The two wealthy Strauss brothers lived in America over eighty years ago. They both donated large amounts of money to organizations and settlements in Eretz Yisrael. One brother was Natan Strauss, who donated the money for the founding of the city of Netanya, which was named for him.
The majority of the charitable gifts of the two brothers were donated to organizations and causes which were not shomer mitzvos. Despite this fact, at one point the leaders of the old yishuv in Yerushalayim decided to approach the Strauss brothers to donate money to the chessed organizations in Yerushalayim.
The leaders of the chareidi yishuv made an appointment with the brothers. During their meeting, they described to them the dire poverty of the residents of the city of Yerushalayim. They requested that the brothers donate money towards the building and maintenance of a soup kitchen for the poor people of Yerushalayim.
The vivid description of the dire straits of the chareidi yishuv touched the heart of Natan Strauss. However, his brother absolutely refused to donate money for a soup kitchen. Natan alone sent money from his personal funds and requested to be informed when the building for the soup kitchen was completed, so he could travel to Yerushalayim to see it.
A few months later, the leaders of the chareidi yishuv joyously informed Natan Strauss on the completion of the building. Natan traveled to Eretz Yisrael, accompanied by his brother, and visited the soup kitchen. When Natan personally saw the hundreds of poor people eating there, he was very moved, and expressed his great satisfaction that his money was being used for such a good cause. Conversely, his brother, who had not donated any money to the soup kitchen, not only failed to be moved by the sight of the indigent of Yerushalayim, but also failed to conceal his contempt of them.
As the two brothers exited the soup kitchen, Natan tripped on the stairs, fell down, and broke his ankle. He was brought to the hospital. The doctors told him that the break was a severe one, and he would need to be hospitalized for a few days. When his brother came to visit him the next day, and witnessed Natan’s suffering, he said in a mocking tone, “So, is this what you get for your donation to the Yerushalmi soup kitchen?” Natan refrained from responding.
Natan’s brother had business waiting for him in Europe, and he decided to travel there alone, rather than waiting for his brother, who was not yet in the condition to travel. He left on the next available ship, which departed from Eretz Yisrael, and after a few kilometers….sunk. Natan’s brother lost his life during the tragedy. (Barchi Nafshi)
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One Rosh Chodesh Elul, two bochurim arrived in Radin, and requested to be accepted in the yeshivah. However, the yeshivah was already completely full, and they were not accepted due to lack of space. The bochurim prepared to return home, and before they left, they approached the Chofetz Chaim to receive a bracha.
After the Chofetz Chaim spoke with the bochurim, the Chofetz Chaim summoned his son-in-law, who ran the yeshivah, and requested that the bochurim be accepted into the yeshivah despite the lack of space. While speaking to the boys, the Chofetz Chaim had discovered that they were the grandchildren of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. He decided that during the approaching days of Din, he wanted the merit of davening together with the grandsons of the defender of Bnei Yisroel (Shlomo Kook)

This week is B’Zchus Rav Motti Rosenberg on the birth of a boy.

Distributed by the Chevra Marbitz Achdus D’NMB

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