[Editor’s note: The following is a story that was witnessed personally by my mother and her other family members].
In 1935, my grandfather, Rav Meir Zev Katz, hy”d, had a young non-Jewish tenant who was upset at Rav Meir Zev and wanted to do him harm. So she went to the Hungarian government and told them that Rav Meir Zev and his family spoke against the Hungarian government – a deed which, at that time, was punishable by death. Rav Meir Zev and his wife were arrested, released on bail and a court date was set.
At that time, the Stropkover Rebbe was visiting Rav Meir Zev’s brother and stayed there as a guest for a few days. Rav Meir Zev went to visit the Stropkover Rebbe and asked for a yeshua. The Rebbe told Rav Meir Zev to go home and find out the exact name of the tenant and the name of the tenant’s mother.
With information in hand, Rav Meir Zev came back to the Stropkover Rebbe on Motzo’ei Shabbos. Rav Avrohom Sholom asked my young cousin to bring the candles that were lit L’Koved Motzo’ei Shabbos. He then burned the paper that had her name on it. The following day the news spread that the tenant had died in her sleep, and since there was no witness anymore – the case was promptly dropped.
