A merchant ordered a wagon to take him to the fair to buy merchandise. He told the driver that he must get to the fair on time, and the driver promised that he would get him there.
Unfortunately, the winter roads made it difficult to travel, and the merchant missed the fair entirely. The driver demanded payment, but the merchant refused to pay.
They went together to the rabbi to present their arguments. The rabbi sided with the merchant, since the driver had not fulfilled his promise.
The driver questioned the rabbi’s decision. “How do you know that?” he asked:
“It says in the Torah that if a worker fails to deliver, he cannot claim his payment,” the rabbi responded.
“And when was the Torah given?” the driver challenged.
“On Shavuos, of course! said the rabbi.
“Aha!” cried the driver. “The Torah was given in good weather! Of course it wouldn’t understand what it’s like to drive on the winter roads!”
Unfortunate as it might have been for the driver, the folly of argument is clear. Hashem gave us an eternal Torah to the Jewish people, and it is foolish to claim that circumstances require it to be modified.
How R’ Mordechai Gifter Retained His Learning
A young bochur asked Rav Mordechai Gifter how he retained what he had learned so well. Rav Gifter answered the boy that when he sailed from Europe to Ameica shortly before the Second World War, his food supply ran out a couple of days before reaching America. All he had left was a few drops of whiskey and a small piece of bread.
He treasured each drop and every crumb as if it were gold, because he did not know when he would have more. When a person regards each word of Torah as precious as those drops and crumbs, he has no problem retaining what he has learned.
