The Divrei Yoel of Satmar zy'a said in the name of the Divrei Chaim of Tzanz, zy'a, that learning this sefer is a proven segulah for protection against the renowned disease. Also, the Yismach Yisrael zy'a would tell people ill with the dreaded disease to study this holy sefer.
Reb Boruch Ber of Kamenitz zy'a (the Birchas Shmuel) was the rosh yeshiva in Kamenitz, and his daughter became a kallah to one of the best bachurim in the yeshiva. Reb Boruch Ber was very happy with the shidduch, and he gave gifts to the chassan, as customary. He gave him a hat, clothing, and a gold pocket-watch.
Reb Boruch Ber suggested to the chassan to learn in another city, so he can learn without interruption and disturbances (because Reb Boruch Ber's family lived in Kaminetz). The chassan agreed to this idea and went to learn in another city. Several months later, a package arrived at the home of Reb Boruch Ber. In it were the hat, clothes, and the gold watch, which Reb Boruch Ber had given to the chassan as gifts. The letter that came along with the package said that he was reneging on the shidduch. It only stated those words. He didn't share why he was breaking the engagement; there was no explanation as to why he changed his mind.
Reb Boruch Ber was shocked. He wasn't expecting this at all. He knew his daughter would be very hurt; however, he had no choice but to tell her.
Some time passed, and Reb Boruch Ber received a letter from this bachur. Reb Boruch Ber opened the letter, hoping to finally understand what occurred, but the letter wasn't an explanation. Instead, the bachur was asking Reb Boruch Ber to write a letter of recommendation for him.
This is because a small town wanted to hire this bachur to be their Rav. When the vaad of the city interviewed the bachur, he told them that he had learned in Kaminetz. The people of the community were very impressed by this young prodigy. Still, before accepting him to be the Rav, they wanted a letter of recommendation from the Rosh yeshiva, Reb Boruch Ber. "Therefore," the bachur completed the letter, "I request that the Rosh yeshiva write me a letter of endorsement."
Reb Boruch Ber's heart broke once again. All the tzaar the bachur caused him resurfaced. He was also upset with the bachur's chutzpah, to ask him for such a letter, after what he did to him and his family.
But Reb Boruch Ber knew that it was a test that he must pass. He wrote a very positive letter. Before sending it, he showed the letter to three bachurim. He told them, "The pain is still fresh in my heart. I'm worried that my personal feelings might result in me writing something I shouldn’t. Therefore, I want you to read the letter and to tell me whether this letter properly portrays the qualities of this bachur. If you think that it doesn't sound right, I will write another letter because I want to give him the best letter."
Halevai, we should even have a drop of these high levels. This story is another example of doing kindness, even to those who harmed us.
זהב תורי from the Magid of Zalzitz zy'a writes, "I heard (in the path of mussar) quoted from Rebbe Yitzchak of Dravitz zt'l that... it is the way of people, that if someone insulted them or harmed them, they hold onto their anger and complaints to this person until erev Yom Kippur, and then they make up and appease one another. However, this isn't the path of the Torah. One must forgive everyone each night before he goes to sleep. Also, in the morning, he must forgive everyone who might have harmed him at night.
This is alluded to in the pesukim (Bamidbar 28:3-4), בְּנֵי כְּבָשִׂים 'לַה תַּק ְרִיבוּ ֶׁראֲש ֶּׁההָאִש זֶה לָהֶם ָּוְאָמ ַרְת ... תַּעֲשֶׂה אֶחָד ה ַכֶּבֶשׂ אֶת ,תָמ ִיד עֹלָה ל ַיּוֹם ש ְׁנַיִם תְמ ִימִם שׁ ָנָה הָע ַרְבָּיִם בֵּין תַּעֲשֶׂה ּׁ ֵנִיהַש ה ַכֶּבֶשׂ וְאֵת ב ַבֹּקֶר , as follows:
'לַה תַּק ְרִיבוּ ֶׁראֲש ֶּׁההָאִש זֶה, this will make a nachas ruach to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. כְּבָשִׂים שׁ ָנָה בְּנֵי , the matters that you generally keep tied up in your hearts the entire year, you shouldn’t do so. Rather, ל ַיּוֹם ש ְׁנַיִם, twice every day you should forgive those who harmed you. אֶחָד ה ַכֶּבֶשׂ אֶת, the hard feelings that you have in your heart, תַּעֲשֶׂה, you shall fix it , ב ַבֹּקֶר, each morning. When one awakens, he should remove the anger from his heart. וְאֵת ֵּׁנִיהַש ה ַכֶּבֶשׂ , the second issue that is being held in your heart, תַּעֲשֶׂה, you should fix it, בֵּין הָע ַרְבָּיִם , before going to sleep."
The Gemara (Yoma 9b) says that the second Beis HaMikdash was destroyed because of sinas chinam. Therefore, the wise should take heart, to increase ahavas chinam, to love every person of Yisrael, and to do kindness to them. This is even if they wronged you. The concept is that a person shouldn't see only himself. He must remember that there are others in the world, other than him.
