The farbrengen on Shabbos after Purim 5745 was a memorable one. Throughout the farbrengen, the Rebbe repeatedly encouraged participants to say l’chaim, even to the point of ad d’lo yoda.

After multiple L’chaims, the elder chossid Reb Osher (“Batumer”) Sosonko banged on the table and began sharing about his interrogation in Russia. “Who is the tzadik of the generation?” the NKVD had asked. “The Rebbe from New York,” he answered. “And who is the tzadik in Russia?” they asked. Again, he repeated, “The Rebbe from New York.”

They became very angry and began to curse and beat him. They told him that “Schneerson is no more.” He responded that this wasn’t true, since the Rebbe had a son-in-law.

They then asked him where he farbrengs, and he replied that he does not. To which his interrogator retorted, “That cannot be. Chassidim without a farbrengen is not possible.”

Throughout the entire time, the Rebbe looked at him with a broad smile. When he finished speaking, the Rebbe said, “If he remembers all the details of the story, then we need to ask a rov if he’s truly holding by ad d’lo yoda…”

(From diaries of the time)