◆ ◆ ◆
In Russia there was a kever of someone who was known to be a great tzaddik, and who's tziyun was universally accepted to be a makom kadosh. The government was planning a road (or some type of construction), that would go right through that kever (I think he may have said that it was the סמיכות חכמים . Possibly he said he wasn't sure who it was). Many people were very reluctant to be involved in the project, because they feared the danger and consequences of interfering with such a holy site (I think he said that even the gentiles respected the site and didn't want to be involved).
The government, in dealing with political matters, would have special people who's job was to make political speeches (they had a special title as well, which I don't recall). They sent someone to give a speech about this matter. He stood by the grave, holding a large stick, and a large crowd gathered around him (woe to anyone who would allow himself to be suspected of avoiding such a gathering, it would be אחת דתו ...).
The government representative began giving a passionate speech about old fashioned superstitions and narrow-mindedness etc. and how people have to become more liberal and progressive in their thinking and so on. He was standing right by the matzeiva, and while he was speaking, he was banging on the matzeiva with his stick, for emphasis. Suddenly, when he banged on the monument one more time, a piece of the gravestone became loose and flew off, and hit the man in the head, killing him instantly! The next day, a notice came out from the government stating that upon further review, they came to the realization that the project would be more viable taking a different route...
