In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the orthodox community in Detroit had few chassidim. Nevertheless, Rabbi Meir Avtzon was respected by all for his self-sacrifice in Russia, his Torah knowledge, and his strict adherence to Jewish law. His growing family (ultimately to include 15 children) also attracted the attention of everyone.

A respected teacher from a “Litvishe” background once approached Rabbi Avtzon and asked to study Talmud and Tanya with him twice a week. As their relationship developed, the teacher and Rabbi Avtzon became close friends.

After the teacher had been married for two years without having children, he and his wife began seeking medical advice. Two doctors told them they would never have children. When the teacher told Rabbi Avtzon about his problems, Rabbi Avtzon suggested that he see the Rebbe at yechidus and ask for his blessing.

At yechidus, the Rebbe questioned the teacher concerning the medical tests he had undergone. It was clear that the Rebbe was not pleased with the doctors’ approach.

Suddenly, without being prompted, the Rebbe asked: “Before your marriage, were you ever engaged to anyone else?” And before waiting for an answer, he continued: “You gave your fianc\'e9e a present.”

Shocked, the teacher nodded, and the Rebbe continued: “Did you ask her forgiveness when you broke the engagement?”

“No,” the teacher answered, explaining that he had merely told her the reasons, and that she had understood.

“That’s not enough,” the Rebbe replied. “You must ask her forgiveness. When you do, your personal difficulty will be solved.”

The teacher asked the Rebbe if he should ask the woman directly. The Rebbe replied that it would be better to do so through a third party, and that another person should be present.

The teacher asked: “Since forgiveness is dependent on a person’s feelings, how do I know that she will forgive me with a full heart?”

The Rebbe responded: “Tell her through a third party in my name, that if she forgives you with a full heart, I promise that she will soon find her intended, marry, and establish a Jewish home.”

The teacher was amazed. “Do you really mean that?” he blurted out.

“A promise is a promise,” the Rebbe answered.

The yechidus took place on Thursday night. On Friday, the teacher returned home and located the phone number of his former fianc\'e9e’s brother. On Saturday night, he called, telling him the entire story and asking him to approach his sister on his behalf.

At first the brother refused to believe the story, so the teacher told him that he could verify the particulars by writing to the Rebbe’s secretariat.

This appeared to satisfy the brother. He asked the teacher if his wife could serve as the other person present when his sister gave her forgiveness, and the teacher agreed. The brother then revealed that his sister had been visiting that Shabbos, and if he would wait on the line, the entire matter could be concluded then and there.

The woman willingly gave her forgiveness. Three weeks afterwards, she became engaged and a month after that the marriage took place. Within days of his former fianc\'e9e’s engagement, the teacher’s wife entered her first pregnancy.

When one of Rabbi Avtzon’s children retold this story at a chassidic farbrengen, one of the participants remembered a similar story that had taken place in Manchester, England.

One of the members of the Lubavitch community who had been childless for many years wrote the Rebbe for a blessing. The Rebbe replied that he should try to recall whether he had insulted anyone on his wedding day. If he had, he should ask forgiveness.

As he recalled the day of his wedding, he remembered the incident involving the badchan.

In many Eastern European communities, it was common for a badchan to perform at weddings, singing comical rhymes to lift the spirits of the celebrants. In many parts of England’s Jewish community, this custom is still practiced.

At this young man’s wedding, a badchan had performed. Now there are different types of badchanim. The humor of some borders on or goes beyond satire, and after a few LeChaims, can even be perceived as biting. And so it was at this wedding. Moreover, the badchan chose the groom and his family as the subject of his barbs. Rightly or wrongly, the groom could not appreciate the jest, and as the performance continued, he exploded and chased the badchan off the stage.

Was the badchan the person he had shamed? Could he have stopped the performance without embarrassing him?

The young man looked up the badchan and asked his forgiveness. The badchan said he had long forgotten the matter, and gave his forgiveness willingly.

Shortly afterwards, the young man and his wife were blessed with the first of many children.