בבא בתרא יג

In an Eastern European country, חסידים came before their רבי with the news that the government imposed steep new taxes on salt and liquor. “We can manage with the additional cost of salt because, after all, how much salt does one need?” they said. “But how will we afford to buy liquor with such an exorbitant tax?” The רבי replied that he will write to one of his חסידים in ארץ ישראל and ask him to pray at the קבר of אבי אבות שותה היי״ש, לוט הצדיק. Within a month, the government rescinded the salt tax, but left the liquor tax in place. The רבי said to his disappointed חסידים: “It seems that the חסיד in ארץ ישראל took a detour to סדום and instead of seeking the intercession of לוט, turned to his wife.”

06/10/2021