An עני came to a village and needed a place to stay for שבת. The רב asked the גבאי to host him. On שבת morning, the גבאי and his wife got ready to go to Shul, but the עני was still asleep. They waited a few minutes and then woke him to go to תפילה. But the עני never showed up. When they returned home the גבאי and his wife saw that their guest was gone and so were their money and valuables. The גבאי went to complain to the רב. He responded: “Now, I understand why חז״ל said עני חשוב כמת. Just as we’re forbidden to leave a מת without שמירה, so are we forbidden to leave an עני without שמירה.”
06/10/2021