בבא קמא פג

The מגיד of דובנה once appeared in a Shul full of skeptics and mockers, who said to him that if he were just an ordinary מגיד, they wouldn’t even give him the opportunity to speak. But since they heard that he’s really special, they’re willing to give him a chance on condition that he doesn’t conclude with a פסוק, as other דרשנים generally do. The מגיד agreed and related the story of a מלמד who took his students to town. The מלמד told them “Don’t be afraid if you see dogs. Say the verse ולכל בני ישראל לא ירחץ כלב לשונו and the dogs will not harm you.” Shortly thereafter, a gang of dogs appeared and the frightened מלמד took off, with the students running right behind him. Once inside a building, one of the students asked him: “רבי, didn’t you say that all we need to do is say the פסוק and we will be alright?” “Yes,” answered the מלמד, “But those brazen dogs wouldn’t even give us the chance to say a פסוק.”

06/10/2021