Rav Yisrael Salanter ZT”L went to visit the house of an acquaintance who was a wealthy banker. The banker was sitting in his house at his table counting money when he looked out the window and saw Rav Yisrael in the distance. Realizing that Rav Yisrael would soon be at his doorstep, the banker went to change his clothes so that he would be able to greet the Rav with the honor that he deserved. When Rav Yisrael arrived, the banker was still changing his clothes, so his servant greeted Rav Yisrael and invited him into the house. Seeing the large sum of money on the banker’s table, Rav Yisrael waited outside of the house.
Several minutes later, the banker entered the room and saw that Rav Yisrael was standing outside. The banker invited him in and asked why he didn’t wait inside for him. Rav Yisrael explained his behavior with the following Gemorah. The Gemorah (Bava Basra 165a) states that a minority of people engage in illicit relationships (Arayos). Nevertheless, the Torah forbids a man to be secluded with a woman because he may succumb to temptation. The same Gemorah states that most people transgress in monetary matters. It should be obvious to us then, that if the Torah prohibits a man to seclude himself with a woman when only a minority of people succumb to temptation, all the more so a man should not seclude himself with another’s money – a monetary matter where the Torah says that most people transgress. Therefore, when I was invited inside initially, and saw your money on the table and that you were not present, I decided to wait outside until you returned.
