When the Governor asked the Governor to remove the watch worth one million NIS

November 5, 2020   

Last week, the late Rabbi Shimon HaCohen Barchar of Lakewood, who was a close associate of Rabbi Kanievsky, passed away at the age of 56 after contracting the coronavirus. You shouldn't miss: These are the new flavors of 'Milky'‘ In the newsletter 'Divrei Shaykh', which is published weekly from the teachings of the Grach, the newsletter's editor, Rabbi Yitzhak Goldshtoff, tells a moving story about his obedience to the Grach. He said this: In the United States, and in other advanced countries, it is customary among businessmen to invest a lot of money and thought in clothing and external items. When a businessman arrives at a meeting in a luxurious sedan, of the most advanced type, dressed in a luxury suit and wearing a luxurious business watch on his wrist, he is probably a rich and decent man, and it is worth dealing with him. During the years of my friend and brother, Rabbi Shimon z"l, he worked for a living in the field of taxes and served clients in faith. One of the efforts he made to succeed was to wear on his wrist, as is customary, a rich man's watch that cost two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000!!!). Yes. The price of an apartment. One day, when he came to our Rabbi Maran Shlita, as he used to do every few weeks, he asked question after question, and suddenly our Rabbi noticed the watch on his wrist - and then he remarked to him that it is proper for a man not to wear a watch on his wrist, because it looks like a woman's garment and is forbidden because it is "not to be worn." At that moment, Rabbi Shimon removed the "one hundred and fifty thousand dollars" that were on his wrist, and respectfully placed them in his pocket. From then on, they were never worn again. Nativ Real Estate Company celebrates 30 • And how do you earn benefits that will never come back? Have you been suffering from depression lately? Are you eligible for National Insurance?’ This story essentially reflects the essence of Rabbi Shimon on one foot: complete obedience to the knowledge of Torah. He had many excuses, he could explain how necessary it was for him, and on and on, but he obeyed with complete determination to the knowledge of Torah. The same was true in every matter and every advice our rabbi told him, whether it was changing items of clothing, growing a long beard, raising children, in every question and matter. He asked to hear our rabbi's opinion, without looking for assumptions and excuses. He did and was heard. It is very difficult for me to talk about him, we were deeply connected like brothers. We rejoiced together in joys and wept together in sorrow and heartache that were Rabbi Shimon's portion in all kinds of suffering that befell him. I can say with all my heart that Rabbi Shimon was loved and very, very close to our Rabbeinu Maran Shlita. I don't need to tell what is known. I saw up close some of the enormous scope of righteousness and secret giving that he gave, with such sensitivity and care. I am prevented by his request while he was still alive, which he frequently asked not to tell, but I can say this: many people and for a long time will feel his absence.