The following story show how people who were so great and had such sensitivity to other people. Rabbi Yisrael Salanter had a wealthy student who begged him to come and spend a Shabbos in his home. Reb Yisrael finally agreed on one condition. That he leads the meals on Shabbos.
Friday night after prayers Reb Yisrael comes to his host's home and immediately started singing Shalom Aleichem in a hurry. He made Kiddush, washed his hands, ate the Challah and asked for the fish to be served straight away.
Reb Yisroel Insists that He Would First Like to Have Dessert
As soon as the fish was finished the host hinted to Reb Yisrael that maybe they should sing something. But Reb Yisrael asked for the soup. After eating the soup, he asked for the meat and main course to be served. After the main course the host started saying a Dvar Torah on the Parsha, but Reb Yisrael interrupted him and said that he would first like to have dessert.
After all the food had been served Reb Yisrael asked the cook if there was anything else and the cook replied that she was finished. The host was very disturbed that the meal had been served so fast with no Zemiros Shabbos and no Divrei Torah.
Reb Yisrael turned to his host and said, "now let us sing and say Divrei Torah for as long as you wish, but first please call in the cook so I can apologize for rushing the meal so fast."
Compliments the Cook on an Amazing Dinner
The cook stood at the side of the room. Reb Yisrael turned to her and said, "firstly I would like to compliment you for the amazing dinner, the food was delicious." The cook beamed from joy.
"Surely you spent hours and hours, shopping, cooking and preparing such a beautiful meal. You most probably would have preferred to have a few minutes break between courses to relax."
The cook was listening and interrupted Reb Yisrael, "most definitely not, just the opposite. What does the Rav think? I don't have a home, I don't have a husband and family? Every week my husband comes home from Shul, sits and waits until close to midnight till when I get home, then he makes Kiddush and I fall asleep at the table from exhaustion. Thanks to the Rav, this week my husband will get such a surprise when I come home early, he will be so excited, I am so excited and we can enjoy Friday night dinner together."
Reb Yisrael turned to his host and said, "now do you understand? This is what I wanted you to see. Singing Zemiros Shabbos is a very great thing, Divrei Torah are priceless, there is no greater pleasure. But not at the expense of your helper, even if she is getting paid for her work. Being sensitive to her is something we were taught at Har Sinai, that even a non-Jewish maid that was bought at full price, the Torah commands us not to over work her." We must get our priorities right. We must strive for the greatest level of Kedusha and spirituality but not at someone else's expense.
Reprinted from the Parshat Mishpatim 5784 email of Inspired by a Story by Rabbi Dovid Caro.
