The Gemara in Shabbos (31a) relates a story. A Braisa taught that one should always be patient like Hillel, and not impatient like Shammai. There were two individuals who made a wager with each other and said that anyone who can aggravate Hillel to the point that he gets reprimanded, will win four hundred zuz. One of them said, “I will aggravate him.”
Pestering the Great Sage on Erev Shabbos
The day he chose to bother Hillel was Erev Shabbos, and Hillel was washing his hair L’Kavod Shabbos. This man went to the entrance of Hillel’s house, and in a demeaning manner said, “Where is Hillel?! Where is Hillel?!” Hillel wrapped himself in a garment and went out to greet him.
Hillel said to him, “My son, how can I help you?” The man replied, “I have a question to ask.” Hillel said to him, “Ask, my son.” The man said, “Why do the people from Bavel have round heads?” With this question he intended to insult Hillel, since Hillel was from Bavel. Hillel responded pleasantly, “My son, you have asked a significant question. The reason for this is because they do not have clever midwives, and this happens when they are born.”
Returns to the Home of Hillel with Another “Important” Question
The man waited a short while and then returned to Hillel’s house and said, “Where is Hillel?! Where is Hillel?!” Again, Hillel wrapped himself and went out to greet him. Hillel said, “My son, how can I help you?”
The man said, “I have a question to ask. Hillel said to him, “Ask, my son.” The man asked, “Why do the Tarmodian people have watery eyes?” Hillel again responded pleasantly and said, “My son, you have asked a significant question. The reason for this is because they live in a sandy area, and the sand gets into their eyes.”
Once again, the man waited a little while longer and returned, and said, “Where is Hillel?! Where is Hillel?!” Hillel wrapped himself again and went out to greet him and said, “My son, how can I help you?”
The man said, “I have a question to ask. Hillel said to him, “Ask, my son.” The man said, “Why do people from Africa have wide feet?” Hillel responded pleasantly again, and said, “My son, you have asked a significant question. The reason for this is because they live in marshlands, and their feet have widened to enable them to walk through the swampy areas.”
The man then said, “I have many more questions to ask, but I am afraid that you will get angry.” Hillel sat down before him and he said, “Ask any question that you have.” The man now got angry and said to him, “Are you Hillel, the one that they call the ‘Nasi of Yisroel’?” Hillel replied that he was. The man said, “May there not be any more like you in Klal Yisroel!”
Hillel said, “My son, why would you say this?” The man answered, “Because of you, I lost four hundred zuz!”
Hillel responded, “Be more careful and avoid these situations. It is better for you to lose four hundred zuz, and even another four hundred zuz more, but that Hillel will not get upset!” The Chazon Ish was once asked what he thought the reason was for him being such an influential person, and he responded, “I am always careful with my tone of voice when I give advice to others!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Chaya Sarah 5783 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
