Once, after Rosh HaShana, the 2nd Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber had a discussion with his father, the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi:[1]
The Alter Rebbe asked his son:
“Berele, with what did you pray on Rosh HaShanah?”
His son replied:
“I prayed, contemplating on the idiom “and all with posture shall prostrate before you,” which expresses the tremendous humility that one must have before G-d.”
Having answered the question, the son continued to ask:
“And you, father, with what did you pray?”
“I prayed with the lectern (shtender),” he answered.
While it may seem that the Alter Rebbe was averting from answering the question and merely responding humorously, in fact, the Alter Rebbe was expressing a deeper sense of nullification before G-d—one where literally every aspect of the universe is expressive of G-d’s unity and is created to serve Him.
[1] Letters of the Previous Rebbe, Vol. 1 Pg. 491, Reshimos HaYoman Pg. 335
