Profiles on Treasures

Moshe the Freelancer  Chof Daled Teves, 5772

Welcome to a new Yagdil Torah feature, where we highlight an inspiring Crown Heights personality, by profiling their devotion to Limmud HaTorah.

Moshe [name changed] is a freelancer living in Crown Heights. His day involves dealing with large companies and ensuring their demanding needs are met in a timely manner. As a freelancer, Moshe is able to set his own hours, allowing him to squeeze in many learning opportunities.

Truth is, you've met Moshe many times. He seems like the typical Crown Heights businessman; works hard, tries to earn a living while leading a Chassidishe life. You never noticed that he learns a fortune every day; he just doesn't brag about it. Sure, you've seen him with a sefer here and there, but you don't know that his love for learning has enabled him to finish Shas at least once.

For Moshe, it's not about the prestige, honor or recognition. He simply loves to learn, and does so as often as possible.

It's not just Moshe. Indeed, a Yid's principal occupation throughout history has been learning Torah. Everything else was just a distraction. A non-Jewish scholar visiting Warsaw during the First World War wrote:

"Once I noticed a great many coaches on a parking place but with no drivers in sight. In my own country I would have known where to look for them. A young Jewish boy showed me the way; in a courtyard on the second floor was the shtiebel of the Jewish drivers. It consisted of two rooms, one filled with Talmud volumes, the other for prayer. All the drivers were engaged in fervent study and religious discussions. It was then that I found out that all the professions- the bakers, the butchers, the shoemakers, etc.- each have their own shtiebel in the Jewish district, and every free moment which can be taken off from work is given to the study of Torah."

If you know of someone whose profile will inspire others, (even anonymously) please contact Yagdil Torah.