One erev Yom Kippur, right before Kol Nidrei, the Kaliver Rebbe called to his shamash, Rav Yaakov Fisch, and said, ‘Prepare the carriage and let’s go for a short ride.’
All of the men were already in shul, wrapped in their taleisim and tearfully reciting Tefilas Zakah. Rav Yaakov was very surprised by this request, but he did not say anything. He got the horses and carriage and the two of them rode to the outskirts of the city, where Rav Yaakov owned a field. They came to a small brook on Rav Yaakov’s property, and the Rebbe hurriedly removed his clothes and immersed in the water several times. He then put his clothes back on and they quickly drove back to the bais knesses, where the Rebbe went to the amud to lead the tefillos.
Rav Yaakov had never seen this brook on his property before and he had no idea how it had suddenly appeared. On Motzoei Yom Kippur, he went back to the place where it had been, but it was gone. He ran to the Rebbe and said, ‘Rebbe, I have never asked questions on you before but I have to know what this brook was.’
The Rebbe answered, ‘It is a shame that you weren’t toivel. This was the be’er of Miriam. It was passing by that spot, so I ran to immerse in it!’