FATHER AND SON - part 3

Just two beautiful stories (Minei elef) which this writer heard most recently.

A Yungerman in Yeshiva once came to him requesting that he be put on the Kollel Payroll. Rav Schneur zt'l agreed. When the Yungerman walked out, Rabbi --- (of the office staff) argued with Rav Schneur; “But his wife is running a thriving business – it covers all their needs abundantly, how can the Yeshiva allow itself the luxury of giving checks to Yungeleit that don’t need them?

Reb Schneur responded: True, the check is not needed for actual financial needs, but maybe the Yungerman feels uncomfortable with the fact that his wife is bringing in all the money while he is bringing in nothing. Maybe the Kollel check is needed for his self esteem. That’s why I gave it. (As heard from Rabbi Yaakov Weisberg and Rabbi Eliezer Kuperman. Rabbi Kuperman also witnessed the story which follows.)

Rav Malkiel Kotler shlita told this writer another story:

A certain Yungerman was from a very wealthy family. His family exerted great pressure on him to leave Kollel and go into business. He gave in. When Reb Schneur heard about it he was of course very concerned. The Yungerman was fully capable of serious diligent study, and of progressing in his studies. It would be a sorry matter if he were to stop full time Torah learning. [Rav Avrohom Pam shlita in an address at the May 1995 Torah Umesorah convention (item #T155 in their files) compared pulling one’s capable son out of full time Torah learning even with the laudable intention that he make money to support Yeshivos, to the Issur (Halocha prohibition) of “Makdish Tmimim L’bedek Habayis” - of taking an animal that is fit for the greater sanctity of Kdushas Korbon and instead sanctifying it with the lesser Kedushah of “Bedek Habayis” - which was used to support the service in the Bais Hamikdash.] Rav Schneur spoke to the Yungerman and then arranged that he say a regular Chabura (discourse) in the Yeshiva, and in addition, that he receive payment for it.

When the office staff heard this, they of course pointed out that the Yungerman has absolutely no need for an extra salary, he is being supported in comfort. Rav Schneur reponded, do you think we are running a Tzedokah organization? We are supporting Torah. This salary will help keep the Yungerman in learning [ie. it will give him esteem in the eyes of his family] and that’s why its needed.

Rav Malkiel shlita adds that this Yungerman is presently one of today’s biggest Marbitzei Torah. Needless to say the one who had to shoulder the burden of all extra expenditures was ultimately none other than the already overwhelmingly overburdened Rosh Yeshiva himself.

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