It was Rosh HaShana and the holy Tzaddik, the Minchas Elozor of Munkacz, approached the lectern to begin the derosha before Tekias Shofar. Among his holy words he retold the tale:
The holy Tzaddik, the Meor Einayim, was libeled by the Misnagdim and the government threw him into jail. He languished in prison for two weeks. Then, as he sat in his cell, our Matriarch, Mamme Rochel, came to him and promised him that he would go free – and so he did. Then the Munkasczer Rav turned heavenward and spread his arms out to Shomayim, crying out with bitter tears of longing, “Mamme, Mamme – Mother!!! Rav Nachum Czernobyler sat just two weeks in prison and you freed him! Mother, what about us?! For two thousand bitter years we are exiled and imprisoned – why don’t you free us? Let us out!” he cried. The awakening was so great that the Chassidim said the very walls of the Bais Medrash shed tears. (Siach Zekeinim VII p. 325)
