The rov of Starodub, R’ Meshulam Zalman Neimark was arrested with 80 community members, accused of helping Yidden evade the draft with guidance from the Rebbe Maharash. Not wanting the Rebbe to suffer, he took full blame and spent two years in prison, where he learned and davened ba’avoda.
Reb Chaim Meshulam Zalman Neimark was one of the prominent Chasidim of the Rebbe Maharash. He served as rov in the city of Horky, and then in Starodub where he served as Rov for twenty years.
In the year 5641 (1881), he was arrested along with another eighty community members and accused of helping Yidden evade the draft under the guidance of the Rebbe Maharash. After two years he was proven innocent and was freed from jail, but moved on to Vitebsk and then Nevel, where he served as Rov.
Even after the passing of the Rebbe Maharash he continued to visit Lubavitch. He attended the Bar Mitzvah of the Frierdiker Rebbe in Tammuz, and passed away a short time later on 28 Av 5653 (1893).
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During his arrest, Reb Zalman took the entire blame of the accusations on himself, so that the Rebbe Maharsh should not be arrested. He explained, “One hour of the Rebbe is very precious.”
At the end of the farbrengen on Shabbos parshas Shmos 5722 (1962) the Rebbe said: “The concept of arrest in general occurred by all of the Rebbeim, by the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, and by the Rebbe Maharash as well – in a manner that someone took his place, one of the Rabbonim that was arrested instead…”.
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While in prison a small handwritten note from the Rebbe Maharash was smuggled to Reb Zalman, which read, “In regards to his imprisonment, there is nothing to fear at all, as you have heard yourself from my father. It is proper that you should learn the entire year Mishnayos and Gemara Brachos, and Hashem should bless you with all good as your heart desires.”
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During his two-year imprisonment, Reb Zalman conducted himself just as he had at home. He did not cease to learn, night and day nigleh and Chassidus. He would daven at his usual length with great fervor and niggunim. His davening moved all those who heard it, and more than once, the prisoners and guards would stop by his room to hear him davening. He became known as the “Rabbin” who can perform wonders.
For sources, visit TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com
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