.

"I asked the Rebbe what was the cause of his great joy. The Rebbe told me, 'Such joy I have never experienced before. My father [who had passed away] appeared to me as soon as I began to say the Chasidic discourse this morning. When I returned to my room I repeated the discourse for my father, and from its words he revealed some wondrous insights into mystical truths that are beyond the grasp of mortal intellect. And it is these new teachings that have granted me this joy.'