He Traveled Without Permission and Got Caught in a Storm

After R. Efraim of Kopust pleaded with the Tzemach Tzedek to go to Eretz Yisroel, the Rebbe allowed him on condition that he would not leave. But his burning desire to see the Rebbe got the better of him, and he got caught in a fierce storm that almost capsized the ship.

R. Efraim of Kopust (5555 – c. 5606) was the son of R Yisrael of Kopust, an early chossid of the Alter Rebbe and a famous printer of chassidishe seforim. A chossid of the Mitteler Rebbe, and later of the Tzemach Tzedek, R. Efraim moved to Eretz Yisroel where he served as one of the heads of Colel Chabad in Chevron.

*

Once, the Mitteler Rebbe closeted himself in his room for three days without eating. The Rebbe’s family was distraught, and R. Efraim, who was close to the Rebbe, got their permission to go in.

When he entered, he found the Rebbe standing and smoking his pipe. The Rebbe asked him what he wanted, and R. Efraim explained that the Rebbe’s family was concerned.

The Rebbe then told him why he was withdrawn, “I was sitting and writing Chassidus, when I suddenly saw my father, the Alter Rebbe, standing beside me, and he told me that his Rebbe, the Maggid, wanted to hear Chassidus from me. I agreed on condition that the Alter Rebbe would not be present. He disappeared, and the Maggid appeared, and I began to recite Chassidus. In middle of the maamar, my father reappeared, but I did not want to stop, so I finished the maamar and they left.

“Now,” concluded the Mitteler Rebbe, “I am in great distress that I did not ask of them to say Chassidus.” R. Efraim managed to console the Rebbe until he felt better again.

*

In his later years, R. Efraim wished to travel to Eretz Yisroel, but the Tzemach Tzedek would not allow him. After much pleading, the Rebbe gave him permission to go on condition that he wouldn’t leave the Holy Land.

After several years there, R. Efraim had a strong yearning to see the Rebbe. He headed back, and while at sea, a fierce storm broke out that almost capsized the ship. He then dreamt that the Alter Rebbe and Mitteler Rebbe told him that he was at fault, since he had transgressed the Tzemach Tzedek’s instructions, but they promised him that he would be saved. Indeed, he arrived safely and eventually passed away in Russia.

For sources, visit TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com