There was a revolt among the goyim when the ruler Ibrahim Facha was in control. The ruler of Tzefas guaranteed the Avritcher safe haven, but he would have none of it and declared, “Wherever all the Jews will be, so will I be there with them.” When the revolutionaries found out that the Avritcher was present, they captured him and some of his followers, taking them as prisoners and marching them to their deaths!
As they were being led to the slaughter, the younger captives began whispering about a planned revenge to take their captors’ swords and to attack them. The Avritcher overheard their plans and ordered them to abandon the idea. Instead, he told them to ask their captors for some water. He feigned thirst and was given some water to drink, over which he fervently recited the blessing Shehakol niheya bidvoro – and afterward, he explained his behavior to the Chassidim:
“There is a segula from the holy Ba’al Shem Tov to recite the Shehakol berocha in times of distress as a salvation from danger!”
Just then, a well-dressed, respectable-looking Arab approached and began to berate the rebels, asking them to release the Rebbe and his followers, for were the rebels not honorable, respected men as he had heard? Having to uphold their new reputation, they released the prisoners and ordered the Avritcher and his Chassidim to go home. Soon after, word went out that all Russian citizens should leave and the Facha wished to chase out the Jews and exile them from Tzefas to Akko and Chaifa – but the Avritcher said to sit tight. “Don’t worry, he will leave before we do.”
And so it was – just days later, he was deposed and murdered, and Tzefas was a quiet, peaceful place once again. (Sippurei Moron HaRamach p. 102 #14)
