עבודה זרה ע

It was said about a רב that whenever בעלי דין came before him to rule on a monetary dispute, he would shut his eyes and doze off.  However, when the litigants would get angry and call one another גנב, the רב would immediately open his eyes and listen attentively.  His nephew once asked him why he did so.  The רב explained: “I do כדין.  Whenever two Jews are litigating over money, I deem them both בחזקת שקרנים.  And since the תורה commands מדבר שקר תרחק, I shut my eyes and nod off.  But once they get all agitated and scream גנב, I deem both of them בחזקת מהימנים because the חכמים said רובא גנבי – ישראל נינהו.  So I immediately open my eyes and listen so that I can be שומע דברי אמת.”

06/10/2021