Reb Zalman Maliner was a wealthy chassid of the Tsherkaser Rebbe. His main income was from the sale of lumber and he had vast holdings.
Reb Zalman was once summoned by the rebbe. “Here take this,” the Tsherkaser said, handing Reb Zalman an kameya (amulet). “You must wear this amulet and carry it on your person at all times during the weekdays.” The rebbe wagged his finger for emphasis and warned him again, “Remember - all week long; no exceptions!”
Reb Zalman donned the mysterious amulet and followed the rebbe’s orders. Every day of the week he wore the kameya, removing it only after the mikvah on Erev Shabbos and replacing it again on Motza’ei Shabbos when the week began again.
One Erev Shabbos, after Reb Zalman had returned from the mikvah and removed the kameya, a gentile lumber merchant arrived and asked to conclude a lucrative business deal. At first Reb Zalman refused, but after the merchant insisted in closing the deal on the spot, Reb Zalman relented. “The hour is late and it is my day of rest is about to begin; I agree to the deal on condition that you go to the forest adjacent to the lumber yard and take care of the goods yourself” explained Reb Zalman.
The merchant agreed, but returned after he found he because he found the gate locked. Reb Zalman, seeing that he had no choice, hurried off together with the merchant. In his haste, Reb Zalman forgot to put the kameya back on and he left.
No sooner had Reb Zalman opened the gate, when a large tree fell down and killed him on the spot! It became clear to all who knew him just how the Tsherkaser Rebbe’s amulet had indeed protected Reb Zalman’s life all those years he had worn it.
Rav Avrohom of Slonim testified that he heard from an eye witness, a venerated chassid, that following the tragedy, they opened the amulet and read the rebbe’s holy handwriting on the kameya: “I adjure you, all tree and forest spirits of peril, that you not harm or injure Reb Zalman, signed: Yaakov Yisroel of Tsherkas.” (Emek Tefilla, Intro)
