The city of Slonim experienced a harsh winter. Snow covered the city’s streets, making it difficult to leave the house.  The poverty-stricken inhabitants suffered the most during that harsh winter since they could not go from house to house, collecting alms to feed their hungry children.

Their beloved Rabbi, the Gaon Reb Eizikel Charif zt”l, bundled up and braved the snowstorm to visit the rich people of the community to collect funds for the city’s needy families. He went from one wealthy person’s home to the next, and all gave graciously.  However, there was one rich man known for his stinginess, whom the Rav knew in advance that he would need to be tactful to receive a donation from him.

The Rav knocked on his door, and when the wealthy person saw the Rav of the Kehilla at the front door, he quickly invited him inside.  The Rav sat down and remained quiet.  After a few minutes, he stood up and returned to the front door.  The miser asked the Rav: “Why such a strange visit?”.

The Rav replied: “In Parshas Vayikra, it says אם לוא יגיד; the word “לוא” is unusual as it has an additional letter “ו” in it.  Chazal learned from this that “כשם שמצוה על אדם לומר דבר הנשמע, כך מצוה על אדם שלא לומר דבר שאינו נשמע” – just as a person is commanded to speak up when his words are heeded, so too it is a mitzvah for a person not to say something that will not be listened to”.

The Rav concluded: “I have already performed the Mitzvah of saying to those who listen to me. Now I want to grab the opportunity and fulfill the mitzvah of not saying to those who do not want to hear my request!”.

Understandably, the wealthy miser gave the Rav a generous donation.