Tone of voice

R’ Meir Schapiro, founder of the illustrious Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, travelled far and wide to raise the vast funds that were needed to maintain his Yeshiva. During the course of his travels, he had many interesting encounters, amongst which was the following: Once, when R’ Meir Schapiro approached a wealthy man for a donation, he was met with a challenge: “It says in the mishna ‘this is the way to study Torah, you should eat bread with salt, drink water, and sleep on the ground and toil in Torah.’ How, then, can you expect people to give you money to provide your students with luxurious sleeping accommodations and abundant food?!”

With a twinkle in his eye, R’ Meir responded with a story (though not historically accurate):

Once, the Alter Rebbe, in an effort to try to extinguish the flames of controversy between Chassidim and misnagdim, decided to personally visit the Gra (the Vilna Gaon) in an attempt to placate him. It was not long after Pesach, when the Alter Rebbe arrived at the doorstep of the Gra, seeking conciliation. The Gra, however, was incensed.

“Just today”, he thundered while banging his fist on the table for emphasis, “I was informed that the local Chassidim had the audacity to recite the Halel in their minyan on the first night of Pesach. How dare they?! Don’t they know that Rema states unequivocally that this is NOT our custom?! Such insolence is unforgiveable!!”

The Alter Rebbe responded with a gentle voice and a smile, “And were you present when the Rema made this statement? Why do you assume that the Rema proclaimed it in a thunderous voice, while banging his fist on the table?! Perhaps, rather, he said it in a respectful, apologetic and admiring way: ‘Regretfully, we, Ashkenazim, unfortunately never had that beautiful practice of reciting the Halel in shul on the night of Pesach”.

“I say the same to you”, R’ Meir concluded to his challenger, “why do you read the mishna as a demand and directive? Perhaps, rather, it is said in a regretful tone ofvoice: ‘How sad and unfortunate it is that this is the way of Torah, that the Torah students are neglected and deprived to such a degree, that they end up eating bread and sleeping on the floor etc., and yet they continue to diligently toil in Torah!”