Rav Elazar Shach, zt”l, related that in the Shul of Rav Meir Michel Rabinowitz, zt”l, in Vilna, there was a certain wealthy member who would give large donations to the Shul every Shabbos, when he received the Aliyah of Shishi, the sixth Aliyah.
Shishi was considered to be the most Chashuve Aliyah, and he received it every week because of his large contributions. After a while, he eventually lost all of his money due to a bad investment, and he could no longer contribute in the manner that he did before.
The Gabba’im who were in charge of giving out the Aliyos felt that there was no point to continue giving him Shishi, since he could no longer contribute the large sums he had donated before. However, Rav Meir Michel refused to listen to the Gabba’im. Instead, he insisted that this man receive his Aliyah of Shishi, just as before, despite his inability to contribute to the Shul, as he so generously did.
Rav Meir Michel said that since this man was used to receiving a certain amount of Kavod because of his previous financial position, he must be accorded the same honor as before. We must feel for him. He said that once a person has become used to a certain lifestyle, it is wrong to deprive him of his previous honors, and it must continue!
Reprinted from the Parshas Korach 5785 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
