The 25th of Shevat is the yahrtzeit of Reb Yisrael Salanter zt’l. Returning from Reb Yisrael Salanter's levayah, his students calculated that until Moshiach comes, Reb Yisrael Salanter's yahrtzeit will always be either before or after Shabbos Parashas Mishpatim. They explained that Rebbe Yisrael Salanter's primary emphasis was to be honest in business and to be cautious with the mitzvos ben adam lechaveiro. These are the primary lessons taught in parashas Mishpatim.
A student asked Reb Yisrael Salanter, “Rebbe, who is greater: A Torah student who studies eighteen hours a day or a storeowner who deals honestly?” He asked this because Reb Yisrael Salanter would always say that the highest level is a person who does business honestly, so the student wanted to know whether he would say that he is even greater than a talmid chacham who learns eighteen hours a day. Reb Yisrael Salanter answered, “Certainly, the honest storeowner is on a higher level. However, since he is on such a high level, it would be proper for such a person to study Torah eighteen hours a day...”
Once, Rebbe Yisrael’s students noticed their rebbe washing his hands for bread, using a minimal amount of water. They asked him why he didn't wash with a lot of water, as stated in Shulchan Aruch (158:10), "It is preferable to wash with a lot of water. Rav Chisda added, 'I wash with handfuls full of water, and I will receive handfuls of goodness.'" Reb Yisrael Salanter explained that a poor woman was in charge of drawing the water in that house. She would have to carry more water if he washed with a lot of water. "I don't want to become wealthy at the expense of the poor woman's hard work." This exemplifies Reb Yisrael's caution not to harm others and his concern for his fellow man.
Reb Yisrael once saw two children arguing over who was taller. One of them pushed his friend off the curb and said, "You see? I'm taller." Reb Yisrael rebuked the child for doing this, saying. “You don't knock down your fellow man because you want to be taller.”
People were talking about a recent niftar, saying he was a tzaddik nistar – a hidden tzaddik. Reb Yisrael Salanter zt’l corrected them, "Perhaps he was a nistar, but then he wasn't a tzaddik. Because in this generation, if someone is a tzaddik, he must reveal himself so he can help others."
