The Count's Milk

The Maharam Ash once visited a local squire to plead on behalf of his fellow Jews. As a gesture of honor, the count had his servants bring coffee and milk for his guest. The Maharam declined, and when the count insisted that the Rav accept the offer, the Graf asked why he would not drink his coffee and milk.

The Maharam explained that for reasons of kashrus, milk produced by a non-Jew is suspect, since it might in fact be the non-kosher milk of a horse or a swine. The Graf grew upset. He lost his temper and even threatened the Maharam's life. "What impudence," he shouted. "How dare you suggest that I would ever drink something so vile as horse milk."

In the middle of the count's rant, the maidservant entered, white with fear. "Please, your honor, forgive me," she stammered. "It was not my fault. I was in such a rush to prepare the refreshments, because I knew important guests were coming, and in my haste I was clumsy and spilled all the milk. There was no time to get more, and I did not know what to do, so I, I, I..."

"What is it? Out with it now," the Graf raged. "So I milked the mare stabled with the horses," she blurted out.

The Graf was astonished. He turned to the Maharam with new admiration and said, "How great are the words and proclamations of the Jewish sages and leaders."