When Rav Elya Meir heard of a departure from the strict standards of truth and honesty, he became outraged at the resulting chillul Hashem. At one Telshe alumni convention, when the former talmidim expected to hear a profound and inspiring shmuess, Rav Elya Meir began with forceful words, "Men tor nisht zein a ganov (One is not allowed to be a thief)." In an agitated voice, he told the assembled that on a recent trip, he had been short of cash, and had asked an acquaintance to lend him $100 until the next day.
When he detected reluctance on the man's part, Rav Elya Meir asked incredulously, "I said I will bring you the money tomorrow. Don't you trust me?" The man, who knew Rav Elya Meir quite well, shamefully replied, "It's not that I don't trust you, Rabbi. It's just that I've had a bad experience." Rav Elya Meir had been beside himself, as he realized that another talmid chochom had borrowed money from this man and had not repaid the debt. He continued speaking in distress to his talmidim,
"Do you understand what matters have come to? A businessman does not trust a RoshYeshiva with $100 until the next day because of a 'bad experience'! You came here expecting to hear some deep thoughts. You may go back home and say that you came to Cleveland to hear the Telshe Rosh Yeshiva say, 'Men tor nisht zein a ganov!'"
Reprinted from the Parshas Emor 5785 email of Chayeinu Weekly.
