שבועות ח

When רבי מאיר שפירא entered the home of an עשיר to get a donation for ישיבת חכמי לובלין The עשיר tried to get rid of him with an insulting donation.  רבי מאיר refused to accept it, saying רק אשה מעוברת צריכה שתי כפרות.  “What do you mean?” the man asked in wonder.  רבי מאיר explained:  “Their are all kinds of donors to my ישיבה.  There is the donor who greets me with כבוד, but his donation is small.   As to him, I say ‘at least he has כבוד התורה, let the small amount of money be my כפרה.’  Then there is the donor who treats me בזילזול, but his donation is large. As to him, I say ‘at least his donation is נכבדת, let the lack of כבוד for me be my כפרה.’  But you offer neither money nor כבוד, so there are two כפרות together and only a pregnant woman needs two כפרות.”

06/10/2021