1918. Civil war raged between the Reds and the Whites in Russia. After months of bitter street fighting, the Reds finally took the upper hand. That is when the Communists began forcibly ruling over the millions of Russian citizens.
To firmly establish their position, the Communists compiled a long list of rules to regulate the lives of the citizens. They couldn't congregate in the evening, and even during the daytime, no more than a few people were allowed to gather lest they attempt to conspire against the government.
Beginning in 1919, the government cracked down harder and harder. They established laws limiting the activities and authority of religious institutions. They began trailing the Rabbis and leaders and often searched their homes for possible proof of rebellion.
One day, they came to the home of Rabbi Sholom Dovber (Fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch), aka the Rebbe Rashab, in Rostov. A group of soldiers armed with rifles broke into the Rebbe's home to search for anti-revolutionary material. The members of the household were ordered not to budge from their places. The sight of the armed soldiers was extremely frightening, and the Rebbe remarked to those standing around him that it would only be fair if the soldiers at least removed the bayonets from their rifles.
Those who had come to the house stood in terror, watching silently as the soldiers turned the house over in their search. None of them dared repeat to the soldiers what the Rebbe said. Another moment went by, and then Rabbi Yaakov Landau, the young rabbi who was a household member in the Rebbe's home, courageously spoke to the commanding officer and asked him to consider the Rebbe's honour and remove the bayonets.
The officer could have easily ordered the young man to be beaten for his nerves, yet amazingly, the officer told his soldiers to respect the Rebbe's wishes.
But the search was not over. The soldiers continued looking, and one found a box of tobacco the Rebbe used on Passover. The soldier wanted the box and put it in his pocket. The Rebbe observed the theft and groaned, telling those around him that the box was precious to him and that he would be willing to redeem the Passover snuff box, which was made of tin, for another one he had, which was made of silver.
The household members around him did not think it would be a good idea to start negotiating with the soldiers over what seemed insignificant to them. Again, it was Rabbi Yaakov Landau, a loyal Chassid, who risked his life and acted upon the Rebbe's request. He turned to the officer again and asked him to order the soldier to return the box.
Those present were sure the officer, a wicked man whose hatred for the Jews burned in his eyes, would immediately order Rabbi Landau's arrest for his brazenness. Still, incredibly, he turned to the soldiers, red-faced with anger, and said that whoever stole the box must immediately remove it from his pocket and put it on the table, or else he would be sorry. One of the soldiers immediately removed the box from his pocket and placed it on the table.
The Rebbe seemed pleased until he noticed the lid had been tampered with and opened. He became downcast again, remarking that since that sentimental Passover snuff box had been tampered with, it no longer held value for him, as it may have come in contact with a bit of chametz in the soldier's pocket.
King David said in Psalms, "You recompense a man according to his deeds." As the soldiers left the house, a bullet from one of the soldier's rifles accidentally discharged and shot the soldier who had stolen the box, instantly killing him!
The trauma he endured from the Communists left its mark on the Rebbe Rashab, who said that he could not continue life with the Communists in power. Shortly thereafter, on the second of Nissan, 1920, the Rebbe Rashab returned his heavenly soul to its creator.
