The Radomsker Rebbe’s wealth could never be measured in worldly currency
Rav Shlomo Chanoch’s growing involvement in commerce did not interrupt his avodas Hashem. He continued to devote himself to Torah learning, chassidus, and refining his character through noble acts of prishus.
In this, Rav Shlomo Chanoch followed the historic example of many gedolei Yisrael who balanced their dedication to Torah with success in business: ranging from Rav David Oppenheim (1664-1736), Rav Ephraim Zalman Margolios (1760-1828), and Rav Shmuel Shtrashun, the Rashash (1794-1872) — towering Torah scholars who were also wealthy merchants and property owners — to gedolim of Rav Shlomo Chanoch’s own era, such as some of the admorim of Ger, Rav Menachem Ziemba (1883-1943), and the Tchebiner Rav (1881-1965), all of whom engaged in commerce before assuming rabbinical positions.
In truth, Rav Shlomo Chanoch did not need to look that far for examples of leaders who fused Torah greatness with business ventures. His own father, the Knesses Yechezkel, owned a brick factory. His beloved rebbe, Rav Ephraim Tzvi Einhorn, sold wine before joining the rabbinate.
Unlike some of those leaders, however, Rav Shlomo Chanoch never left the world of commerce. Even after he became rebbe of chassidus of Radomsk — a consuming position that saddled him with myriad new communal responsibilities and concerns — he maintained his businesses, seeing them as a means to sustain the spiritual empire he was building.
Create a free account to keep reading.
