The height of the golden era of the healing baths of Marienbad was in the late 1800’s and lasted until the Second World War. Many famous people used to visit this resort town including King Edward VII of England, Emperor Franz Josef I of the Astro-Hungarian empire, Alfred Nobel, Rudyard Kipling, and LeHavdil, the great Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva, Rav Yeruchem Levovitz ZT”L among other Gedolim.
Rav Yeruchem, who in all probability suffered from an undiagnosed brain tumor, used to visit Marienbad during the offseason to provide relief from his intense pain and headaches. At the same time, there was an observant Jew who was a headmaster of a school in England who attended the baths – probably to relieve the extraordinary stress and tension involved in his position. Aside from the baths, Marienbad was also noted for its remarkable and picturesque parks, and the two quickly developed a close relationship.
The English headmaster decided to open up to Rav Yeruchem and tell him of all the challenges that he faced at school and of the intense pressure that he was consistently under. Throughout the headmaster’s entire discussion, Rav Yeruchem listened attentively. Finally, Rav Yeruchem gave him his advice. He uttered two Yiddish words, “Zarget Nisht“ – do not worry.
As if by some magical force, the headmaster, who like Rav Yeruchem also suffered from intense headaches, was suddenly cured of his headaches and relived of his stress. How did Rav Yeruchem effect this remarkable change in the headmaster?
Rav Shlomo Freifeld ZT”L, the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshiv in Far Rockaway, explained, “This was no magic or charmed luck. Rather, it was something else entirely. The change in the headmaster occurred due to the power of an “Ish Emes” a person who is deeply imbued with the qualities of integrity and truth. When someone is an Ish Emes, their words have great impact and great power. The headmaster knew that Rav Yeruchem was such a person – and knew that he spoke the truth. Accordingly, the loving and honest words of “Zarget Nisht” penetrated the inner recesses of the headmaster’s psyche. He knew that if a man of truth and integrity of the caliber of Rav Yeruchem told him not to worry, there was indeed nothing to worry about – and he was cured.
