Inspirational Moment

R’ Yisroel of Rizhin noted that one of the major challenges that people will face in the ikvesa d’meshicha – the days before the arrival of Moshiach -- will involve economic issues and financial matters.

The gemara describes two phases of life as being

R’ Yisroel of Rizhin noted that one of the major challenges that people will face in the ikvesa d’meshicha – the days before the arrival of Moshiach -- will involve economic issues and financial matters.

The gemara describes two phases of life as being “koshin k’krias yam suf – as difficult as the splitting of the Red Sea”: Shidduchim (Sotah 2a) and parnossoh (Pesachim 118a).

The Bobover Rov zt”l makes an observation concerning the commonality in both of these. He notes that when a person gets married his task is to establish a home that is a bastion of commitment, a beacon of light, and a foundation for spiritual growth. The person must build up his emunah in Hashem and evoke the Siyata D’Shmaya in order to make progress in this yeoman undertaking. Similarly, providing a steady income for one’s family is an equally arduous task, and the person’s emunah in Hashem is often put to a demanding test.

The ultimate challenge is to ascertain whether the individual will remain on the derech ha’emes through any difficulties he encounters. Despite adversity, will the Yid be able to continue upholding the Torah, carefully follow the halacha, and always realize that Hashem is the provider Who runs the world? Will he remain resilient in his belief that it is Hashem Who grants us our livelihood and bestows us, as well, with a life partner?

A primary principle to keep in mind concerning the pursuit of parnassah, is that one must always be trustworthy in business, his integrity must be unconditional, and all his dealings must be legitimate, with a strict adherence to all the pertinent halachos. When we want Hashem’s bracha to descend and direct our parnassah, we have to ensure that all our own exertion in this effort is scrupulous.

It is noted that we say the tefillah, “Yisgadel v’yiskadesh shmei rabbah – May His great Name be exalted and sanctified. How do we pay tribute to the Ribono Shel Olam? The first letter of each of these four words (the roshei teivos) – yud, vov, shin, reish – spells “yosher,” meaning honest and straight. The most noble way of glorifying Hashem’s Name is through one’s integrity, personally and in business.

The Rosh Yeshiva of Slobodka was well-known for his firmness concerning the accuracy of one’s words.

In order to raise much-needed funds for the yeshiva, it was decided to send out ad blanks offering to have bachurim in the yeshiva recite the Kaddish and learn Mishnayos in honor of the niftar. When the Rosh Yeshiva looked over the proof, though, he insisted that it be redone. He felt that people would misunderstand and construe that a separate Kaddish was being recited for each niftar and that the Mishnayos was specifically being studied by one young man in memory of a particular niftar. He wanted the ad blank to clearly state that one Kaddish was being recited for all the niftarim.

When the second draft was presented, the Rosh Yeshiva noticed that the ad blank had a pasuk from Mishlei printed at the bottom, “Ner Hashem nishmas adam.” The Rosh Yeshiva felt that these ad blanks would ultimately end up being discarded in the garbage (and not be buried with sheimos), and he insisted that the pasuk be removed.

The staff returned with a third draft, and once again the Rosh Yeshiva disapproved. The artist had drawn a candle on each side of the ad blank, and the Rosh Yeshiva felt that was a misrepresentation because people would think the yeshiva was lighting a candle for each niftar.

The corrected copy was presented to the Rosh Yeshiva, and he noted that the donors might think that they were exempt from their own requirement to mark the yahrzeit appropriately. The Rosh Yeshiva ordered that a stipulation should be added at the bottom to instruct relatives that they still had a personal obligation to observe the yahrzeit.

Understandably, the administrator of the yeshiva was perturbed by the final version that was to be submitted to the printer and asked, “Without any drawings or promotional hype what do we have?”

“Only the truth,” replied the Rosh Yeshiva.