אות - קלז

Related to the Torah [whose initial letters of] "Ma'os" [money] are an acronym [in Likutay Moharan Part One, section 204]. And he told a story first about two young men who were in one town and there was great love and attachment between them. Once one of them saw in his companion that he had strayed somewhat from the straight path and had done something not proper. He thought — it is a coincidence. Afterward he saw him commit something worse — an actual transgression — and then he distanced himself from him and separated himself from him. Afterward, in the course of many days when both of them descended from their father-in-law's table [meaning: when they became independent], the one who had transgressed as mentioned began to go higher and higher until he became a very wealthy man. And the second mentioned became very poor. And this one was in his mind always complaining about the ways of Hashem Yisburach. For he thought in his heart: Do I not know myself that this one transgressed — so why is such great greatness given to him?!

Once he saw in a place that a group was standing and making a sound and jingling much money, and he drew near to them. And they said to him: do not touch this money for it belongs to the aforementioned man — that is, to his friend mentioned above. He said: now the time has come to ask. And he asked them why money should come to him — have I not seen with my own eyes that he transgressed? They answered him: From the day you both descended from your father-in-law's table, from then on your friend set fixed times for Torah study and accepted upon himself an unbreakable practice to study so much each day. But you do not engage in Torah. And therefore they give your friend money — even though he transgressed. For "a transgression extinguishes mitzvos, but a transgression does not extinguish Torah" (Sotah 21a). And "transgression — vet — does — not — extinguish — Torah" — the initial letters spell "ma'os" [money].