RABBI LEVI YITZCHOK IN GALUS

Monday, 19  Shvat, 5700. R’ Levi Yitzchok Schneersohn, the Rebbe’s father, traveled by train under very difficult conditions. After many, exhausting hours, the train arrived in C’ili, a town far away in Kazakhstan.

R’ Levi Yitzchok, as we know, spread Judaism while ignoring communist law. He would address the public about strengthening Torah and mitzvos even though he knew that there were informers in the audience. Indeed, he was finally arrested. He spent some time in a Russian jail where he was interrogated and tortured and then was sentenced to exile in C’ili for five years.

C’ili is not a beautiful resort town with fresh air; not at all. It is a frightful town and even mentioning its name aroused fear. In order to understand a bit how terrible it was to be there, let us describe the place:

Walking in C’ili was very hard. The town was unpaved. To get from place to place you had to walk on dirt roads. The earth is very muddy and never dries up. When you put a foot down, it is hard to pick it back up and when you finally get your foot out, you can imagine how it looks. 

The numerous mud puddles attract endless mosquitoes which swarm everywhere, on the street, indoors, in the kitchen, on the food (great care is needed while eating so as not to consume them), even the beds (it is hard to imagine how people sleep there). Some of the mosquitoes bear contagious diseases, some of them very dangerous, but medicine in C’ili? Forget it!

In the winter it pours and the walls of the houses are constantly damp. In the summer, although there is no rain, the stench of rotting rises from the earth and the mud is a source of many diseases.

This is the awful place R’ Levi Yitzchok was sent to. When he got off the train it was evening. There was silence and utter darkness and it was pouring. The muddy ground made walking difficult and nobody was waiting for him to show him where to spend the night and where he would live in exile. He had to find a place for himself in the unfamiliar town. Not a living thing could be seen outdoors and R’ Levi Yitzchok, along with another Jewish prisoner, tried to find a place for themselves. They did not even know the local language.

The two of them walked in the dark and the mud and after much searching, they found out about a Jew who lived there. This made them a bit hopeful and they eagerly began searching for his house. How disappointed they were when this Jew refused to let them in. All of their pleading fell on deaf ears.

They continued to walk around in the dark, praying that they find a place to rest their weary bodies. They saw a light glimmering in the window of one of the houses. They had nothing to lose and with trembling hands they knocked at the door. A gentile woman opened the door and was willing to let them in and give them a small room.

The next morning, R’ Levi Yitzchok and the Jewish prisoner stood in a long line of thin prisoners. They all waited expectantly for their turn to receive a little bread. But the wicked ones never brought enough bread and after standing on line for a long time, many of them had to leave empty-handed with heavy hearts and empty stomachs. This scene repeated itself every day.

Although he wore plain clothing like all the prisoners, his noble face engendered respect and the prisoners often allowed him to go ahead on the line so he would not have to stand a long time.

Even in this bitter galus, R’ Levi Yitzchok was very particular about mitzva observance. With the little water that he received, he washed his hands. Pesach time, he threw out the cupboard and utensils which were so necessary, because of his concern about chametz. He celebrated Pesach without utensils and with very little food.

While R’ Levi Yitzchok was in galus, his wife, Rebbetzin Chana, made efforts to find out where her husband was. When she found out his location, she sent him his tallis and t’fillin. You can imagine how happy he was when he received this precious package. After a while, she decided to travel to him despite the great difficulty involved, in order to help him in exile. After a long and extremely difficult trip, she arrived in C’ili where she helped him as much as she could. She would collect grasses and prepare a sort of ink so he could write his chiddushei Torah. Thanks to her, we have R’ Levi Yitzchok’s chiddushim.

Over time, many refugees arrived in this town who had fled the war. They soon became aware of R’ Levi Yitzchok’s greatness and they would go and talk to him, learn with him, and consult with him. R’ Levi Yitzchok received them all graciously and would encourage them and tell them divrei Torah and Chassidus.

Sadly, the harsh conditions affected his health and he became sick with malaria. A gentile doctor who had become friendly with the rav, treated him devotedly. Thank G-d, after two weeks in which R’ Levi Yitzchok’s life was in danger, he recovered.

Some years went by but the Russians did not rush to free him. It was only after much effort on the part of the Chassidim and pressure exerted on the police that they managed to get him released. R’ Levi Yitzchok left his place of exile feeling very weak. He moved to Alma Ata (Almaty) where he had a great influence on the local Jews and helped them materially and spiritually. Even Jews who did not observe Torah and mitzvos loved him. It seemed he had finally found rest when a short time later he became seriously sick.

Shortly before he passed away he asked for water to wash his hands and said, “One needs to prepare to go to that side …”

On Wednesday, Chaf Av 5704/1944 he passed away. The few Jews in the city attended his funeral. This entailed mesirus nefesh lest they be caught in this “crime.” Among them were officials in government institutions, laborers and refugees. To all of them, R’ Levi Yitzchok was like a beloved father from whom they derived comfort in that very difficult time.