There are many things about Rabbi Avrohom Kamenetsky’s relationship with his father that made it unique. He was Reb Yaakov’s ben zkunim, privy to a sacred Wednesday ritual when he would spend the day learning with his father. He was also the only Zevulun in a family of Yissachars — and he was the one entrusted with his father’s last wishes. A special glimpse into the gadol who carried American Jewry on his shoulders, yet who tried to conceal himself, hoping more than anything else to be forgotten.
Reb Avrohom started out as a rebbi teaching at Toras Chaim the yeshivah headed by his older brother Rav Binyamin. It was not an institution where salaries could be taken for granted. “Money was tight but one day I heard from the other rebbeim that there was a check. It was good news. I waited and waited but mine never came. I went to my brother and I asked him if it was true that there was some money for paychecks? ‘Yes ’ he said with a sad smile ‘but not enough for me and not enough for you Avremel.’ It was tough. I said to him “At least you’re building Torah with your self-sacrifice but why do I have to do this?”
“During the summer I decided to find a way to make some extra money and I davened that the Ribono shel Olam should guide me to a product that I could sell but that wouldn’t involve schlepping heavy samples. Inspiration struck — I realized that every single manufacturer needs boxes for shipping.”
That idea seemed to fit all his criteria but of course before pursuing it he discussed it with his father. And thus spoke Reb Yaakov:
“Avrohom” he said “you want to engage in mischar commerce. Remember what the term means. If you have something that someone else needs and you can provide it that is mischar. The moment that you are giving him things he doesn’t really need then that is not mischar at all. Then you have no more heter for the bittul Torah.”
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