פסחים-פא

A wealthy חסיד of ר׳ יצחק מוורקי was as miserly as he was rich.  He and his family lived as paupers, practically surviving on bread and water alone.  One day, the רב rebuked him, saying: “A wealthy man like you, whom השם has blessed with money and lots of assets, is required to live a rich lifestyle, eating the best of foods and drinking the finest of wines.”  When the wealthy man left, the חסידים asked the רבי why he ruled as he did.  ר׳ יצחק explained:  “If he permits himself such food and drink, there’s a chance that he’ll provide at least some bread and herring to the poor.  But if he subsists merely on bread and herring, what will he give to the needy?”

05/07/2020