Menachem: “What the Rebbe is explaining is the common practice of asking a Rebbe for brochos.”
I find it hard to accept that the question the rebbe mentioned, i.e how is it possible to ask from a rebbe, was referring to brochos. Everyone has always known that any Yid can give a brocho. What else does the greeting Shalom aleichem mean if not one Yid giving a brocho to the other? I therefore find it easier to believe that he is talking about asking direct help from the rebbe, which is a form of davening to him.
And you’re right, I did not mean davening Shmoneh Esrei to him, although I imagine that the crazy who wrote “Who Elokeinu? The rebbe Melech Hamashiach, that’s who!” probably does, as well as the person I mentioned who says “Baruch Harebbe”.
“the sicha was said at a time (5710) when the Rebbe was still adamantly opposed to chassidim even considering him “Rebbe,””
Which reminds me. You never addressed my references to two books published by Lubavicher chassidim which clearly indicate that the Lubavicher rebbe wanted to be rebbe after the Rayatz. I understand that you may be reticent to accept Deitsch’s version, as he has sort of moved away from the party line, but the other was written by Shneur Zalman Gurary, and he was loyal until the end.