Lucrative Investments
Lucrative Investments I know of a wealthy man who owns tremendous amounts of property. He has bank accounts in Switzerland and other countries. I do not know if he himself is aware of how wealthy he is. He behaves like a pauper in every respect. He dresses in regular clothes and lives in an apartment […]
Protecting One’s Properties
Protecting One’s Properties On a visit to New York, a relative of mine who lives there came to see me. In the past, this man had been a multi-millionaire. When the man was near eighty, his son had him sign all sorts of papers. The father had no idea what he was signing on, trusting […]
A Structure of Splendor for Eternity
A Structure of Splendor for Eternity A wealthy Jew from Los Angeles once visited me in my home. When those in my house realized just how rich he was, they granted him great honor. But when we sat together privately, he poured out the contents of his heart. “Honored Rav,” he began in confidence, “everyone […]
Furnished in Jewish Style
Furnished in Jewish Style I once visited a wealthy individual in Brazil. His house was furnished in grand style, equipped with every modern appliance on the market. His sitting room was spacious, with a massive library standing proudly against one wall. I asked my host to lend me a Sefer Tehillim. He searched all over. […]
Poverty Is Akin to Death
Poverty Is Akin to Death A wealthy Jew contributed generously to the needy and also immersed himself in Torah study. He was the embodiment of what Chazal call “Torah and greatness in one.” He married off his children honorably and merited seeing grandchildren. Suddenly, the wheel of fortune turned in his disfavor. He lost all […]
Wealth
“Let not the rich man boast over his wealth” (Yirmeyahu 9:22) The rich man who boasted over his wealth was Korach of the tribe of Levi, who had three hundred white horses carrying the keys to his treasure-houses. His treasures themselves were beyond comprehension. Where did he attain such wealth? It was from the money […]
Speaking of Siyata Di’Shemaya
Speaking of Siyata Di’Shemaya As I was reading parashat Shemini in the year 2006, I encountered a difficulty. How could it be that despite acting l’shem Shamayim, the sons of Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, were struck down so severely? I thought of the verse (Vayikra 10:6), “The entire House of Israel shall bewail the conflagration […]
Wagonloads of Penitence
Wagonloads of Penitence An observant Jew, whose family keeps Shabbat and learns Torah, once came to me. In the past, he was as far from a Torah lifestyle as north from south. He and his wife lived with wild abandon. Their life was self-contradictory. On the one hand, they did acts of kindness, but on […]
Delivered from Depression
Delivered from Depression While receiving people abroad, a couple walked into my room. The man opened the conversation. “Honored Rav,” he began, “it is already twenty years that my wife has been in a depression. She refuses to receive any help and likewise does not speak to anyone about her inner feelings. This causes our […]
Take and Give
Take and Give My mentor, Rabbi Binyomin Zev Kaufman, shlita, once paid me a visit. While we were talking, I pledged to donate the considerable sum of twenty thousand francs to his yeshiva. This was despite the fact that I had no idea where the money would come from. But Hashem had His own ideas. […]
A Marriage Mended by Malady
A Marriage Mended by Malady A certain righteous woman constantly comes to ask me for blessings for other women. She does her deeds l’shem Shamayim, never asking anything for herself. She once brought a woman who was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors could not find a cure for her disease-ridden body. I gave her some […]
The Promissory Note
The Promissory Note Mr. Ben-Gigi of Morocco is an acquaintance of Mr. Messika, a good friend of mine. Unlike his acquaintance, though, Mr. Ben-Gigi never had faith in the merit of the tzaddikim. He never sought their blessings. But then his life took a turn for the worse. Various problems plagued him from all sides, […]
