Weekly Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 16, Parshas Beshalach

February 8, 2025; 10 Shevat, 5785 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

Emes can sometimes be defined as personal integrity - maintaining deeply held values, even if it comes at great personal cost. When Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky ZT”L was serving as the rabbi of a small town in Lithuania before World War II, his salary was paid from the tax that the town levied on Kosher meat. During this period, he noticed that some poor families were buying meat that was not kosher because it was cheaper, even though they really wanted to keep kosher.

Instead of ignoring the situation or simply condemning the purchase of the non-kosher meat, Rabbi Kamenetsky took a voluntary pay cut...

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 15, Parshas Bo

February 1, 2025; 3 Shevat, 5785 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

In 1985, Rav Shimon Schwab ZT”L, a student of the great Mir Mashgiach, Rav Yeruchem Levovitz ZT”L, was preparing to publish a comprehensive book about the history of the Washington Heights Shul which he led, for its 50th anniversary. However, during his research, he discovered some uncomfortable truths about certain respected figures in the community's past. Rather than glossing over those facts or presenting a sanitized version of the Shul’s history, he faced a difficult decision.

In a remarkable display of honesty and integrity, Rav Schwab ultimately decided to cancel the entire book publication project...

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 14, Parshas Va'era

January 25, 2025; 25 Tevet, 5785 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

When Rabbi Meir Shapiro ZT”L (1887-1933) was establishing his famous Yeshiva in Lublin in the late 1920s, he traveled extensively to raise funds for his ambitious project. During one fundraising trip to Belgium, a wealthy donor offered to make a very large contribution, but with one condition - that the Yeshiva be named in his honor.

Despite desperately needing the funds to complete the building, Rabbi Shapiro declined the contribution.  He explained that he could not name the building after the donor even if he made the large contribution, because many smaller donors had already contributed, often giving beyond their means...

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