One Friday afternoon, it was getting late and somebody asked R’ Yehuda a Talmudic question in which he was interested and he became involved in a discussion that dragged out; and it became later and later. And his wife was sitting at the window waiting; it was getting late and there was no sign of him. And so her heart fell within her and she thought, “Maybe he’s not coming for this Shabbos.” And a tear dripped out of her eye, down her cheek.
At that time Hakadosh Baruch Hu took action and R’ Yehuda never came home again. Something happened in the beis medrash; there was an accident and R’ Yehuda perished.
Now R’ Yehuda didn't do any sin of kares or misas beis din. He wasn't mechallel Shabbos. He wasn't oved avodah zarah. None of the capital crimes. He was tardy because he was learning Torah; and certainly he intended to come home. And yet because of a certain disregard for the feelings of his wife who was waiting for him, because he caused her to shed a tear, Hakadosh Baruch Hu took action.
Now by the way, a woman should also know that it’s a similar story for her. The Gemara there is especially warning a husband – because a woman is more tender and she’ll more easily shed a tear, therefore the punishment is very close. That's what it means kerovah; kerovah means Hashem is fast. Sometimes something happens to a frum man, a loyal husband, and we don't know why; but Hakadosh Baruch Hu, if you would ask Him, He would say it's because of ona’as devarim.
But it applies to a wife too, how she treats her husband’s feelings. Her husband expects her to look up to him, to honor him, and if a woman disrespects her husband and says something that hurts his feelings, she should know she is held responsible. Something can happen to her. Very serious.
