זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל… (חקת יט:יד)

Once, two merchants wanted to offer an excellent deal to the Gaon Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margulies Ztz”l of Brod (Brody, Poland).  At the time, he was immersed in his learning in his library, and – hearing about the lucrative business opportunity; the Rebbetzin asked him to interrupt his learning for just enough time to close the deal.  She reasoned that they stand to lose a profitable deal.

Without lifting his eyes from the sefer he was studying, he said: We learn in the Torah “זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל.” This Pasuk could be explained as follows: When a person is busy learning the holy Torah, he should picture himself as though he is already dead – nothing in this lowly world matters anymore!”

When the merchants heard these words, they left the house, visibly upset. Rabbi Margulies had just lost a golden opportunity to become wondrously rich. Yet, he took it with equanimity, saying, “Thank you, Hashem, for allowing me to pay a dear price for a difficult Gemara!”

On another occasion, he asked his family not to allow anyone to disturb his learning, even if traders would approach them to ask for a meeting to discuss the latest business deals with him.  When one of his business associates asked him about this, pointing out that he risks missing out on significant business deals, he retorted: “There are people for whom the whole world is dead when they sit down for a meal, whereas with me – when I study the holy Torah – it is as if the world as a whole doesn’t exist!”