When my Zaide, Dr Bunim Weinbaum was newly married, he went into Yechidus with my Bobby Tzirel. They handed the Rebbe their letter including all the new projects they we would like to do as a couple.
The Rebbe finished reading the letter and started asking my Zaide about the reading test chart, he had sent to the Rebbe years earlier.
While Zaidy was still a student, he had taught in Cheder on Sunday mornings. All the children were on different levels so it was challenging to teach them to read. Zaidy had made a test chart so he could see what each child knew. The chart looked like an eye test, with a single large letter on the top and then the letters and words became smaller and harder as it went down.
In this Yechidus the Rebbe told them that if you make a book for kriah, it is important to teach Hebrew reading according to the Mesorah - by learning the names of the letters and the names of the vowels. The child should learn to read by saying Kametz Aleph - uh. This has an effect on the child's emunah.
The Rebbe told my Zaidy to blaze the trails of Yiddishkeit with Aleph Beis.
Ten years passed and my Zaidy saw an article in the Jewish newspaper about the sad state of Hebrew reading. Remembering the Rebbe's advice, he called the writer and arranged a meeting.
There was a tense feeling round the table as they discussed the new book that was being planned. Some of the people did not want the new curriculum to go according to the Mesorah.
They took a vote and the result was a tie. "Well, why don't we ask him?" one of the men joked, pointing to the picture of the Rebbe.
The Rebbe's vote was counted and the book - called Lamdeni was printed as the Rebbe had instructed.