Tam and Chacham once set out together on a journey to do a d’var mitzvah (a deed of religious importance) in a faraway country. They traveled to many places and were welcomed with much respect and honor.
In one village they stopped at an inn known for its high standards of kashrus (kosher). They were seated at a special table set with a linen tablecloth and fine dishes, for the woman who owned the inn recognized them to be important rabbis.
She had them served promptly, and when they finished the meal she approached them and asked, “So how did you like my food?” she asked the rabbis. “Oh, it was quite good,’ Chacham replied, ” but it could have used more salt.”
When the woman left the dining room, Tam turned white. “I can’t believe what you have just done. All my life I have avoided speaking or listening to loshon hara (unkind speech) and now the Holy One, blessed be He caused me to travel with you, and I have to suffer by hearing you speak loshon hara! I regret that I came here with you and I am convinced that the purpose of our trip is not a true d’var mitzvah after all. Otherwise this would not have happened.”
Seeing Tam’s reaction, Chacham became confused and upset. “What did I say that was so wrong?” he hesitated. “I said that the food was good — I only added that it needed some salt.”
“You simply don’t realize the power of words.” Sadly said Tam. “Our hostess probably doesn’t do her own cooking. Her cook could well be a poor widow who needs this job to support her children. Now, because of what you said, the owner will go back to the kitchen and complain to the cook that the food didn’t have enough salt. In self defense the poor widow will deny it and will say, “Of course I put enough salt in the food. I even tasted it before you served it.”
“The owner will then accuse her of lying and say, “Do you think that the rabbis out there are liars? You are the one who is lying!” They will argue, strong words will lead to even stronger words and the owner will get so angry that she will fire the poor cook. The woman will then be out of a job. Look how many aveiros (sins) you caused: (1) You spoke loshon hora; (2) you caused the owner and myself to listen to loshon hora; (3) you caused the owner to repeat the loshon hora and that is the sin of rechilus; (4) you caused the cook to lie; (5) because of you the owner caused pain to a widow, and (6) you caused an argument, another Torah violation.”
Chacham smiled at Tam and said softly and respectfully, “Tam, my friend, certainly things are not as grim as you believe. Maybe, you are exaggerating a little. You’re carrying this just a bit too far. A few simple words cannot possibly have done all that.”
Tam reminded Chacham, “We learn that ‘You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is of your brothers, or of your strangers who are in your land inside your gates.’ (Deuteronomy 24:14) “If you really believe that I have overstated the situation,” answered Tam as he stood up, “let’s go to the kitchen and see for ourselves.”
As they opened the door to the kitchen, they saw that the owner was indeed scolding the cook as the poor woman stood wiping the tears from her eyes. When Chacham saw what was happening he became pale and ran over to the cook, begged forgiveness and apologized profusely for any harm or distress he may have caused her. He pleaded with the owner to forgive and forget the incident and begged her to let the woman stay on the job. He even offered to pay her to keep the cook.
The innkeeper was really a kindly woman and she also wanted to fulfill Chacham’s request. “Of course, of course,“ she said hastily. “I only wanted to impress on her the need to be more careful. She is really a fine cook and she will remain here at her job.”
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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