ואם בפתע בלא איבה הדפו או השליך עליו כל כלי בלי צדיה (מסעי לה:כב)

But if with suddenness, without enmity, did he push him, or hurled any implement upon him without ambush…

A terrible tragedy occurred in the city of Hivniv. Two tailors were fighting, and their fight escalated to the point that one tailor threw a scissor at the second tailor, which pierced his heart and killed him.

There was a great uproar in the city.  Everyone was talking about the occurrence, and the tailor was brought to court, where his innocence was proved since he didn’t intend to kill his fellow tailor.

The Frierdiga Rav, Maran Rebbe Yissochor Dov zt’’l was traveling to visit the new Governor of the area. On his return trip, the train stopped in the main train station of Rava, where many Chassidim from nearby towns gathered to greet the Rebbe and present their kvittlech and receive his blessings.

When Maran arrived at the Rava train station, he asked to announce in his name that he won’t accept any kvittlech from the Hivniver Yidden due to the terrible calamity that occurred in their city.  The Hivniver Yidden were shocked and complained, “Because two simple tailors fought, and one was innocently killed, why are we at fault?”

Maran answered, “When Chassidim prick each other’s with words, the tailors prick each other’s with knives!”

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