Once, a small-town doctor, who thought more of his fees than of his patients, was called in to treat the sick wife of a poor tailor. After examining the woman, he turned to the husband and said, “This case will take a lot of my time, and I can see that you won’t be able to pay me for my services.” “Please, doctor, save her life! ” begged the anxious husband. “1 promise to pay you even though I’ll have to pawn everything I own to get the money
“What if I don’t cure her—will you pay my fee just the same?” insisted the doctor.
“Whatever happens, whether you cure her or kill her, I promise to pay.” cried the husband.
The treatment was started, but within a few days, the woman died. Shortly after, the doctor demanded 1500 rubles as his fee. The bereft husband informed him that he was unable to pay, and, as was the custom among the villagers, they brought the matter to the village holy man for settlement.
The sage understood right away what had happened.
“Tell me again,” he asked the physician, “what was your contract with this man?”
“I was to get paid for treating his wife regardless of whether I cured or killed her.”
“Did you cure her?” asked the holy man.
“No.”
“Did you kill her?”
“I certainly did not! “
“Then, since you have neither cured her nor killed her, what right have you to the money?”
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
