צְוֵויי אוּן צְוואַנצִיג מאָל האָט מעֶן אַרעֶרסטִירט דעֶם צֶמַח צֶדֶק אוֹיף דעֶר אֲסִיפַת הָרַבָּנִים אִין פּעֶטעֶרבּוּרג, תר"ג, פאַר זַיין אַנטקעֶגעֶנשׁטעֶלעֶן זִיךְ דעֶר פאָדעֶרוּנג פוּן דעֶר מְלוּכָה וועֶגעֶן שִׁנּוּיִם בְּחִנּוּךְ וכו'. דעֶר מִינִיסטעֶר האָט אִים געֶפרעֶגט: דאָס אִיז דאָךְ מְרִידָה בְּמַלְכוּת? דעֶר צֶמַח צֶדֶק האָט געֶעֶנטפעֶרט: מוֹרֵד בְּמַלְכוּת אִיז חַיָּב מִיתָה בְּגוּף, אָבּעֶר מוֹרֵד בְּמַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם אִיז חַיָּב מִיתָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ. אִיז וואָס אִיז גרעֶסעֶר?

In the course of the Rabbinical Conference in Petersburg in 5603 (1843),1 the Tzemach Tzedek was placed under [house] arrest twenty-two times2 for firmly resisting the czarist government’s demand for changes in the [traditional Jewish] educational system, and the like. The Minister protested that such a stance constituted a rebellion against the king.

The Tzemach Tzedek replied: “A person who rebels against a king becomes liable for physical death. One who rebels against the Kingdom of Heaven is liable for spiritual death. Which is more serious?”3

A Pearl to Cherish

Once, under the Stalinist regime, when the Rebbe Rayatz was under arrest and being cross-examined, he refused to answer questions. When the interrogator threatened him with a revolver, the Rebbe Rayatz said: “Put away that little toy.”

The interrogator declared: “This little toy has made many stronger men than you talk.”

The Rebbe Rayatz replied: “That toy works for a person who has one world and many gods. I have two worlds and one G‑d. So that toy will not influence me.”

For both the Tzemach Tzedek and the Rebbe Rayatz, physical considerations, even their own earthly lives, were of no consequence if the cost was a violation of their spiritual principles.