Even the Ungrateful Are Welcome

Once, one of Baba Chaki’s guests was loud, rude and violent. In front of everyone, he called Rav Yitzchok insulting names and even slapped him on the cheek. The other guests and the family had a hard time holding back, and they asked Rav Yitzchok how he could tolerate such outrageous behavior.

“Rav Yosef Shlush had a sign above his door that read: Baruch HaBa Chutz Mikfuy Tova, ‘Welcome to all, except the ungrateful.’ My version reads: ‘Even the ungrateful are welcome.’ Not only did he attack me for no reason, he is so ungrateful, for I am the one who got him his job and have done him many favors. Now I say to you, if he cannot recognize a favor and even acts this ungratefully, surely he is sick, and we should have mercy on him.”