The Rabbi Who Valued Wealth but Honored the Man Beneath It

Midrash Aggadah Eruvin 86a

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 14, 2025

Buneis, son of Buneis, came to pay a call on Rabbi Yehudah ha-Nasi — Rabbi, the Prince, the redactor of the Mishnah, the wealthiest and most celebrated sage of his age. As Buneis entered, Rabbi called out to his household: "Make way for one worth a hundred manehs!"

Before long another visitor arrived. Rabbi's voice rose again: "Make way for one worth two hundred manehs!"

This was too much for Rabbi Ishmael, the son of Rabbi Yossi, standing nearby. He objected. "Rabbi — the father of this first visitor owns a thousand ships at sea and a thousand towns on land. How can you announce the second man as doubly worth the first?"

Rabbi smiled. "Well," he said, "when you next see his father, tell him to send his son better dressed next time."

Talmud (Eruvin 86a) delivers this story with a mild editorial comment: Rabbi paid great respect to the rich, and so did Rabbi Akiva. Later sages wrestled with the line. Some said it meant Rabbi showed courtesies to the wealthy because Torah depends on communal support. Others read it more sharply: a man's worth is not his father's fleet, but what he cares to put on his back when he enters a holy house. Dress up for the beit midrash, and you will be counted at what you actually are.

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