Chernobyl Rebbe Allows Himself to be Photographed to Help a Ger's Parnassa
Based on a Kikar article:
A Hasid of the Chernobyl Rebbe told the Rebbe that his financial situation was not good. The Rebbe asked him what his profession is. The Hasid replied that before he became a Hasid, he was a professional photographer, but afterwards, it was too hard making a living since there is very little demand for professional photography in Hareidi circles, let alone in Hasidic circles.
Now, picture-taking is normally shunned upon in Chernobyl Hasidut, just as it is with many other Hasidic groups. So, the Rebbe's response was surprising: "Take my picture. Maybe this can help with your Parnassa." Taking the Rebbe's picture involved an hour of his time in a studio, but to help out the parnassa of a fellow Jew, he was willing to do it.
Comment #9 there said that the photographer is a Ger Tzedek, and as someone who knows the Rebbe, he can attest to the fact that for the Rebbe, being photographed is [spiritually] painful for him and to spend an hour in the studio is not befitting his time. What the Rebbe did is therefore no small thing and shows us a Mussar Haskeil.
posted by yaak @ 10/25/2010 04:12:00 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
A perfect example of what I blogged yesterday regarding the Eight Levels of Charity:
" The greatest form of charity, which is unsurpassed by any other, is to give a helping hand to a Jew who is on the verge of financial ruin. This may be accomplished by giving him a gift or a loan, by entering into a partnership with him, or by providing him with gainful employment. Any of these efforts should be undertaken to strengthen this person before he would have to ask for charity. This is what the Torah means when it says: "If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him so that he can live with you" [Leviticus 25:35] In other words, support him before he falls and becomes needy."
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