Gehinom is closed on Shabbos

R’ Yochanan Gordon was the gabay in Lubavitch, in 770. He was a very wise man, in addition to being a great chosid who was mekushar to the Rebbe.

Once, during a farbrengen, he felt ill, and had to be carried out by hatzolloh. After some time passed, however, he felt better, and decided that, as the farbrengen was still in progress, he might as well return to the farbrengen. When he entered, the Rebbe looked at him in surprise. In response to the Rebbe’s questioning glance, he explained: “Ich bin ongekummen dorten, ber di gehinom iz doch farmacht oif Shabbos, un in gan eden hot men mir nit gevolt areinlozen, hob ich machlit geven kummen tzurik doh!” [I arrived to the other world, the gehinom is, however, closed on Shabbos, and in gan eden I was denied entry, so I decided that I might as well return here].