Introduction to the Responsa "Melamed Le'a'il"
The story of two Jews who served in the Russian army. The two who were God-fearing prayed secretly every morning at the dawn prayer. Such an "offense" in those days of the Russian Tsarist regime would have required them to be exiled to Siberia, suffering and severe torture.
One morning a Russian officer came into the room while they were both wearing tefillin. The officer roared, 'What's that thing in your head?' while screaming he raised his hand, and slapped one of them with a ringing slap. The two winked at each other and decided to defend themselves, they beat the officer to death, hid him, and immediately fled the camp. And they fled towards the border, it was clear to them that when the officer was discovered, they would both be executed.
A few hours later, the slain officer was found. A quick investigation revealed the names of the two fleeing Jews as suspects in the murder. In the meantime, the two escapees managed to cross the border and reached a Jewish community in one of Germany's cities.
The Russian secret police acted quickly, and demanded that the Germans hand over the two. Soon the news spread in the press that the Russian Tsar was demanding that the German Emperor extradite the two. Of course, the Emperor promised to extradite them. The rumor spread among the masses of German Jews that the police were looking for some community to give refuge to the officer's murderers.
When Rabbi David Zvi Hoffman, the head of the Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin, heard about the matter, he inquired about their hiding place, and when he realized that within a short time the community would not be able to hold them, he decided to take action. One day he told his family that he had to go on a long trip. He took a large suitcase with him and said goodbye to his home. He went to the rabbi of the community that hid the two fugitives. When he arrived in the city, he turned to the rabbi and asked to meet the two. The rabbi said to him: "The rabbi said that anyone who contacts them is risking his life...But Rabbi David Tzvi insisted. They took the rabbi of the community and brought them to the two who were hiding in the basement. After a short conversation, Rabbi David Tzvi said: 'Allow me to take the two fugitives with me. From now on, all responsibility will be removed from you and your community.' The rabbi, astonished by his courage and determination, agreed. Rabbi David Tzvi opened the suitcase and took out dresses and wigs. The two took off their clothes and dressed in them. He instructed them that if someone started a conversation with them on the way, they would not answer him, and they would point to him as a friend, and he would explain that they were guests from abroad who did not know German...The three left for Berlin by train, where he arranged a hiding place for them and took care of all their needs.
It was not long before the German Emperor Wilhelm II fell ill. The newspapers reported that some of Germany's greatest physicians had despaired of curing him. Rabbi David Tzvi summoned his personal physician and told him, "My friend, hurry up and go to the emperor’s palace, and tell them that the Rabbi sent you to heal him." The doctor answered the rabbi: "After all, the greatest doctors have not succeeded, how can I find a cure for the emperor?" The rabbi said to him: "May God help you, you will succeed in healing the emperor!" Wait there for a few days, and when the emperor is strong and healed, he will call you for an interview, and ask you what your request is. Tell him that Rabbi David Zvi Hoffmann of Berlin sent you, and he asked you to give German citizenship to the two Jews wanted by the Russian police." The doctor was surprised by the rabbi's bold step, but he did as he was told. He went to the emperor, was accepted, and succeeded in curing him. After a few days, the emperor called the doctor, and asked, "What will you ask of me, I will do whatever you want!" The doctor answered: "I don't want a penny, I just want one thing in the name of Rabbi Hoffmann of Berlin, please give German citizenship to the two Jews who fled from Russia to Germany." At the same time, Kaiser Wilhelm called the Russian Tsar and said emphatically: 'I have a request to you, Mr. Tsar, please stop the search for those suspected of murdering the officer. I have decided to give them German citizenship, and I do not want to hear or see any publicity on the matter.'
When the doctor returned, he told Rabbi Hoffmann what he had gone through in the emperor’s palace, and concluded: "My teacher and Rebbe, I have always known that my master is one of the greatest halachic authorities of Germany, but I did not know this, that my master is a man of miracles." The Rav answered him: "I will ask you in every language of request not to tell anyone about this deed!"
