By Nechama Bar
It was dark outside. Nobody was out on the street. All were asleep. Only the shrieking of the wind pierced the silence. But in one building you would not have known it was nighttime. It was the shtiebel (beis midrash) of the Kotzker Chassidim which was located in the heart of the forest. The Chassidim were sitting and farbrenging deep into the night. They drank l’chaim, sang Chassidic niggunim, and their faces were aglow with simcha.
It wasn’t an ordinary day for the Chassidim. Chanuka was approaching and the next day they would light the first light of Chanuka. As they did every year, the Chassidim traveled to their Rebbe to celebrate the holiday in a special atmosphere of holiness.
Tables laden with refreshments were available to the dozens of Chassidim and the great Chassidim among them shared Chassidic ideas and words of inspiration and longing to see the Rebbe.
Dawn broke and the Chassidim were still going strong, as though they had slept through the night.
“Chassidim,” called out one of the elders of the group. “The sun is rising; let us go to the Rebbe.” They quickly got ready for Shacharis which was recited in an especially elevated and joyous atmosphere. After that, they set out on the way with song and dance.
“G-d willing, we will arrive by this evening to be present when the Rebbe lights the menorah,” rejoiced one of the Chassidim.
The wind howled. A storm threatened, but the Chassidim paid no attention. They strongly desired reaching the Rebbe. They wrapped their coats more firmly around them, as well as their scarves, and continued battling the strong wind as they walked one step after another.
Just a few hours remained between them and the Rebbe’s beis midrash. But the sky darkened, the wind picked up strength, and snowflakes began to fall, concealing the path and making walking difficult.
“Chassidim, be strong, surely this is the Satan who wants to delay us from being with the Rebbe on Chanuka. Let us muster our strength and with Hashem’s help we will get there safely,” called out Hershel encouragingly.
They continued walking with great difficulty but for some reason, the road did not come to an end. According to their calculations, they should have arrived at the Rebbe already. A thick forest surrounded them and the Chassidim realized they were lost.
“Don’t despair, let us strengthen our trust in Hashem,” continued Hershel.
Suddenly, they heard someone shout, “Halt!”
The Chassidim froze in their places. A few moments later, a band of Cossacks on horseback surrounded them.
“Ha, ha, ha,” the evil ones chortled. “We have caught a fat fish this time. Jews!” The Cossacks felt around in the Chassidim’s pockets and knapsacks and took every penny they could find. They then brought them deeper into the forest to a place only the Cossacks knew about.
The Chassidim walked quietly. Each of them was immersed in his thoughts, making a spiritual accounting, and praying for a Chanuka miracle.
The Chassidim were soon led to dark underground cells.
“We will wait here until the commander comes and decides what to do with you,” said one of the Cossacks as he whipped one of the Chassidim.
Some time went by and the commander appeared. He declared their sentence, which was the worst of all, that they be hung. The Chassidim began pouring out their hearts in the recital of T’hillim and they rent the heavens with their tears.
At that very same time, in the beis midrash of the Rebbe, many Chassidim were standing there and waiting. The menorah was ready and the first cup was filled with oil. The Chassidim waited for the Rebbe to come out of his room and light the menorah.
One hour went by and then another and R’ Menachem Mendel of Kotzk was still in his room. The Chassidim there were surprised. “Every year, the Rebbe lights the menorah as early as possible because the mitzva is so dear to him. Why was he waiting this year?”
The clock showed that it was close to midnight and the Chassidim were still waiting. Suddenly, the door opened and the Rebbe came out in a rush. Something looked amiss; he looked sad and he walked a bit stooped.
There was silence in the room as the Rebbe walked toward the menorah. The Shamash was lit and the Rebbe said the first bracha loudly. Then the Rebbe said the next two brachos and held the Shamash to the first light, but oy, the wick did not ignite. The Rebbe tried again and again with no success. He sighed heavily and the Chassidim knew something had happened.
The Rebbe extinguished the Shamash, looked at the Chassidim, and quickly left the beis midrash. The Chassidim looked at one another in shock. A commotion erupted until one of the Chassidim gave a bang and said, “It is not time for talking. Let us recite T’hillim to avert the evil decree.”
Books of T’hillim were quickly opened and the Chassidim read chapter after chapter with tears.
In the meantime, the Rebbe went to his room and changed into clothes that were worn in the gentile marketplace. He put on a coarse leather jacket, big boots, a big, hairy coat and a leather hat that covered his face. He wrapped himself in a scarf and went out a back door into the blizzard.
The Rebbe had a hard time walking through the deep snow, but this did not deter him from his mission. A few hours of exhausting walking passed until he reached his destination. He entered the forest and knew just where to go. He stopped at the entrance to the Cossack camp and stood there fearlessly.
The Rebbe gazed at the Cossacks and they trembled. They quickly dropped their weapons and fled.
The Rebbe approached the hidden trapdoor, lifted it, and went down until he was facing the Chassidim.
“Rebbe!” they exclaimed in disbelief. “What is the Rebbe doing here? How did the Rebbe know we were in trouble?”
The Rebbe did not reply. He just motioned to them to get out and go with him to his beis midrash so they could light the menorah before daylight.
“You did not wander far, the road to Kotzk is not long,” the Rebbe said reassuringly. This time, the walk was easier and within a short time they were at the Rebbe’s warm, inviting beis midrash.
The Rebbe went over to the menorah and with a shining face he lit the Shamash and this time, the first light lit immediately.
The Chassidim burst into a joyous singing of Chanuka songs.