“The rebbe sighed deeply and assured me that while my sin was a grievous one, we are taught that the gates of repentance are never closed. Reb Meir outlined a prescription of three courses of teshuvah I could choose from: to depart from this world before the year’s end – a life for a life; to endure pain and suffering for a duration of three years – affliction erases man’s sins; or to undertake galus for three years, a judgment meted out to one who takes a life unintentionally. The latter option would involve my wandering away from my home, never spending the day and night in the same place, eating once daily – relying on the kindness of strangers, and never asking for or accepting a charitable donation.
“I told the rebbe I would consult with my wife before making a decision. As I pushed off the inevitable, peace of mind eluded me and I gradually fell ill. When a debilitating weakness set in, I realized that the heavens would dictate my fate if I didn’t move quickly to fulfill the rebbe‘s directive.
“No sooner did I make up my mind, opting for the three-year galus, than I began to regain my strength. On my way I stopped by the Premishlaner Rebbe who wished me hatzlacha in reaching my goal of complete teshuvah and asked that I come see him at the end of my journey, before returning home.
“Two years have now elapsed and I just heard the disheartening news of the petirah of my holy rebbe. Since my rebbe used to extol the greatness of the Divrei Chaim, the tzaddik in Sanz, I will go seek his counsel.
“And now that you’ve heard my story, Reb Nachum, you know why I can neither accept your offer to sleep over, nor the charity you have so kindly proffered.”
With the passing of time, Reb Nachum almost forgot the encounter … until a neat-looking gentleman stopped by the inn. He soon recognized his special guest and welcomed him with a broad shalom aleichem. The well-attired merchant updated Reb Nachum on the latest developments in his riveting saga.
“When I went in to see the Sanzer Rebbe he greeted me with warm enthusiasm, and before I could utter a syllable he exclaimed, ‘Tzaddikim are more illustrious and influential after leaving this world, and they don’t forsake their flock. The Rebbe of Premishlan zt”l has effectively petitioned the heavenly court on your behalf to spare you a third year of galus. Since you weathered your tribulations at great self-sacrifice, your teshuvah has been accepted and you are now free to return home to your family. Along the way, make sure to stop at the ohel of the Premishlaner Tzaddik to recite Tehillim and to beseech him to continue to be a meilitz yosher for you.'”
Such was the awe-inspiring greatness of the renowned Rebbe from Sanz, the Divrei Chaim, whose tremendous acts of tzeddakah and gemilus chassadim famously extended to his giving everything away for the needy and leaving little to nothing for himself.