The Ruzhiner was released from prison on Shushan Purim (Boyaner Rebbe).
A Jew found out that the Ruzhiner was being released from prison – and he greatly desired to be the first to greet him.
So he got up very early in the morning and went to the mikveh, took along a bottle of brandy and a morsel, and waited until the Ruzhiner emerged.
And indeed that is what happened – he was the first person there. He greeted the Ruzhiner and drank le-hayim. The hasid then said to him: “May God help that the suffering that the rebbe underwent will serve as an atonement for the future – but nevertheless rebbe – you should take care from now on – not to steal horses.
{[This is apparently an allusion to the fact that the Ruzhiner was not incarcerated for nothing]}
The Ruzhiner answered: “I didn’t steal any horses, but I did sit in prison for horses.”
I.F.
Elijah Neigarten
(Heard from an old Boyaner hasid who yet knew the old Sadagurer)
