One of the old neighbors of Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, was Rav Lipa Yisraelsohn. Before Rav Lipa would travel to New York, he’d come to Rav Aharon Leib to receive the rosh yeshiva’s beracha for hatzlacha. One time, however, he was in for a surprise. Rav Aharon Leib lifted his eyes and said, “Rav Lipa, since you’re going to America, I’ll make a deal with you!”
Before Rav Lipa could inquire as to the type of business Rav Aharon Leib was interested in making, Rav Aharon Leib told him that the deal was indeed serious — one that Rav Lipa stood to potentially make one million dollars! “During your travels to America, you’ll meet up with many wealthy people. If you meet one of them who’s as wealthy as I am, I’ll give you a million dollars cash.”
Rav Aharon Leib stood up from his seat, took Rav Lipa by the hand, and proceeded to walk him around the house. Rav Aharon Leib stopped next to the refrigerator, opened its door, and pointed to the many items inside. “Tell me please, Rav Lipa, is there anything missing here? B’chasdei Hashem, there’s plenty of food here — food for during the week, food for Shabbos, etc. Baruch Hashem, we’re not lacking anything!”
Rav Aharon Leib’s younger years in Lithuania were times of serious poverty. He once mentioned to a relative of his that they used to say that only the rich people could eat chicken on Shabbos, and only one known wealthy person, Zev Visosky, ate chicken even during the week! If so, they’d joke, what did he eat for Shabbos? Fruit compote!
“But my fridge,” quipped Rav Aharon Leib, “has fruit compote all the time. See, then, how I’m the richest man in the world!”
Cadillac in Bnei Brak
Rav Aharon Leib continued his tour by opening his closet. “Look at how much clothing I have — weekday clothes, Shabbos clothes, clothes for winter, and clothes for summer. In gashmiyus, I’m not lacking anything, and in ruchniyus, I try to do what’s required of me. So, if you’re able to find someone better off than me, you’ll be a million dollars richer!”
Rav Lipa got on the plane with Rav Aharon Leib’s words ringing in his ears. He decided to search out and find if there really is a Yid in America richer than Rav Aharon Leib. Sure enough, he went around and met many wealthy people — millionaires and even billionaires — but none of them could testify that he was happy or content with his lot.
One told Rav Lipa how every time he earns a million dollars, he’s pained that he didn’t work harder and bring in two. Another revealed how his life is nothing but worry and fear — to the point that his young son needed an armed guard to escort him to school lest he get kidnapped for ransom! Every wealthy philanthropist he met complained about the tremendous yoke he carried on his shoulders, about the headaches, the ungratefulness, and the constant pressures that filled his life.
On the course of his trip, Rav Lipa came to one person’s mansion that was so big that Rav Lipa had to drive six minutes from the front gate just to get to the man’s office. In the middle of the meeting, the gvir turned to Rav Lipa and said, “If you promise me a month of peace and serenity, I’ll write you a check for three million dollars!”
On his flight back to Eretz Yisrael, one millionaire confided to Rav Lipa: “All my friends only care about my money. I’m alone without any companions. I can’t trust anyone, not even my close family. All of them only honor and flatter me just because of their personal interests. Nobody in the world sincerely cares about me.”
Throughout his journey, Rav Lipa thought to himself, “How can I tell these wealthy people that in Bnei Brak, on 5 Rechov Chazon Ish, in an old, dilapidated house, there’s a happy Yid who’s richer than any of them?” Nowhere in Rav Lipa’s travels did he meet anyone as wealthy as Rav Aharon Leib, and thus he resigned that he wouldn’t be getting his promised million dollars. However, he did ask Rav Aharon Leib if, when he traveled again to New York, if the deal was still “live,” and the rosh yeshiva agreed.
Oops, It's Gone
On that second trip to New York, Rav Lipa ran into Rav Uri Zohar, who was one of the previous generations best known mezakei rabim. Rav Lipa told Rav Uri all about the deal he’d made with Rav Aharon Leib to find someone richer than the rosh yeshiva.
After a few moments, Rav Uri happily announced, “Rav Lipa, you’ve just won the ‘lotto!’ You can return to Rav Aharon Leib and tell him that you met someone richer than him. He was never part of the ‘outside world,’ but I came from there, and therefore I know how much richer I am. I know how much meaning and purpose lays in a Torah life verses the empty joy that occupies the “outside world.” Coming from there make me wealthier than Rav Aharon Leib!”
The two then jokingly quibbled over how much percentage Rav Uri should get for helping Rav Lipa to his million dollars. Before they parted, though, Rav Uri turned to Rav Lipa and said, “You know what? I think I might be wrong. Go back and tell Rav Aharon Leib that while I originally thought I was the wealthier one, I’ve changed my mind and think that he’s the richer one.
“I’ll tell you why: Every time I come into Rav Aharon Leib’s house, whatever hour it may be, I see the rosh yeshiva sitting in the same position — his body upright, his tzitzis upon him, his hat on his head, and a pillow behind his head to prop him up. Where in the entire world would you find someone who sits like that even when nobody is around? Only someone who lives with a constant awareness of Hashem’s presence. That person is the richest man in the world, and there’s nobody more content than him anywhere on the globe.”
When Rav Lipa returned to Eretz Yisrael, he admitted to Rav Aharon Leib that he hadn’t found anyone as wealthy as the rosh yeshiva.
