Two men came before the holy rabbi to resolve a monetary dispute. The non-Jewish man claimed that the Jewish man had bor­rowed money from him, but the Jewish man denied that he owed the other man any­thing. The holy rabbi sensed that the non-Jewish man was truthful.

The holy rabbi listened to both men and after hearing the arguments of both sides, he told them that he had to leave for a little while, and asked them to discuss the matter between themselves in the meantime.

The arbitration was held in the local synagogue, and the two men thought that the rabbi they asked to judge the merits of their dispute had left the synagogue.

The holy rabbi had not left; he had gone up to the women’s sec­tion, and was listening to every word the two men were saying.

A heated argument erupted between them, and holy rabbi heard the non-Jewish man talking at the Jewish man as ‘He fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was ashamed.’ (2 Kings 8:11) “Aren’t you ashamed? You know very well that you borrowed money from me, and how can you claim that you don’t owe me anything?”

“It’s true that I borrowed money from you, “the Jewish man responded, “but I’m under a lot of financial stress right now, and I don’t have the money to pay back.”

The holy rabbi went back down into the synagogue and ruled in favor of the non-Jewish man, reprimanding the Jewish man for his shameful behavior he said: “To rob a non-Jewish person is more dreadful than to rob a Jewish person, for such actions involves also the desecration of G-d’s Holy Name.”

Later, he explained that he had derived this strategy of leaving the two men alone and listening in to their conversation from the verse,

“Listen among your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger who is with him” (Deuteronomy 1:16) which implies that in order to judge fairly, a judge has to listen to what the litigants say to each other.

As the men were leaving the holy rabbi and the synagogue the non-Jewish man was remarked:

“Happy are those who maintain justice, and he who does righteousness at all times. (Psalm 106: 3) and let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream (Amos 5:24).” in such holy places through such holy people.”

The simple meaning of the verse is that a judge has to listen to both sides equally, and not give preferential treatment to one side.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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