There are a select number of tzadikim whose birth and passing occurred on the same day; the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dov Ber (the second Lubavitcher Rebbe) is one of them. It was said of him that if one of his veins were to be cut, instead of blood, Chasidut would flow...
The journey of Rabbi Dov Ber, the second Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch (known as the Mitteler Rebbe), to Haditch was unusually somber. On his way to pray at the grave of his father, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Rebbe was not merely meditative, but reclusive. He not only refrained from delivering the accustomed Chasidic discourses for which his disciples thirsted, but he showed no desire to converse at all with those who formed his entourage. When he wished to commit some of his Torah thoughts to paper he was unable to do so, and he indicated to his close followers that he felt the approach of some impending harsh judgement from Above.
He even intimated that he felt his own end approaching. He related to his chasidim that at the time of the arrest and imprisonment of his father, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, two alternatives had been offered from Above: suffering or death. Rabbi Shneur Zalman had chosen suffering. "It seems that he left the other for me," concluded the somber Rabbi Dov Ber.
When the entourage arrived at Haditch the Rebbe prayed at great length at his father's grave. He also delivered a number of Chasidic discourses in the study hall which had been erected at the site. One day, after having prayed for many hours, the Rebbe appeared to his followers, his face beaming with happiness. "My father has given me his promise that they will release me from my position as Rebbe," he told them.
The Chasidim had long been aware of the Rebbe's desire to journey to the Land of Israel, and they understood his words to mean that he had finally decided to make the journey. "Rebbe," they cried out, "how can you leave us like that, like sheep without a shepherd?" But the Rebbe just turned to them and said, "Don't worry, you will have my son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, and he will be a faithful leader for you."
