Reb Yosef Zundel was a disciple of the Gaon, Rav Akiva Eiger. As humble and modest as Rav Akiva Eiger was, he was not, in the opinion of some, as modest as Reb Yosef Zundel.
Once Reb Zundel built an amud, a lectern, with an enclosed closet for his tallis and tefillin. Reb Zundel would place his siddur or sefer on top of it and pray or learn while standing. Reb Zundel followed the advice of the Vilna Gaon, who advised people to pray only by reading from a siddur, and not by heart, for this way there is less chance of errors and one can concentrate better.
One day another member of the congregation saw the lectern and moved it over to his bench where he studied over it. Reb Zundel didn’t say a word to him; rather he waited until the man finished studying and then he moved the heavy shtender back to his bench. When this continued for a few days, Rabbi Zundel asked the scholar if he would be kind enough to return the lectern to its place when he completed his studies.
This person was hotheaded and when he heard this mild request, he exclaimed: “You mind your own affairs; I will do as I please!”
Reb Zundel was taken aback and humbly begged his forgiveness if he unintentionally insulted him. But the other man became abusive and angry and began to insult Reb Zundel. Reb Yosef Zundel ascended the pulpit and knocked on the table for attention.
In a crying voice he exclaimed to all of the congregants: “Rabbosai! I have just insulted this scholar and I caused him to become angry. Therefore, in front of this congregation I humbly beg for his forgiveness and ask that he pardon me.”
Only then did the “scholar” forgive Reb Yosef Zundel.
Insulted And Yet Begs Forgiveness
Once while Reb Yosef Zundel was walking through one of the streets in Jerusalem, a merchant met him. Mistaking him for one of his competitors, the merchant began to scold and ridicule him.
Soon a crowd gathered to listen to this harangue. When one of the people recognized the gaon, he attempted to interfere with this brash merchant for daring to speak so harshly against Reb Zundel. Reb Zundel stopped him and allowed the man to continue his harangue.
That night Reb Yosef Zundel paid a visit to this merchant and begged him for forgiveness for causing him so much aggravation, even though he was the innocent victim.
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The Life Of Privation
Many of our gaonim suffered a poverty-stricken life of privation, but they never complained as long as they were able to devote their time to the study of the Torah. Reb David of Navardok truly knew the meaning of the pasuk in Pirkei Avot that advocates only eating a crust of bread with salt and sleeping on the ground. For although he was one of the leading sages of his generation, his congregation was very poor and many times he suffered the pangs of hunger.
“Thank G-d that He gave us the opportunity to fast on Mondays and Thursdays,” he used to say. “Otherwise I would starve, for so little is my income.”
The arguments, however, could never appease his wife and one Thursday she came to him for money to purchase food for Shabbos. Reb David kept quiet and paid no attention to her requests, for he didn’t have a penny in his pocket.
The poor woman, realizing the situation, exclaimed in a bitter tone, “Look at the difference between myself and the next door neighbor! Her husband is a tailor, an ignorant person, and yet his wife has already prepared all the food for Shabbos. She has already cooked the fish and meat. While I, the wife of the great rabbi of the town, haven’t even a penny to buy a challah for Shabbos.
“True,” answered the humble sage, “but look at the difference between your husband and her husband. Your husband sits and studies the Torah all day while her husband doesn’t. Isn’t that bigger compensation?”
Paid For Knowing Nothing
Reb David would sit all day in the Beis Medrash studying the Torah. From far and wide, questions pertaining to laws of the Torah would come to him and he would answer each and every one.
One day, one of the prominent merchants of the town entered the Beis Medrash and said, “I would like your advice about a business transaction which I am about to enter into.”
“Sorry,” answered the Reb David, “I know very little about business.”
A few days later the same man again approached and asked him, “Could you give me some advice about a certain shidduch?”
Again Reb David answered him, “Sorry, but I know nothing about shidduchim.”
The man became angry and said, “Rebbe, I wonder why the congregation pays your salary. Is it because you know nothing?”
Reb David answered him jokingly, “On the contrary. The congregation pays me for the very little I know for if they were to pay me for what I do not know all the kingly treasures could not suffice.”
