It once happened on the eve of Pesach, that Reb Levi Yitschok of Berdichev (late 1700's) asked the village smuggler to procure three yards of fine Chinese silk (the border between Russia and China has been closed for more than 500 years). Within an hour, the Rabbi had the illegal silk in his hands.
He then went and knocked on the door of a villager requesting a piece of pumpernickel. The townsman began sobbing uncontrollably at the Rebbe's request. How could the Rebbe suggest that he would have the forbidden foodstuff right before the holiday?! This scenario repeated itself several times.
After many attempts to acquire a piece of pumpernickel, Reb Levik went to the synagogue, opened the doors of the ark where the Torah is kept and cried out to the Almighty, "Master of the Universe. The boarders of this country are closed. Armed guards threaten to shoot any smugglers. Yet, in less than an hour, I was able to obtain contraband goods. Look at your people Israel. There are no borders, no guards, yet it behooves even the simplest of persons to violate any of your commandments. Is it not time to send the Moshiach?"
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