שבועות מא

One ערב שבת, a רבי who came to a town looking for a position, asked the רב if he could put away his wallet for safekeeping for שבת.   The רב said he would be happy to do so but only in front of two עדים.  He called in two prominent members of the קהילה as witnesses.   But on מוצאי שבת, when the visitor asked for the return of his wallet, the רב was כופר בכל.  Shocked, the רבי called for the עדים.  “We didn’t see anything.  We didn’t hear anything,” they said.   The רבי was beside himself.   He couldn’t believe this was happening.   But as soon as the עדים left, the רב returned his wallet.  Not comprehending what happened, the רבי asked for an explanation.  “I wanted you to see what kind of people live in this town.”

06/10/2021