The Ponevezher Rav
For many years until his death in 1969, the Ponevezher Rav, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kaheneman, zt”l, would visit Miami Beach, Florida, each year, in order to raise funds for his Yeshivah. Rav Berel Wein, zt”l, who was a Rav in a Miami Shul during that period, developed a close relationship with the Ponovezher Rav, and on many occasions, he would drive him around to the homes of wealthy members of his congregation to collect money.
The Ponovezher Rav had a magnetic personality, and his love for every single Yid was clear and apparent at all times. As a result, these wealthy individuals enjoyed the time spent in their homes with the Rav, and looked forward to his visits while the Rav was in town.
Rabbi Wein recalls that there was one man in his congregation, a widower with no children, who had retired years earlier and moved to Miami from New York City. This man had been a successful attorney until a number of medical issues stopped him from working. The doctors were not very optimistic about his recovery, and the man decided to retire and move to Miami.
He purchased an annuity (a financial product that pays out income, a reliable means of securing a steady cash flow for an individual during his retirement years, and to alleviate fears of outliving one’s assets) that would last until the age of ninety, bought a beautiful home and awaited the inevitable, living in comfort.
Fortunately for this man, the inevitable was very long in coming, and at the age of eighty-eight, he was still energetic, and sharp. He was also an outstanding member and donor to the Miami community. The Ponovezher Rav developed an attachment to this gentleman, and the two would engage in hours of conversation. Rabbi Wein would drive the Rav to the man’s home at least two or three times each winter, and the wealthy retiree would always conclude their meetings with a check of no less than $5,000 each and every time.
However, Rabbi Wein became aware of a change in the man when he turned ninety and his annuity ran out. Now, he had no more income, and aside from his home, he had very few assets. Rabbi Wein wasn’t even sure if the man had any cash available for necessary staples. So, when the Ponovezher Rav came to town and asked him one morning if they can go visit his elderly friend, Rabbi Wein was uncharacteristically hesitant. He explained to the Rav that the man’s situation had changed and he barely had enough money to live. He didn’t feel it was appropriate to visit him at this time and expect a donation, but the Ponovezher Rav wouldn’t hear of it. “Of course, we must go visit him! Now, especially, he would want us to come see him!”
The two got in the car and drove out to the man’s home. They rang the bell and the man opened the door. When he saw who was standing there, his face immediately fell and turned white. He began to stammer that perhaps it was not a good time for visitors, but the Ponovezher Rav just smiled, shook his hand warmly and kissed him on the cheek.
They sat down together inside and the man began telling the Rav how his income had dried up and he was sadly unable to write out even a small check to the Yeshivah. The Ponovezher Rav stopped him in mid-sentence and said, “My dear friend, you don’t need to worry. For so many years, you took care of the Ponovezher Yeshivah. Now, the Ponovezher Yeshivah is happy to take care of you!”
The Rav asked how much the annuity had paid him for all the years, and then assured the elderly man that as long as he lived, the Yeshivah would continue making payments in that exact amount! The man ended up living until the age of ninety-six, and for the final six years of his life, he indeed received a check every quarter in the amount he was used to.
Rabbi Wein later learned that the bulk of the money came from the Ponovezher Rav’s personal bank account and allowed the man to live out his years in comfort, peace of mind, and with dignity. When the man passed away, he made his final donation— he left his beautiful home to the Ponovezher Yeshivah!
Reprinted from the Parshas Bereishis 5786 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
