in russia conspiracy theories concerning undead tsars were abound. some were prisoners, other heroic liberators, and some had secretly abdicated. it is interesting that Alexander I was rumored to have gone into exile.
faruq | 08.27.06 - 10:51 pm | #

Disappearing "saints" are a common manifestation of religious communities. Witness the Shiites missing leader the 12th Iman.
Then again disappearing politicians are also part of American life such as Judge Crater in New York in the 1930's.
"Praven galuth" as it was called was a common fact in the life of Lithuanian Jewry in th times of the Baal Hatanya.
The GRA himself "praved galus" as did in later years Reb Yisroel Salanter , the Chafetz Chaim and other gedolim.But I can not think of a rebbe (besides the Liover) who renounced his position in the 19th century.
In the 20th century more than a few rebbes renounced their positions.If they were honest they all would except for a half dozen or so.
Schneur | 08.28.06 - 3:27 pm | #

Feiodor Kuzmich woul be rigth.
Lamerkhav | 09.03.06 - 11:00 am | #