נזיר ט

As the רב of Vilna, רבי אברהם אבלי, was sitting and learning with his תלמידים, a housemaid entered the בית מדרש and with a serious look on her face asked “רבי, what should I prepare for lunch today?” The students were shocked. The רבי didn’t have a maid. What was this woman doing here and asking this question? רבי אברהם, however, patiently told her “Cook soup, with vegetables and noodles.” Seeing the puzzled look on the faces of his students, the רבי explained: “The way she was dressed indicated that she is a maid. From her rather strange question, it was apparent that she probably asked the בעלת הבית what she should prepare for lunch and the preoccupied בעלת הבית, not wanting to deal with it, probably impatiently told her ‘I don’t know. Go ask the רב!’ And being תמימה, that’s exactly what she did.”

06/10/2021