Author Archive for aaron
Successful at Business Without Degrees?
The parshiyos of the building of the miskan are very inspiring to those seeking to leave the confines of the beis medrash and enter the working world. To build the mishkan, the Yidden were entrusted with highly skilled work work of which they had no prior experience, yet they were able to produce a finished [...]
Which Son is Yonason Rosenblum More Proud Of?
In a recent column in Mishpacha, Yonason Rosenblum wrote glowingly about his son Yechezkel who learns a few hours in the morning, and repairs major appliances the rest of the day. This is an a quote of what he responded to a questioner if he was indeed successful with his children: “Yes, baruch Hashem, my [...]
Is Supporting a Son-in-Law in Kollel an Essential Need?
When it comes to giving tzedaka, we try to make sure that our money is indeed going for a worthy cause. No one would want to give money for a family that is in “dire straits” only to find out that they used the funds to go to Florida for a vacation. Making a chassuna [...]
The Path to Success is a Secert
It seems that the world is obsessed with discovering the “secrets” to becoming successful. Books, websites, radio commercials, and online programs all promise to show you the path to glorious riches and “proven success”. Obviously, many of us are out there buying this information thinking they can find the secret that will make all the [...]
Hitting the Publish Button
There is a tremendous sense of awe when you hear someone has published 84 seforim in his lifetime. That person is Rav Yechiel Michel Stern of Yerushalayim, who was featured recently in Mishpacha magazine. The article focused on miraculous events that happened to him throughout his life, and some very touching stories that he experienced [...]
From Kollel to Business…with a Partner
When kollel yungeliet leave kollel to form their own businesses, they invariably do so with a partner. Almost never do you find a new business in Lakewood opened with just one owner. And most frum owned businesses are started the same way. Given that many partnerships don’t end nicely, why do we continue to open [...]
Tu Bshvat – A Multitude of Choices
It’s Tu B’shvat, and the choices are endless. No, not the choices of fruit to eat. It’s the opening of the freezer in Lakewood, when the fresh batch of bochurim are free to date at last. Of course, the negotiations have been ongoing for months, and by now every eligible bochur in Lakewood has at [...]
42 Years Old and No Job – What Should He Do?
The following encounter happens so often these days. A friend of mine who is in his 40′s and his children are rapidly approaching shidduchim asked me what I think he should go into. He learned in kollel many years, and now does odd jobs around a yeshiva where he earns a pittance. He tried like [...]
NY Times Article on Kollel Stipends in Eretz Yisroel
I recently came across this article in the NY Times about a frum member of the knesset – Chaim Amsallem, who publicly announced that the Israeli government should stop subsidizing full time kollel and instead encourage them to work. He was publicly criticized and ridiculed for his comments, and even ousted from the Shas party [...]
The Riverdale Rosh Yeshiva Sets an Example
This point was already made a way back, but is so powerful that it must be repeated. A week ago, the Telshe Alumni of Riverdale yeshiva held its 30th Anniversary dinner at the Tarrytown Hilton. There are many yeshivas that hold annual dinners, and there are quite a few that have made it to 30 [...]
