The following chilling true story occurred in the time of Maran Rav Nassan Nota Shapiro zt”l, author of the Sefer Megale Amukos.
There were two Jewish orphans that grew up with their uncle. They never had much of a Jewish education and instead at a very young age joined their uncle in the butcher business. The two Jewish orphans took over their uncle's business after he passed away and were carried away by their desire for money and wealth. For years they deliberately fed non-kosher meat to their unsuspecting town.
One day, the 2 butchers heard a shiur about the severity of eating non-Kosher meat and it deeply affected them to do Teshuva. In order to cleanse their sins, they headed to the Megale Amukos and discuss the issue with him. The Rav listened to their chilling story of how hundreds of people or possibly even thousands of people had eaten non-kosher meat over many years. The Rav also listened carefully to their story of their childhood and that they were orphans.
The Rav thought over very carefully and gave them the option to do Teshuva with certain very tough conditions. They accepted upon themselves all the hardships as instructed by the Megale Amukos.
They were told to secretly give away all their money, change their clothing and go into Galus (exile). Contact with their families was forbidden and they were never to sleep in the same town 2 nights in a row. Every town they went, they had to go outside the local Shul and confess their sins. They were instructed they must give the community permission to punish them. They were never to ask or accept food, clothes, and money. For food, they were allowed to accept whatever was necessary to keep them alive. They were not allowed to sleep in anyone's home except for Shabbos and Yom Tov. When they will complete their Tikkun and Teshuva, they will get a sign they can return to their hometown. But they will still have to continue certain fasts and hardships for the rest of their lives. If they do all this, it will save them from harsh Heavenly judgment.
Over 3 years later, they were given the sign (both homes burned down the same night) and they understood they could now return to their town. Upon arrival, they went directly to the Megale Amukos and he gave them a parchment scroll with his signature stating that their Teshuva is complete.
The two friends made a pact that whoever dies first will come to the other in a dream and describe exactly what happened to him in Heavenly Court.
A few years later, one of the butchers died. He was buried with the scroll of they had received from the Megale Amukos.
