ונפש כי תחטא (ויקרא ה:א)

he chassidim of Rebbe Reb Eizikel Kaliver zt”l asked him, whom shall they travel to after his petirah ( when he departs from this world) for guidance? The Rebbe of Kaliv replied: “When you find a Rebbe who can remove a neshamah (soul) from a person, cleanse it and return it to its place – to such a Rebbe you shall cleave.”

After the Kaliver Rebbe’s petirah, three of the holiest chassidim set out to find a Rebbe. They traveled around the many towns and hamlets in search of a mentor until they arrived in Ropshitz, where Rabbi Naftoli zt”l was teaching Chassidus.  When they entered the Ropshitzer Rebbe’s home, they encountered a Yid crying to the Rebbe for help, as he finds it challenging to find a way to do Teshuva for his grave aveira (sin). The Ropshitzer Rebbe told the Yid: “Tell me, how did a Yid even possess the idea of performing such a grave aveira?”.

When this Yid heard the question/admonishment, he fainted and had to be revived. The Ropshitzer Rebbe continued, “Perhaps you can tell me what bad things Hashem did to you that you’re paying Him back with such a grave aveira?” He fainted again and again had to be revived.

The Ropshitzer was not done yet. He said to the Yid: “Hashem gives you health, livelihood, and everything in life – and for all this, you dare to sin?!”  The Yid fainted for the third time and, again, was brought to.  The Ropshitzer Rav then told him: “You can now go home.”

The three Kaliver chassidim witnessing this incident smiled to themselves. The Ropshitzer Rav turned to them and complained: “You seem to be happy to see me torturing a hapless Yid. Am I such a murderer in your eyes?”  The chassidim then relayed to their newfound Rebbe what their late Rebbe advised them, adding that they just witnessed how a Rebbe can remove a neshamah, cleanse it and then return it on the spot.  Understandably, they became Ropshitzer chassidim.