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.

Originally from Warsaw, R’ Shilem Reich married Rivkah, daughter of R’ Boruch Sholom, the Tzemach Tzedek‘s son. He had a close relationship with the Chidushei Harim of Ger, who helped the couple get a bracha from the Tzemach Tzedek for children.

Rebbetzin Rivkah, the Alter Rebbe‘s mother, was blessed with four sons who were Torah giants. When asked about her special merit, the Alter Rebbe’s brother, Maharil, recounted a sacrifice she made for her children’s Torah study.

When Reb Mordechai Liepler needed a miracle to evade arrest, the Alter Rebbe referred him to his mechutan, Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. Reb Mordechai hid in the room and watched an incredible scene as Reb Levi Yitzchok corrected Mishnayos and Zohar in his sleep.

A chossid who saw six Chabad Rebbeim, Reb Peretz Chein was a rov in Nevel, Beshenkovitch, and Chernigov. Shortly before his passing, he revealed three things his mother revealed to him from heaven, which led him to know when he would pass away.

One of the most famous and greatest Chabad chassidim, Reb Aizik Homiler was a chossid of the first three Chabad Rebbeim. At his final encounter with the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe placed his head on Reb Aizik’s shoulder and stood in this position for half an hour, until he sent him off.

At the Rebbe Maharash‘s instruction, R. Leib Hoffman spent twenty-two years as a forest supervisor learning and mastering Kaballah. When he passed away, the Rebbe Rashab confirmed that he left no one with the same knowledge of Kaballah as himself.

The Alter Rebbe‘s second son, Reb Chaim Avraham, looked very similar to his father. When the Alter Rebbe’s picture was shown to the mashpia Reb Hendel, he thought it was Reb Chaim Avraham, until he noticed the scar on the nose.

A great scholar in Chassidus, R. Zalman Velkes of Dubravna was also a wealthy businessman and renowned for his generosity. When someone came for tzedaka, he would take a bulging handful of coins without even looking at how much he took.

A chossid and a Latvian diplomat, Reb Mordechai Dubin was an outstanding baal chessed who gave all his possessions and time for helping others. When he was on the verge of dying after being released from Soviet prison, he fought to live so that another Yid won’t feel guilty.

The Rov of Kremenchuk and a successful businessman Reb Yitzchak Yoel Refoelovitch was a chossid of the Rebbe Maharash, Rebbe Rashab, and the Frierdiker Rebbe. When the Rebbe Rashab assured him that the Shabbos food would do no harm, he broke his strict diet, but then he tried it at home…

A giant chossid of the Alter Rebbe, Reb Michel Opotzker was an outstanding gaon who was said to have ruach hakodesh. When he sent his student Rashbatz to the Tzemach Tzedek, he gave him a PaN to deliver – but there was nothing written on it.

R. Yekusiel Deitsch of Dokshitz, affectionately known as “Kushe Dokshitzer,” was an Alef Beis melamed who taught the Frierdiker Rebbe. At first, his father-in-law implored the Tzemach Tzedek to allow him to do business, but when a wagonload fell over him, he realized that he wasn’t doing what the Rebbe really wanted.

Reb Yosef, the son of R. Yissochor Ber the rov of Lubavitch, was married to the Tzemach Tzedek’s aunt, and was affectionately known as “Der Feter Yossele” (Uncle Yossele). When chassidim found him sitting in the snow deep in thought, his answer surprised them.

Reb Yisroel Hofshtein, the Kozhnitzer Maggid, was a talmid of the Mezritcher Maggid and Reb Elimelech of Lizensk, and a great admirer of the Alter Rebbe. When a husband ran away and left his wife an aguna, the Kozhnitzer Maggid reunited them through a series of wondrous miracles.

R. Ziskind Kurnitzer was an outstanding chossid of the Alter Rebbe who was said to have ruach hakodesh. When a plague broke out in his town, he directed his shamash to take two stones from the cemetery and expose the sinners who were causing the plague.