Profitable Investments
Rabbi Benzion Weiler, the manager of Reb Shmuel’s business in the Diamond Bourse, related:
I noticed that often, Reb Shmuel withdrew tremendous sums of money from the bank. I once summoned the courage to ask him the reasons for these large withdrawals.
“I need a lot of money for a very profitable investment,” Reb Shmuel replied calmly, but did not provide any further details. In time, I found out that the money was distributed to the needy. These donations were what he called very profitable investments!
So I Won’t Profit for One Month...
Reb Yaakov Daskal, the oldest son of Reb Shmuel, related:
One day, my father heard about a family that was in dire financial straits and urgently needed an enormous amount of money. My father immediately decided that he would donate the entire amount, and remarked to me, “This is the equivalent of the amount that I earn in a month. So what will happen if I don’t earn anything this month?”
Come Again, Don’t Worry!
Reb Avraham Manowitz, the treasurer of the Bnei Brak Municipality, related:
Reb Shmuel’s heart was open to everyone. Whenever I came to him to solicit money for the needy, he would give me an initial sum of one thousand dollars, a huge amount at the time. And he would regularly tell me, “If you need more funds, even if you’ll need again tomorrow, don’t hesitate. Don’t tell yourself, ‘I just asked him yesterday.’ Feel free to come again, don’t worry about it!”
Generous Sums for Kollel Chazon Ish
Pesach was drawing nearer, and every Jewish home was preparing for Yom Tov. During this time of year, Am Yisrael donates generously to kimcha dePischa funds, and gabba’ei tzedakah are loaded down with work.
Rabbi Yehoshua Cohen, a mashgiach in Yeshivas Vizhnitz, related:
Each year, before Pesach, Reb Shmuel loaned us fifty thousand liras, which we distributed for kimcha dePischa. We then raised money from philanthropists to be able to return the loan, collecting the money with great effort and mesirus nefesh. One year, I came to Reb Shmuel’s home together with Reb Yisrael Daskal to return a loan, and we placed the money on his desk.
At the same time, one of the heads of Kollel Chazon Ish came to collect money for the kollel. Without saying a word, Reb Shmuel took all the money that was on the desk and handed it to the man.
We were stunned. We could not comprehend how he was able to simply give away such a huge sum of money at one time!
Fill in the Check with the Amount You Asked For!
Reb Avraham Lehman related:
When a relative of mine passed away in 1978 and left behind considerable debts, a mutual relative asked me to go with him to solicit donations to be able to repay the creditors. I didn’t know Reb Shmuel at the time, but one of our stops was at his house.
We explained briefly: “We are collecting money for Reb D.’s family; you knew him. He left many unpaid debts.”
“Will five thousand shekels be enough for you?” he asked immediately.
We were speechless. Although this was a very large sum, it really was not enough. As we hesitated, unsure of what to answer, Reb Shmuel received a phone call. I whispered to my relative, “Hashem will put the right words into my mouth to answer correctly.”
After Reb Shmuel concluded the conversation on the phone, he asked me, “Nu, do you have an answer?”
“If you’re already asking,” I replied, “I’ll tell you the truth. There is a donor who gave us ten thousand shekels...”
Reb Shmuel didn’t hesitate. He took a check out of his pocket and signed it, but didn’t write an amount. Then he handed it over to me and instructed, “Fill in the amount you asked for.”
A Memorial Candle for Half an Apartment
Reb Meir Wasserman of Kiryat Vizhnitz in Haifa, related:
When the loudspeaker came around announcing the passing of Reb Shmuel, I was in a relative’s home. To my surprise, I saw that she was overcome with sadness upon hearing the news, and immediately lit a lecht for him.
“Why are you lighting a candle? What was your relationship to him?” I asked in surprise.
She replied, “When we needed to buy an apartment, we simply couldn’t afford it. We went to Reb Shmuel for help and he gave us thirty thousand liras, which comprised a significant amount of the value of the apartment. Of course I’m lighting a candle for him!”
There are dozens of such stories that remain untold and unknown to anyone but those who were involved.
