Rabbi Yehuda the Pious tells the following story. A Jew came to a rabbi to complain that his children had died and his fortune was lost. How could this be? HIs whole life he had never sinned.
"Did you ever steal?" asked the rabbi.
"Yes," replied the despondent man. "I used to have a pagan who worked for me. He was dumb. I added his wages for him. He trusted me and I didn't pay him in full. What did he need it for? Drink? When he died all these terrible calamities occurred."
"That is the sin," said the rabbi. "It is a terrible crime to steal, even from a pagan. You stole coins, but you paid with your purity, your innocence, your heart and your character. Woe to you."
"Did you ever steal?" asked the rabbi.
"Yes," replied the despondent man. "I used to have a pagan who worked for me. He was dumb. I added his wages for him. He trusted me and I didn't pay him in full. What did he need it for? Drink? When he died all these terrible calamities occurred."
"That is the sin," said the rabbi. "It is a terrible crime to steal, even from a pagan. You stole coins, but you paid with your purity, your innocence, your heart and your character. Woe to you."
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