והיה לכם לציצית וראיתם אותו…. (שלח טו:לט)

he first Rebbe of Tosh (Nyírtass, Hungary), Rabbi Meshulam Feish Segal-Lowy Zt’’l (his Yahrzeit is on the 28th of Sivan), was once walking in Niredhaz (Nyiregyhaza, Hungary) and his Tallis Katan was visible under his bekishe.  An army officer passed by and stopped the Tzaddik, asking him what this piece of garment was, to which the Rebbe replied with a question of his own: Pointing to the officer’s sword, he wanted to know what it was.  The officer told the Rebbe that this was his weapon, to which the Rebbe answered, “And this is my weapon.”

The officer became incensed by the seemingly silly reply and told the Rebbe: “If this is your weapon, let us go on a duel; I will use my sword, and you will use your tassels!”.  Unperturbed, the Rebbe consented, which caused panic and consternation amongst the crowd that formed around them, who put a stop to the unfolding scene, fearing for the life of the Tzaddik.  All his life, he lamented that he didn’t see this through, as he was sure that he would have won the duel, which would have brought about a real Kiddush Hashem (the sanctification of HaShem’s name).