Please Do Not Make Me a Liar

The same young man related another story. A Jew came to the Rebbe, begging him to assure him that his daughter, who was suffering from a kidney ailment, "will" have a refuah sheleimah. The Rebbe replied, "She 'should' have a refuah sheleimah."

The man began to cry and said, "I am not leaving until the Rebbe promises me that she 'will' have a refuah sheleimah." The Rebbe said, "Who am I that I can promise such a thing?" The man sat and cried bitterly for a long time. Finally the Rebbe stood up and said, "Go home. She 'will' have a refuah sheleimah."

The young man had heard the exchange, and after the man left he approached the Rebbe and asked, "How could the Rebbe have such 'koichos' that he could promise such a thing?" The Rebbe replied, "I don't have any special koichos. I saw that this man would have passed out if I did not promise him. Afterward, I lift my hands to Hashem in tefillah and I cry, 'Ribbono Shel Olam, I am begging You, please do not make me into a liar.'"

When a similar incident occurred with the Rebbe giving a havtacha (assurance), the Rebbe later said, "Apparently, Hashem had mercy on me. He didn't want the Kopycznitzer Rebbe to become known to one and all as a liar who makes promises that he can't keep, so He heard my tefillos."