Blessings in Disguise

The Tiferes Shlomo was also a talmid of Rav Meir of Apta, the author of Ohr LaShomayim. He said that his custom of cursing people in order to bring them a yeshuah was a tradition he received from the Ohr LaShomayim, who received it in a chain going back to Avrohom Avinu. The Torah promises Avrohom, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you,” but the word for curse here is written a'or, which also means light. It can be read to mean that those you curse, Hashem will enlighten, so that a curse can shine light on Jewish souls and do them a favor.

It is well known that the Tiferes Shlomo used his power to curse and to strike in order to save others. Once, returning from the mikveh on Erev Shabbos, he shouted at the simple attendants who cleaned it, because there was a mess and not enough towels. They shrank back in fear. The next week everything was in perfect order, and the Rebbe raged again: why was there nothing to be angry about, and why had they not left him a reason to curse?

Another time he shouted at the chassidim who had come, telling them to go home right then, even on Shabbos, and that he gave them permission to leave. One chassid packed his bag and took his suitcase to go. The Tiferes Shlomo said to him, “Fool, you do not understand what I am doing.”