If a man steals an ox and slaughters or sells it, he must repay the animal’s owner five times its worth. However, if he steals a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay the owner only four times its worth. Why does he pay less for the sheep? Rashi quotes the answer from the Gemara. It is somewhat degrading to the thief when he carries the sheep away on his shoulders. The Torah considers this embarrassment as a partial compensation for the theft. Therefore, the thief pays a reduced fine.
In the city of Jerusalem, many years ago, lived a woman who had an unusual nickname. She was known throughout the city as “Yentele the Meshugene” – Yentele the crazy one. It wasn’t for naught that she earned this dubious distinction. In fact, she worked quite diligently to acquire such a reputation all throughout the city. It was customary to find Yentele standing in the middle of the street yelling at passers-by as they walked. She didn’t just say the same nasty things to everyone; no, she was kind enough to tailor her loud and colorful comments to each person individually. To one person she would comment about his family; to a melamed, she would mimic what the children said about him, while to a rosh kollel, she would divulge what the yungerleit “really” felt. No one was safe from her harsh and blistering observations.
During the War of Independence in 1948, as Arab shells rained down on the hapless residents of Jerusalem, people ran for cover in the local bomb shelters. Even Yentele the Meshugene was forced to find a miklat (shelter) for protection, and the one she managed to hide herself in had the distinction of also hosting the Rebbe of Zvill, Rav Gedalyah Moshe Goldman zt”l.
Interestingly, as the bombs rained down and the noise outside was ear-splitting, Yentele remained unusually silent. However, the moment the racket subsided, it was then that she began to bomb away! The people in the shelter were frazzled, as it was, and now with all these extra barbs coming from the relentless mouth of Yentele, they just about had it. It was decided that Yentele had to leave the shelter and find another place to go. Why must they suffer alone – let other people enjoy her spirited words, as well! However, before any decision was made, it was agreed to discuss the matter with the Zviller Rebbe and ask him if it was permitted. A few people went over and asked if it was okay to remove Yentele and switch her to a different shelter? Her sharp and embarrassing words had everyone on edge and people could not take it any longer.
Rav Gedalyah Moshe nodded and said, “Yes, you are permitted to remove her. But before you do, I want to tell you a story about my own father, the holy Rav Shloimke of Zvill zt”l. When we lived in Europe, I had a sister who became sick. For many weeks, she lay in bed and, at one point, her fever spiked to the point that it was dangerously high. Nothing my mother or father tried was able to bring down her fever, and the doctors were hastily called in to see if they could help. After a careful examination, even the doctors had no answer, and they told my parents that they didn’t think my sister was going to live much longer.
“My father, without saying a word, grabbed his hat and coat and ran outside. My mother was surprised to see him go and called after him saying, ‘Where are you going right now?’ ‘I am going to search for bizyonos (embarrassment),’ my father answered. And off he went. My father was in charge of the s’char limud (tuition) in the local cheder, and he knew who had paid and who had not. Without wasting a second, my father ran to a certain house and knocked on the door. The woman of the house opened the door, and my father said something to her, presumably that her tuition was still unpaid. Instantly, she became enraged and started yelling at my father with very harsh and venomous words. My father slowly walked away, and she followed him out into the street, just yelling and shouting words of shame that would make anybody cringe and turn beet red. A crowd of people followed behind to see what all the commotion was about. This went on for a few minutes until finally my father turned and ran home.
“This time, as he walked into the house, he smiled and announced, ‘Baruch Hashem, nothing is going to happen to her! She will be fine!’ And so it was: My sister’s fever went down and in a short while she was out of danger.”
Rav Gedalyah Moshe turned to the people in the shelter and said, “Yes, you may remove this woman from the shelter if she is embarrassing people. But consider the fact that Hashem sent her specifically to this shelter as a gift to us. The embarrassment that she so generously doles out is what saves us from death. Do we want to give up on such a wonderful gift?”
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
