From the desk of Yerachmiel Tilles
The year 5687 (1927) marked a stormy period in the fight between communism and Judaism in the USSR. The men of the Yevisekziya (Jewish division of the NKVD [1]) were trying desperately to snuff out the flame of Yiddishkeit. One of the ways they used to catch their fish was through planting undercover agents everywhere to be informers, bringing terror into the hearts of the people.
In the city of Kuta'isi Georgia, [2] which was then a Soviet republic, there lived a young man who was among the best students in the recently established Tomchei T'mimim Chabad yeshiva. He worked as a chazan (cantor) in a Sefardic synagogue and was known as a Chacham (scholar). After the government closed the yeshiva, he taught children in secret, keenly aware that such behavior would be putting his life in danger.
A Dreaded Invitation to Visit the NKVD
Indeed, it wasn't long until he received the dreaded order to appear at the offices of the NKVD. He was interrogated cruelly but after much useless questioning the interrogator asked him bluntly, "Who pays you for teaching the children?"
Without becoming flustered, he responded, "What children? What pay? Who's interested in having their children taught?"
"If so," retorted the interrogator, "why do you visit specific houses daily“ if not to teach children?"
"People call me to remove an ayin harah (evil eye)."
The interrogator burst into laughter. "Are you at least successful in this work?"
"You can't know," replied the chasid. "Each case in unique. They pay me, and they ask me to come again. Why should I care if they think it works?"
Having prepared himself for this, he continued playing dumb as well as being very cautious. The interrogators wouldn't relent, and continued barraging him with questions trying to pry out a confession. However, the chasid soon proved too resistant for them, and they commanded him to leave the room while they discuss his case.
Headed Straight for the Exit of the Building
Continuing to play dumb, he headed straight for the exit of the building. The armed guard stepped in and stopped him, asking him where he was going.
"I was told to go," the chasid said simply.
The guard, certain that no one could leave an interrogation without permission, let him go.
Aware that going home was dangerous, as surely a search party would soon be sent for him, he went to a friend's house for a few days, and then traveled to Rostov.
Arriving in Rostov, he found his fellow chasidim in despair.
"The Rebbe Rayatz [of Lubavitch] has been arrested and sentenced to three years exile in Kostroma," [3] he was told.
Without hesitation, he set out immediately for Kostroma. When he arrived where the Rebbe Rayatz (the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) was staying, he requested permission to see the Rebbe. The chasidim were reluctant to allow him in “as his presence could endanger the Rebbe” but at last he was granted a yechidus (private audience).
