A Soul's Redemption: Seeking Forgiveness from Beyond

Rabbi Yosef was a devoted follower of the Maggid of Kozhnitz and unfortunately, he and his wife were childless. Every month, he would travel to his Rebbe, pleading for a blessing for children, but the Maggid either ignored his pleas or pushed them aside with vague responses.

Rabbi Yosef's wife was persistent. She urged him to demand a blessing from the Rebbe and not leave until he received it. One day, Rabbi Yosef stood before the Maggid and declared, "My revered teacher, I shall not move from here until I receive your blessing!"

The Maggid reflected deeply, his face turning serious, and finally said, "If you agree to lose all your wealth, I will bless you with children."

The devoted follower was stunned into silence. He felt unable to make such a decision on his own.

Returning home, he consulted with his wife. She immediately agreed to the Maggid's condition, and Rabbi Yosef returned to Kozhnitz to inform his Rebbe that both were ready to embrace a life of poverty for the blessing of children. "In that case, travel to the 'Seer' of Lublin, and do as he instructs," the Maggid of Kozhnitz advised.

Rabbi Yosef followed his Rebbe's instruction and traveled to Lublin. He explained to the 'Seer' why he had come and on whose behalf. "Stay here with me until Hashem enlightens me," the Seer instructed him. After some time, the Seer called him and said, "In your youth, you were betrothed to a young woman in your hometown, but when you grew up, you broke off the engagement, disrespecting her. You never sought her forgiveness, and for this reason, you have been denied children. Until you seek her forgiveness, you will have no children. Therefore, travel to the great fair in Balta, where you will find your former betrothed, and ask her for forgiveness."

Rabbi Yosef was shaken. It was true; in his youth, his parents had betrothed him to a respectable young woman named Esther-Shifra, but as he matured, he pursued another match. He had never bothered, either before or after his marriage, to apologize to the young woman for the hurt he caused her.

Rabbi Yosef traveled to Balta. On his way there, and even at the fair, he inquired of everyone he met whether they knew a woman named Esther-Shifra from a certain town, but all his inquiries were in vain.

Three days before the fair ended, as the merchants began preparing to return home, Rabbi Yosef wandered the streets, confused and desperate. Suddenly, a heavy rain began to fall. Rabbi Yosef took shelter in a shop. Among the people crowded there was a young woman. Out of modesty, Rabbi Yosef stepped aside. The woman, offended, exclaimed loudly so all could hear, "See this man - in our youth, he abandoned me, and even now, he wants nothing to do with me!"

Upon hearing her words, Rabbi Yosef looked at her and recognized his former betrothed immediately. He approached her with pleas, explaining that he had traveled to Balta specifically to find her and beg for her forgiveness. He broke into tears, proving his sincerity. "I’m willing to forgive you," the woman said, "on one condition." Rabbi Yosef nodded. "I will accept any condition you impose, as long as I can fulfill it," he replied.

"Very well," the woman said, "go to Suvalk, where my poor brother lives. He is destitute and lacks everything. Give him two hundred gold pieces as a dowry for his daughter. If you do this, I will forgive you for the hurt you caused me while engaged." Rabbi Yosef calculated that if he sold all his possessions and added his cash savings, he would have about two hundred gold pieces. He agreed to the condition and returned home. After securing the funds, he traveled to Suvalk.

He searched for the woman's brother until he found him despondent and dejected at home. "My daughter's wedding day is approaching, and I don't have a penny for her dowry," the brother lamented. "Here are two hundred fine gold pieces to prepare for the wedding, as if you were a wealthy man," Rabbi Yosef said, handing him a thick bundle of money. The brother opened the bundle, incredulous, looking at the gold and Rabbi Yosef. "Who are you, and why are you giving me this generous gift?!" he marvelled. "Don't worry!" Rabbi Yosef reassured him, "The money is legitimate, and I give it by your sister Shifra-Esther's directive. In our youth, we were betrothed, but I left her and married another woman. A few days ago, I met her to apologize, and she commanded me to give you two hundred gold pieces as a condition for her forgiveness."

Now the brother's face expressed utter astonishment. He looked at Rabbi Yosef as if seeing a madman. "Are you trying to deceive me? It's fifteen years since my sister passed away; she died young, and I myself buried her here in Suvalk!"

Rabbi Yosef trembled with shock. Once he calmed down, he recounted all that had transpired — first with the Maggid of Kozhnitz and then with the Seer of Lublin. Finally, he described the woman he met in Balta, and the brother confirmed it was indeed his sister, Shifra-Esther, no other.

Less than a year later, Rabbi Yosef and his wife were blessed with a child. In the years that followed, they were gifted with more children and grandchildren, all of whom followed the path of the Torah.