The rebbe rashab Helps An Agunah

One day, she awoke early with a nebulous feeling that something was very wrong. Maybe it was just that everything looked so desolate in the stark grayness of the morning. She got out of bed and looked around the one room dwelling. The children were sleeping soundly, huddled under the ragged blanket like a litter of kittens in the one bed they shared.
She never expected that her husband would leave, and without warning... She opened the heavy wooden door and allowed her eyes to wander across the empty yard. The fear in the pit of her stomach made her nauseous, and she walked inside and sat down on a chair. It was true -- he was gone.
The next day it was a little easier to think, to plan. She would travel to the Rebbe Rashab. Only the holy Rebbe would know how to help her out of this terrible situation. Sympathetic neighbors watched her little ones, and even lent her the money for the trip, and soon she was sitting nervously on the train traveling to the Rebbe's court.
When she alighted from the train, she had no trouble finding the Rebbe's synagogue, but gaining a private audience with the Rebbe was another thing altogether. Some had been waiting for days, some for weeks, some even longer. Finally, one man told her, "Your best chance is to write the Rebbe a letter. Explain the whole situation, and he will surely answer you."
The poor woman, now even more distraught, wrote the letter. The Rebbe's shamash (assistant) took it and promised to present it to the Rebbe at an opportune moment. Not more than a couple of days passed when the woman was called to the shamash . "Come quickly," she was told, "The Rebbe has answered your letter."
The woman came running to the Rebbe's residence. "Here," said the Rebbe's shamash, "here is your answer." She unfolded the sheet of paper and on it was written but one sentence: "Go to Warsaw."
What could it mean? she wondered. And how in the world would she get to Warsaw? It was wartime; she had no money; she had small children.
Perplexed, she returned to her town and showed the Rebbe's answer to the Chasidim there. "If the Rebbe says, 'Go to Warsaw,' then go to Warsaw you must," they concurred. They gathered money for the woman and soon she was sitting on the train to Warsaw.
When she arrived in the metropolis, she had no idea where to go or what to do, for the Rebbe had given her no further direction. Suddenly, she was stopped by a Chasid.
"What do you need?" he asked. She replied that she had come to find her husband. The Rebbe had sent her to Warsaw, but she had no clue where to begin her search. "Go to -- Street. There is a factory where many immigrants go to work. You will most likely find your husband there."
With nothing to lose, she made her way to that street and asked to speak to the foreman. He was a kind-hearted man and, after hearing her story, allowed her to search through the list of workers. Her eyes widened with shock as her husband's name leaped up at her from the page. She went to him and pleaded with him to return home with her. He remained adamant until she told him how she had managed to find him. If the Rebbe had sent his wife to him, then he would return home with her.
She decided it was only right to return to the Rebbe's court and thank him for the miracle he had done for her, and so she traveled there once more.
This time, as well, she was not permitted to enter the Rebbe's chambers. "Wait until the Rebbe comes out to pray, and then approach him," she was told. So, she waited by the door, mentally composing the words she would use to thank the Rebbe. Suddenly the door opened. Upon seeing the Rebbe's face she fell down in a dead faint.
The Chasidim surrounded her, all wanting to know what had happened. When she was revived she told them, "When I saw the Rebbe's face, I realized that the chasid who had suddenly appeared and helped me on the street in Warsaw was the Rebbe!" Word of this amazing happening spread like wildfire. The Chasidim calculated and figured and finally determined the exact time that this strange meeting had occurred.
It had been on a day when the Rebbe had not prayed publicly with the minyan as usual. The Chasidim had been concerned about his welfare, and one young student had gotten up the nerve to climb up a tree and peer into the Rebbe's room. He put his face near the window, and looked in. There stood the Rebbe, looking like nothing he had ever seen. The Rebbe's face was aflame and his eyes were peering into the distance, totally unseeing. The boy was so overcome by the sight that he lost his balance and fell to the ground.
This story was related by the one who had been that young student during World War I and had himself witnessed the events described here.

