In 1798, when the Czarist authorities came to take the Alter Rebbe to prison, the Alter Rebbe went into hiding. Later, when the authorities came for him a second time, the Alter Rebbe asked one of his chassidim, Reb Shmuel Munkis, what to do: Should he continue hiding or give himself up? Reb Shmuel told him to turn himself in.

"But," the Alter Rebbe countered, "isn't there a chance that I will be risking my life by being jailed?"

Reb Shmuel replied, "Rebbe, if you are truly a Rebbe, they won't be able to hurt you. And if you are not truly a Rebbe, how could you have deprived so many of your followers the physical pleasures of this world?!"[35]

Toras Menachem 5711, vol. 1, p. 93; ibid. 5710, p. 171

   

Notes:

35. (Back to text) In speaking about the Previous Rebbe on Yud-Beis Tammuz (the birthday and day of liberation of the Previous Rebbe from prison), the Rebbe told the above story (in 5711 - 1951) and then explained: For thousands of Jews, the [Previous] Rebbe removed (or at least diminished) their relish in the pleasure of worldly delights. Why? In order to enable them to arrive at a knowledge of G-dliness; to "know the G-d of your father and serve Him with a whole heart." Accordingly, if people conduct themselves in a way that does not fulfill the Rebbe's purpose, they are left with the deprivation of relish but without any result. (Toras Menachem 5711)