Our Rebbe relates “a great wonder” that took place while the Previous Rebbe was under arrest. It was a miracle which was not apparent at the time it happened. However, after reflecting on those events, we can see something occurred which was completely higher than nature.
As soon as news of the Previous Rebbe’s arrest spread, dozens of Jews began working toward his release. They sent and even signed letters asking government officials for their assistance in releasing the Rebbe. They also visited those in charge of the Rebbe’s fate, and tried to influence their decision, openly.
All of their efforts were done knowing the draconian and paranoid nature of the Communist government. The Previous Rebbe’s Chassidim, in particular, were closely monitored by the secret police for any sign of rebellion.
For their part, the Jews who worked to save the Rebbe knew that they were being watched and their movements were being documented. Nevertheless, we see a wondrous thing. Not one of those Jews was harmed, neither in body nor soul—neither their money nor livelihoods were affected.
True, our Sages say that those who are involved in mitzvos are protected from harm. In this case, however, these Jews knowingly went into great danger, which typically negates the protection offered to one who is doing a mitzvah. The wonder is even greater in light of the reality that, both before the arrest and after his release, many connected to the Rebbe were ferociously persecuted by the government.
Furthermore, their going unscathed was an even greater miracle than the unexpected freedom of the Previous Rebbe. His release was, apparently, connected to natural means—pressure on the government from both inside and outside Russia. But according to any rational consideration, those who petitioned the high officers in person should have been arrested or even worse!
On a spiritual level, the release of the Rebbe was connected to his mesiras nefesh in spreading Torah and Mitzvos, as well as to the merit of his ancestors. Still, his release came only after the pain of prison, torture, and exile. But among the Jews who worked for his release were those who didn’t devote their lives to Torah. They even included people who were not observant at all!
It is possible that the Rebbe either brought about or explained [or both] their amazing protection when he said a maamor immediately after being informed of his imminent release. It began with the verse from Tehilim “Havayeh [yud hay vav hay] is my helper” This appears to imply that “I have many helpers and Havayeh is one of them.” But really, there is nothing other than Hashem who helps in every aspect.
Through this, the Previous Rebbe ruled legally [psak din] that all those who helped him should be saved. But not through the Rebbe’s merit, nor from their own merit, but through the One who is alone. The reason is that their efforts did not involve logic or weighing consequences so the assistance they received was from a source beyond logic—Hashem. Such a unification is impossible to reach by natural means, but only through complete self-sacrifice [mesiras nefesh].
So really, they never put themselves in a position where they would need a miracle to be saved. Rather, their actions were manifestations of Havayeh, the name which indicates Hashem’s transcendence over nature.
Accordingly, one might assume that they deserved no reward for going into danger [G-d forbid] because the assistance they provided the Rebbe was, truly, from Hashem. But the Holy One does not hold back the reward of any of his creations and certainly not the reward due to those who put their lives on the line to free the Rebbe.
Jews have free choice and when they chose to help the Rebbe, they became helpers. Therefore, they receive the reward for their help. This does not contradict the fact that the ultimate helper is Hashem, Who shined through and revealed Himself through them. As a result, they not only escaped harm by helping the Rebbe, they also receive the reward.
In the end of the maamar, the Rebbe revealed that his real “helpers” were the sparks he redeemed [birurim] from exile. They are the true helpers of a person. Each good deed a person does acquires for him a helping angel. Just as his students whom he chose and who chose him became his helpers and are considered his children, in the same way, these spiritual helpers are also considered his students and children.
