Rabbeinu Tam Stops the Rashbam's Wagon
The Rashbam, eyes always lowered, nearly boards a wagon pulled by a horse and a mule. His brother Rabbeinu Tam stops him: 'Don't be a big tzaddik!'
At the end of Eruvin, the Mordechai (528) recounts an interesting incident involving the Rashbam. The Rashbam, known for his pious demeanor and unwavering humility, consistently kept his gaze lowered as a mark of his restraint and focus on spiritual matters. On one particular day, he was about to board a horsedrawn wagon, which also included a mule in the team, a scenario that presented a significant issue in Jewish law. The riding of such a mixed team would violate the prohibition against klayim, a term that refers to the prohibition against mixing different species in acts of labor.
The Mordechai ponders whether this particular violation fell under the category of a Torah commandment or was merely a Rabbinic caution.
Just at the moment when the Rashbam was about to step into the wagon, divine providence intervened in a remarkable way. His younger brother, Rabbeinu Tam, who was fifteen years his junior, fortuitously arrived on the scene. Recognizing the imminent mistake, Rabbeinu Tam promptly stepped forward to prevent his brother from boarding the wagon.