לא תחרש בשור ובחמור יחדיו… (כי תצא כב:י)

Reb Gershon Henoch Leiner zt”l, the holy Rebbe of Radzin (Radzyń Podlaski, Poland), once arrived in a city and visited its Shul. He met a group of poor people who were in an uproar. He inquired what happened and was told that a great wealthy individual was marrying off his son that night. A lavish meal was being prepared for all the wedding guests, but the paupers were not allowed to enter the wedding hall.

The Rebbe of Radzin told them to follow him to the hall. When they arrived, the Rebbe noticed a guard at the door who didn’t allow uninvited guests to enter. The Rebbe of Radzin begged to be allowed inside since he had an important question to ask the city’s Rav attending the wedding.

Finally, the guard allowed the Rebbe inside. He quickly approached the Rav with his ‘important’ question and spoke loud enough for the mechutan (father of the groom) to hear. The Rav was curious about the ‘important’ question that couldn’t wait until after the wedding.

The Rebbe of Radzin asked: “The Rav should please explain why the Torah prohibits an ox and a donkey from working together?”

The Rav wondered about this strange and urgent question and replied. “We don’t know the reason but accept the Torah’s laws as a decree without a reason.”

The Rebbe retorted: “Listen to me. I want to explain a simple reasoning.  It is known that an ox chews the cud, bringing up the food that he eats repeatedly.  The donkey, however, doesn’t do that.  When the donkey hears the noises emanating from his neighbor, he thinks that the ox receives fresh food, which pains him since the donkey is looking for food and doesn’t find it.  The Torah has mercy on the donkey and says לא תחרש בשור ובחמור יחדיו – not to plow a donkey and ox together.”

The Rebbe of Radzin continued: “Like the Torah has mercy on a donkey that it shouldn’t be pained seeing an ox eat, you surely can’t lock the door and prevent the poor from entering the wedding hall where everyone is eating a feast fit for a king!”

The mechutan realized his grave error and quickly invited the poor people to join and enjoy the wedding meal.