אַדְמוּ"ר הָאֶמְצָעִי יָצָא לְחֵרוּת — תקפ"ז — מִמַּאֲסָרוֹ בְּעִיר וִויטעֶפּסק. בְּחוֹל הַמּוֹעֵד סוּכּוֹתנוֹדַע אֲשֶׁר הִלְשִׁינוּ אֶת אַדְמוּ"ר הָאֶמְצָעִי. בְּיוֹם א' פָּרָשַׁת נֹחַ כח תִּשְׁרֵי נָסַע בְּלִוְיַת פְּקִידִים מִלּיוּבּאַוִויטשׁ, בַּצָּהֳרַיִם בָּא לְדָאבּרָאמִיסל, אָמַר שָׁם דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים מַיִם רַבִּים גו', יוֹם ב' נָסַע מִשָּׁם עַד לִיאָזנאָ, אָמַר שָׁם דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים רְשָׁפֶיהָ רִשְׁפֵּי גו', יוֹם ג' מִשָׁם לְוִויטעֶפּסק, וְיָשַׁב שָׁם תָּפוּס עַד יוֹם א' וַיִשְׁלַח י' כִּסְלֵו.

[On 10 Kislev,] 5587 (1826), the Mitteler Rebbe was released from his confinement in Vitebsk.

Word had arrived on Chol HaMoed Sukkos that informers had denounced him to the authorities. On the first day of Parshas Noach, the 28th of Tishrei, he was duly escorted by several officials from Lubavitch. In the afternoon, he arrived in Dobromisl and delivered the maamar entitled Mayim Rabim. On Monday he proceeded to Liozna, where he delivered the maamar entitled Reshafeha Rishpei Esh. On Tuesday he reached Vitebsk and remained there in confinement until the Sunday of Parshas Vayishlach, 10 Kislev.1

A Story with an Echo

The Mitteler Rebbe’s imprisonment was very different from the Alter Rebbe’s. The Russian authorities respected his rights and sought to ease the harsh conditions. For instance, while in confinement, he took ill. Fearful that his condition might deteriorate, they summoned doctors to tend to him. The doctors, however, determined that there was nothing physically wrong with him, but that he needed spiritual fulfillment.

“How can we provide him with that?” the authorities asked.

“Let him deliver his teachings to his followers,” they replied.

And so, every day, the Russian officials brought a group of chassidim to the Mitteler Rebbe to hear him deliver a maamar. And indeed, his health soon improved.