One of the most extraordinary givers in the history of the Jewish people was a man named Paul Moshe Reichmann, better known as Paul Reichmann. Someone recently shared a remarkable story with me.
At one point, Paul Reichmann approached the Syrian Jewish community to ask for support with a number of projects he was involved in. Now, this wasn’t just anyone walking into a room. Paul Reichmann was one of the wealthiest Jews in modern history; an icon in both the business world and the philanthropic world. Naturally, the community’s prominent businessmen were eager to meet the legend in person.
The meeting took place in the office of Mr. Ike Hidary. Gathered around the table were forty, perhaps fifty, of the community’s most successful figures, each one anticipating words of wisdom, a groundbreaking strategy, a masterclass in building generational wealth. What business secrets would Paul Reichmann reveal? What insight could take them from successful to extraordinary?
My brother-in-law, who was present at the meeting as a young man, described himself as “a fly on the wall,” quietly watching in awe. And he said something that stuck with me: “All I remember is this: Paul Reichmann didn’t speak much. But when he did, it wasn’t to give financial advice. He didn’t say, ‘This is how I made my fortune,’ or, ‘Here’s how you can make yours.’”
Instead, he opened a Gemara. He read the words of Chazal, and simply said, “We rely on the wisdom of our rabbis.” That was it.
For a young man sitting in that room, it was a defining moment. He realized that the greatest Jewish businessman of his generation—someone who had built a real estate empire—believed that the source of success wasn’t strategy or luck. It was Torah. Emunah. Values. That’s what makes the water flow.
And that brings us to a vital question. What message do we pass on to the next generation about money and success?
When your child comes home from working at camp with a small paycheck, how do you respond? Do you immediately start with, “Be careful to save every penny and plan for a rainy day”? Of course, financial responsibility is important. But is that the first message?
Or do you say, “Spend a little and save a little. And most importantly, give a little. You now have the power to become a giver. You can walk into shul and see someone who needs help, and be the person who helps.”
There is no greater privilege in the world than being someone who can give. But that privilege doesn’t begin with wealth. It begins with a mindset, with a heart, with an outlook that says, “If Hashem gave me something, even a little, it means He’s giving me a chance to share.”
Some people live that way. They see abundance, even in modest means, and view life as an opportunity to uplift others. And then there are others who see everything as scarce. They’re stuck in fear, and say, “How will I make a living tomorrow? What if AI replaces my job?” But let’s be honest. How did you make a living today?
Look up the average income of an immigrant or an immigrant’s child, and then look at your life. Your home. Your blessings. It’s a miracle.
And if Hashem could create a miracle yesterday, He can surely create one tomorrow.
When you believe that, you stop trying to fight the rock to make the water flow. You understand that the water is already there. You just have to trust Hashem, and be one of the people who has the privilege... to share it.
