The Chavos Yair and the Flea in the Stew
A flea jumps into the stew at a Tu B'Av feast. The Chavos Yair won't eat it and asks the Panim Meiros, who first permits it, then agrees he was right.
The following is a dramatization of a true story that took place around 1675:
Chavvos Yair (Rav Yair Chaim Bachrach, 1638–1702): Thank you all members of the Chevrah Lomdei Mishnayos for coming together for this special festive meal on this auspicious day of Tu B’Av.
Reuven: I have fleas!
Shimon: TMI! Why are you sharing that?
Reuven: I thank Hashem every day for my fleas. After taking care of my needs I thank Hashem and say “Rofei kol basar and my flea.”
Reuven proceeds to flick a flea off himself onto the table.
Shimon tries to capture the flea but the flea eludes him and jumps into the stew.
Chavvos Yair: I have been fleeced! I can no longer eat the stew. Any bite I take of the stew may contain the indiscernible flea.
Shimon: Too many fleas would indeed spoil the stew but this is only one! Isn’t the flea nullified by the other ingredients? After all, the flea is less than 1/60th of the total mixture.