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CHASSIDISHE STORY ON THE PARSHA
פרשת וירא
Parshas Vayera
ויקח חמאה וחלב ובן הבקר (וירא יח:ח)
He took cream and milk and the calf which he had preparedThe people of Lodz came to their Rav, Reb Eliyahu Chaim Meizel zt’’l (renowned for his great wisdom), complaining that the milk peddlers added much water. The milk peddlers claimed that people were adding water to the milk. They weren’t the ones doing it.
The Rav heard both sides and gave the matter some thought. He then asked to summon the milk peddlers since a serious halachic question arose about the milk pipes due to “בשר וחלב” – the mixing of meat and milk.
The milk peddlers were alarmed and came to the Rav since the question could affect the Kashrus of their milk. They would need to purchase new vessels to carry their milk, which was expensive and complicated to get – causing them significant monetary loss.
They presented their plight to the Rav, to which the Rav replied. “We can perhaps find leniency for your vessels. If you would have added water to the milk, then your milk is ‘batul’ – absolved in the water.
All the milk peddlers replied in unison: “Yes, Yes! Holy Rebbe! We all add water to the milk!”
The Rav asked them, “Do you add enough water that the milk gets batul – absolved?”
“Yes, yes! More than half of the vessels contain water!”
“And you all mix into more than half of the milk, water?” Questioned the Rav again, to which they replied. “Sure! We all mix in water; this is our parnassah – livelihood!”
Here’s where the Rav caught them in their swindling scheme and revealed his true intentions, saying the meat/dairy Halachic issue was only a ploy. The Rav of Lodz warned them not to dare steal from Yidden again.
Filed under Parshas Vayera