Once a very wicked man came to the rebbe seeking atonement. The rebbe consented to help him, but only on the condition first, that the man would liquidate all his assets – jewelry, real estate, everything- and second, that he put in writing every sin he had ever committed. After months, the man returned with a suitcase full of cash and a sheaf of papers filled with sins. As the rebbe read the list he was horrified. The rebbe moaned; the man fainted. The rebbe revived him and went on with the reading. Again, seven times, the rebbe would cry out in sadness and the man would pass out. When Rabbi Elimelech had completed reading the list, the man was white as a sheet. The rebbe sighed: “only death could atone for such a life!” “I will do whatever you say,” said the man. Now the rebbe turned white, for he realized that he had inadvertently pronounced an irrevocable death sentence. “Very well,” said the rebbe. “In such cases, the death sentence is to be carried out by pou...
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