The following was written by Shimshon Stock in February 1994 for his column “The Stock Exchange” in the N’shei Chabad Newsletter:
This Purim, take the money you would spend on lavish shalach manos and give it to me for CSSY (Chevra Simchas Shabbos V’yom Tov). When you see me coming with my bucket in 770, take out a dollar and give me the rest. People need help, but I can’t help them unless you help me.
Someone came to me for help last week; first thing he did was tell us how unwell he is. (Does he think Martha and I are in perfect health??) I listened to him. Then he started in on his money worries. About his job that is shaky. His marriage and his kids that he’s worried about. (Does he know how many people wish they had a marriage and kids to worry about?) He went on and on about his problems.
I listened all I could, then finally I told him that, yes, he had to solve his problems and they were real, but he also had to find a few minutes to help someone else sometimes. He was shocked.
“I have nothing to give anyone else,” he replied, sincerely believing every word he was saying.
Here is my suggestion to him and to anyone who thinks because they don’t have money, or optimal health, or the perfect marriage, they have nothing to give.
Go visit a pediatric hospital ward, or a mental hospital, or a nursing home. Go where the pain is so sharp and so deep that it takes a week to get over the visit.
If you can’t give money, give chesed. The next time some annoying nudnik calls you on the phone and starts to get his problems off his chest, don’t cut him off with a curt “gotta go, sorry.”
Give him the time of day. Take out an extra five minutes and listen quietly as he unloads his burden. Your burden will still be there after you hang up. But his will be that much lighter only because you listened.
No matter how bad off you are, you have five minutes on the other guy’s phone bill, don’t you?
Support this organization today at CSSY.org
Yes, Shimshon was a great person, but no, he wasn’t always in a great mood. He had his share of worries; but part of Shimshon’s greatness was that he never allowed himself to become incapacitated by a not -so- great mood; and he didn’t think anyone was obliged to accommodate his moods. Shimshon and Martha, both, were unusually REAL and selfless people. They are very, very much missed. T.N.TZ.B.H.
Few people can risk telling things as they truly are (due to the ‘glass house’ metaphor).
Shimshon and Martha A”H were exceptionally real and genuine people. They could call things as they saw it and everyone could except it if it was coming from them.
Chaval al d’abdin …..
i remember as a young boy when my parents use to go to his home to give tzidakah and how he always use to make me laugh he was a great man and it was really sad to see him go. shimshon was always in a great mood
I give any penny I get for change in the store then I empty the pushka and get my kids together change the monies to large bills and send them anonymously, I may need to ask for help for Y”T but it makes me feel like a mentch to show my kids that we help other too.
When I was a young boy, BH my family and our financial situation wasn”t great at all. In fact we were what you would call pretty poor. Before Pesach we would get food from Shimshon’s guys. One year we had to go to the garages in back of Shimshon’s house (remember that?) to pick up spme Matzos. I was too embwrresesed to go so I “sent” my younger brothers… They came back with something I WILL NEVER FORGET: in addition to the Matzos they were given a (what seemed to me as a child and greatly appreciated as such) a… Read more »
Good message here! I’m making ends meet between student loans and a work-study job (BH I have some form of income), so I don’t have much to give to tzedakkah aside from a few coins in the pushka, which adds up but very slowly. I volunteer for several hours a month (crisis hotline), and I can’t wait for the day that I have a regular job to give tzedakka to all the organizations that have helped me get on my feet (and stay standing).
God Bless Shimshon & Martha Stock!
BS”D
Don’t forget
BE A GOOD PERSON
it is THE ikkar of Yiddeshkeit, and we all B”H through Hashem’s Mitzvos know how.
Wonderful article and yes we are living in unusual times of weather, hard hit financial times, world uncertainity, and even ongoing concerns for most. This list doesn’t stop for most people right now. However if you see things from a spiritual end this is a great time to show real chessed and turn Torah truths into actions of mitpahs.It does matter to care about your neighbor or roommate and now may just make the greatest difference. Let this light shine from within and we all will be happier people serving HaShem together even in the most difficult of times:) Thank… Read more »
We all miss him and Martha and THEIR inimitable Chesed,
etc.
good stuff!
We need more people like you Shimshon. You were a special man. You held a special place in my parents’ OBM heart. I am sure that they are glad to be reunited with you. May your good deeds be maalitz yosher for klal yisrroel andf bring the geula sheleima now