The Critic and the Tosafist

The Rema was a wealthy man, and it was his custom to pay a certain Jew to serve as his personal critic (mochiach). The critic's job was to watch the Rema's conduct and give him mussar and tochachah (reproof) for any misdeed or shortcoming.

Once, before Shacharis, the Rema was studying a difficult Tosafos and busied himself with answering it and reconciling the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam. When he finally succeeded, he saw that he had been so absorbed that he had lost track of time and was late for Shacharis.

He felt that it was truly improper for the chief Rav of Cracow to come late to shul. Knowing that his critic would take him to task, he saw no choice but to go and try to excuse himself. As he entered the shul, he expected the critic to approach him, but the critic stayed in his place.

After davening, the Rema himself went over to the critic and asked why he had not rebuked him for being late.

"Rebbe, I quit. I will no longer serve as your critic," said the mochiach.

"But why?" asked the Rema in astonishment.

"Before you came to shul, Rebbe, a personage of holy stature came to me and asked me not to criticize you. He identified himself as none other than the Tosafist, Rabbeinu Tam himself. He asked me to pardon you because you were so engaged in resolving the difficulties in his words in the Gemara that I should let you off. Rebbe, that is it, I am through. Anyone for whom Rabbeinu Tam vouches and asks me not to criticize, I will never criticize again."