Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, author of 'Pri Ha'aretz', was born in 5490 (1730) to Rabbi Moshe, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. In his youth, he visited the Ba’al Shem Tov several times but received most of his Torah from the Maggid of Mezritch, becoming one of his greatest disciples. Many of the Maggid’s disciples, including the Alter Rebbe of Chabad, accepted his authority after the Maggid's passing. In 5537 (1777), he led three hundred chasidim (a very significant number for that time) on aliyah to the Land of Israel, establishing a community first in Tzfat and later in Tiberias. The tzaddik's personality combined regal leadership with tremendous humility, along with self-sacrifice for the Land of Israel and the hastening of the redemption. He passed away on the 1st of Iyar, 5548 (1788) and was buried in Tiberias.
Once, when Rebbe Menachem Mendel was a young married man, he was falsely accused of something and placed in prison. The jail housed murderers and non-Jewish criminals, and Rebbe Menachem Mendel had to share a cell with them. The cell was unclean, and for him to be able to pray there, Rebbe Menachem Mendel would go to a corner and try to clean it as best he could.
Rebbe Mendel noticed that when he prayed in his corner, one of the prisoners, who appeared like all the non-Jews, watched him intently and his face would change. This prisoner began to approach him and assist him. After some time, Rebbe Mendel asked him about this. He answered that he was a Jew named Nachum who had strayed from the path and become a thief, and because of his descent to such a low level, no one was making efforts on his behalf. Rebbe Mendel understood that God had placed him in prison through Divine Providence, to help Nachum better connect with his Jewish soul.
Rebbe Mendel began to study with him and guide him in observing the mitzvot that could be performed in prison. Nachum completely repented for his past, and Rebbe Mendel promised him that when they would leave prison, he would take him to his teacher, the Maggid of Mezritch, so that he could achieve complete rectification. At a certain point, the judges investigated Rebbe Mendel’s case and understood that he had been falsely accused. The chief jailer came and told Rebbe Mendel: "You are free, go home." But Rebbe Mendel refused: "I'm not leaving here until you also release Nachum the thief...."
