[Rabbi Ben Tzion Rakow] would often tell the story of Reb Simchah Zissel, z”l, who, on several occasions, abandoned his normal routine and went into exile in the country. Reb Simchah Zissel and his talmidim once came to a farm. The farmer’s wife realizing that he was a saintly man, offered him the best food she had. When Reb Simchah Zissel offered to pay she refused to accept payment, saying that the fact that such important people had come to her farm was in itself sufficient payment.
Reb Simchah Zissel then asked her, “What is news in this place?” She could, of course, only tell of farm activities, how the egg production was going and the number of calves born. Reb Simchah Zissel sat, deeply engrossed and interested in her account. Noting his interest the woman happily continued to expand on her information with further stories of farm events.
In the meantime one of the talmidim, thinking that this was a bitul zeman, took out a Gemara and started to study. Reb Simchah Zissel noticed from the corner of his eye what this talmid was doing but said nothing and carried on listening to the woman. The talmid thought that he was using his time correctly by learning and not listening to the woman.
However, when the farmer’s wife left the room, Reb Simchah Zissel turned to his talmid and said, “Do you realize that you might be a thief!”
The talmid was shocked. “A thief? What have I stolen?”
Reb Simchah Zissel explained that the woman had requested no payment for the food, as she could see that they were important people. “The fact that we paid attention to her conversation was indeed her payment, but you took out a Gemara instead!” What right did you have to ignore the stories of a poor women’s livelihood. ‘Derech eretz kadmah la-Torah – Common decency takes precedence over Torah.‘“
My Father, My Rebbe, p. 156-157