Reb Noach Altshuler was a famous talmid and mekushar of Reb Mendel Horodoker, and according to some, he was married to the sister of the Mezritcher Magid.

His son Reb Sholom Shachna married Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, daughter of the Alter Rebbe, and he was thus the Tzemach Tzedek’s grandfather.

*

A few years after Reb Mendel Horodoker moved to Eretz Yisroel, Reb Noach boarded a ship en route there. On the boat, he fell gravely ill. Knowing the law to throw any deceased passengers overboard, Reb Noach requested from the captain that, after he passes away, but before throwing him into the sea, he should be tied to a board while wearing his talis and tefilin with a note in his hand stating his name.

On one motzaei Shabbos, Reb Mendel sent his talmidim to the shore, commanding them to wait there and greet an esteemed guest — one of their colleagues who would arrive from abroad. After a few days of waiting, they heard a great commotion that a man wearing a talis and tefillin could be seen floating on a board near the shore. The chassidim recognized Reb Noach and brought him for burial in the nearby city of Chaifa.

*

When Reb Noach came to Beis Din Shel Maalah, they found one thing that he didn’t fix during his lifetime. He was given two choices: half an hour in Gehinom or to return to this world. Reb Noach said, “My entire life, I never did anything without asking my Rebbe. Now too, I want to ask my Rebbe.”

The Beis Din Shel Maalah found his words to be true and gave him permission.

Reb Mendel Horodoker was sitting with his chassidim and said, “Reb Noach is here now and asked me what to choose. I say better half an hour in Gehinom. What do you say, chassidim?” All the chassidim, of course, repeated their Rebbe’s choice, “Gehinom.”

At that moment, they heard a cry, “Oy Rebbe!” and a mark of a burnt hand was seen on the window frame.