Once in the late 50s, in the middle of yechidus, Mrs. Bassie Garelik, wife of the shliach in Milan, Italy, mentioned the name of their local supporters, Reb Avraham Tzippel.

The Rebbe interrupted: “He is a very straightforward man.”

When Mrs. Garelik returned home, she recounted her yechidus in detail to her husband, Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik. He felt there was something out of the ordinary in the Rebbe’s mention of Reb Avraham Tzippel, and decided to investigate.

He called on the man and asked him about his health and that of his family. How was his business proceeding?

Reb Avraham was puzzled by Rabbi Garelik’s queries, and asked the reason for them. Rabbi Garelik told him of his wife’s yechidus.

“When did the yechidus take place?” Reb Avraham wanted to know.

When Rabbi Garelik told him the date, Reb Avraham hesitantly explained the significance of the Rebbe’s words.

Reb Avraham was a furrier who had extensive business dealings in the then Soviet Union. He would utilize his trips there to bring Jews Siddurim, tefillin and other religious articles, and bring out manuscripts of chassidic thought for the Rebbe. These activities were carried out in absolute secrecy.

Generally, Reb Avraham’s trips had proceeded without interference from the authorities. During his most recent visit, however, the authorities had placed him under house arrest for several hours. And then they had freed him, without any explanation for either his arrest or his release.

His release had come shortly after Mrs. Garelik’s yechidus.