We continue the theme of sharing secrets with the competition.
We mentioned that the Chazon Ish tells us: When a person does these kind of acts, private acts of greatness, he’s causing a kiddush Hashem and bringing greatness into the world.
Rav Wolbe says the defining factor of a great Jew is how he views himself vis-a-vis the Jewish People: does he view himself as belonging to the Jewish People at large or is he only for himself, out for his own gains? This applies both to working people and learning men-that’s the defining factor.
Regarding working people that have this attitude Rav Wolbe’s words are:
על בעלי בתים אלה העולם עומד The world stands on them.
The Adjmi’s are a Syrian family from our community (We have much HaKarat Hatov to Jack Adjmi - he was the driving force behind the building of our Yad Yosef Torah Center and the Birkat Yaakov congregation).
In 1976, they had a store on Westchester Avenue called The Big A. When one of their sons was held up at gunpoint, they decided to close the store and go into the wholesale business. But they knew nothing about wholesale. So one day Mr. Jack Adjmi told his son to grab a pen and pads come along, they were going to Moe Hidary’s house. Mr. Hidary was one of the starters of M. Hidary and Sons- a successful company in our community.
As this son recalls, they went to see Moe Hidary. They were served desserts and sat down to a meeting. Then Mr. Hidary got started, reminding the young Adjmi to take notes.
“This is the warehouse you should use.....use this trucker...., when you go to China, call this agent....you’ll need insurance- use this carrier....contact this banker at this bank.....sell this customer...., not that one, etc”
As the saying goes.... רחל בתך הקטנה.... Down to the last final detail.
They met for about half an hour. When they left, Mr. Adjmi’s son asked his father,”Does he know we are going into the same business as him?”
His father answered, “Of course he knows. But he’s my friend. He’s helping me”
This son was 19 years old at the time. He says that meeting made such an impact on him, that later in life, anything he did was inspired by this man, Moe Hidary, and his willingness to help his competitor.
Our community has an organization called Exceed network, which is dedicated to helping people start new businesses. This organization was inspired specifically by this story!
This story is not the only one. We have many. I’ll continue. My cousin Mrs. Carol Haber told me this story, which took place 25 years after her father, Mr. Abe Sutton passed away.
Mrs. Haber was at an engagement party when her brother in law Mr. Manny Haber introduced her to a Mr. Sol Betesh. Mr. Betesh asked if she was the daughter of Abe Sutton.
When she said she was, he told her he owed everything he has to her father.
He told her how he’d been in China for a month trying to start a business, but he wasn’t getting anywhere. Then, he met Mr. Sutton in the lobby of the hotel. Mr. Sutton asked him his name and what he was doing there. Mr. Betesh was embarrassed to say he knew nothing. He said he was trying but nothing was happening.
Mr. Sutton then called his agent to come meet them in the lobby and like Mr. Hidary, proceeded to share everything, and help set him up with the agent in exactly the same business selling pocket books. They ended up in the very same business on the same floor! Pure competitors. Mr Betesh said, ”I owe everything to your father!”
Abe Sutton, Moe Hidary. These people, their help has had ripple effects that are limitless.
Schools built, shuls built because these men said I’m not out for myself.
Sol Betesh built Shaare Torah’s building together with Manny Haber. The Yad Yosef Torah center was built. Where’d it come from? It started with people that were leshem shamayim; they had concern for the Jewish people at large, not just each man for himself.
If it’s done leshem shamayim, your acts will spread kedusha in the world. It’s a lesson for us. You might not see it right away but if you watch history, you’ll see it.