Yud Tes Kislev 5665

In the winter of 1906, it was alleged that Rabbi Mendel Horenstein, brother-in-law of the Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Sholom Ber, fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe), burned down his own factory in order to damage merchandise belonging to a gentile. The charge was baseless, yet Reb Mendel was imprisoned to await trial. The accusations gave the many anti-Semites in Moscow a "reason" to oppress the Jews.
A few days after Reb Mendel's arrest, the Rebbe Rashab suddenly left Lubavitch. He travelled to Moscow and hired a top lawyer in an attempt to obtain Reb Mendel's release.
Everyone thought the Rebbe Rashab would return to Lubavitch in time to celebrate Yud Tes Kislev with his Chasidim. (Yud Tes Kislev - the 19th of the Hebrew month of Kislev - is the anniversary of the release from Czarist imprisonment of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chasidism, on trumped up charges.) But as days passed, the Chasidim began to doubt whether this would indeed be so.
Festive preparations for the "Holiday of Liberation," also known as the New Year of Chasidism, that was to take place on Shabbat, continued. The Chasidim hoped that perhaps the Rebbe would return to Lubavitch after all. A special committee of students was established to organize the festivities. Many guests streamed to Lubavitch for the big day. People were full of anticipation. Just maybe...
A few days before Yud Tes Kislev, two elder Chasidim discussed the possibility of asking the Rebbe to come back from Moscow especially for Yud Tes Kislev or whether, perhaps, everyone should travel to Moscow to be together with the Rebbe. In the evening they went to Rebbetzin Rivka, the Rebbe Rashab's mother, with the request that she ask the Rebbe to come to Lubavitch even for one day.
The Rebbetzin answered, "I am certain that if he could come, he would certainly do so." Then she added, "I cannot ask of him something with which his holy wisdom doesn't agree." The two Chasidim left heavyhearted.
On the 18th of Kislev, a letter arrived in Lubavitch addressed to Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok, son of the Rebbe Rashab and director of the Yeshiva. It was a letter explaining the fundamental significance of Yud Tes Kislev. It had been written especially for the grand farbrengen (Chasidic gathering) that would take place the next night, in lieu of the Rebbe Rashab's presence.
The yeshiva's hall was washed and decorated. Long tables and hundreds of chairs were arranged. Beautiful vessels were brought from the home of the Rebbe Rashab and placed on the tables.
The holy Sabbath descended on the city of Lubavitch. The Chasidim studied for an hour and a half, then the Kabalat Shabbat service welcoming the Sabbath Queen commenced. When the prayers were over, it was announced that the Rebbe Rashab's letter would be read.
With measured steps, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok walked over to the podium. All rose. Silence reigned as the only sound heard was the rustling of the pages of the letter. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok began reading aloud. Each word was golden, each letter a sparkling jewel. "My children, may you live," the letter began, and the loving voice of the father could be heard throughout the hall.
Concluding the reading, all the students sat and began singing a Chasidic tune. The melody poured forth sweetly, emanating from the hundreds of students in unison.
Later that evening, an elder chasid, Reb Dov Zev, rose to relate the story of the arrest and liberation of Rabbi Shneur Zalman. In vivid tones he described the pain experienced by the Chasidim when Rabbi Shneur Zalman was taken from them. He recounted the entire story up until the release of Rabbi Shneur Zalman from jail. He described the Chasidim somersaulting in the snowy streets of Petersburg, and the tremendous joy they all experienced.
Afterwards, an old Chasid by the name of Reb Shmuel Betzalel stood up and inspired the multitude with his heartfelt and fiery words of connection to the Rebbe. Reb Shmuel Betzalel raised a cup for l'chaim and his voice shook with emotion. The students gazed upon him, always in awe, for he had merited to see the Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe.
After a brief break, the meal began, which continued until 2:00 a.m. It was a royal feast befitting the Rosh Hashana of Chasidism, Yud-Tes Kislev. At the end of the meal, all danced.
At 3:00 a.m., Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok blessed all present and was accompanied home with great love.

Adapted from Beis Moshiach Magazine