נדרים כט

As a תלמיד חכם עני became wealthy, the respect given him by his community grew commensurately. First, he was given a seat by the western wall of the Shul. Then he was made גבאי. Eventually, he was elevated to ראש קהל and on שבתות the children were sent to him to test them on their learning. Ultimately, however, when his fortune reversed, the community appointed a new ראש קהל, then a new גבאי, and finally even stopped sending their children to him for תורה. Sighing, he said: “מילה, I understand my fortune and כבוד being taken away from me, but who took away my תורה?”

06/10/2021