Credit Where Credit Is Due

The melamed [schoolteacher] and the rabbi of Chelm were in a coffee house where they were discussing the economy of the town and how to improve it.

"There is one thing that depresses me," sighed the melamed, "and that is the injustice accorded to the poor. The rich, who have more money than they need, can buy on credit. But the poor, who haven't two coins to knock together, have to pay cash for everything. Do you call that fair?"

"I don't see how it could be any other way," answered the rabbi.

"But it's only common sense that it should be the other way around," insisted the melamed. "The rich, who have money, should pay cash and the poor should be able to buy on credit."

"I admire your idealistic nature," said the rabbi, "but a merchant who extends credit to the poor instead of the rich will soon become a poor man himself."

"So what?" retorted the melamed. "Then he'd be able to buy on credit, too!"

[Posted 2/13/10]