The great רבי מאיר שפירא was giving a שיעור בגמרא when the ראש קהל came into the בית מדרש and said he must speak to him immediately about an important community matter. The רבי told him that he’s in the middle of giving the שיעור and the matter would have to wait. But the man insisted that they had to speak immediately. רבי מאיר rose from his seat and said “OK we’ll eat.” “Eat? Who said anything about eating?” the man asked. רבי מאיר explained: “I was referring to the גמרא which says: כל הפוסק מדברי תורה ומתפנה לשיחה של חולין, מאכילין אותו גחלי רתמים.”
05/10/2021