Soul Business at Mayanot

On the evening of the third of Shvat, Reb Shmuel Goodman, a money manager from Chicago and supporter of the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies, farbrenged with the Mayanot students on the subject of “The Chasidus of Financial Management.”

Reb Shmuel provided constructive suggestions and critical insight about an issue that most Mayanot students face at some point: the challenge of being proudly frum in the worlds of college and business. Rosh Yeshiva Yisroel Noach Wichnin introduced Reb Shmuel as someone who “deals with something that is not holy, makes it holy, and in the process, remains holy.” As a successful businessman, Reb Shmuel is an example of how being openly religious in the business world can seem to be a handicap, but is a unique advantage.

Reb Shmuel’s gradual transition toward observance was, he said, like the disintegration of a seed—a difficult process that ultimately bears tangible fruit. When he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, religion provided a paradigm for dealing with his challenges. While he humbly attributed his physical recovery and business success to Hashem’s blessings, Reb Shmuel also stressed that his spiritual progress was encouraged by the support of his wife.

Even though a Gentile might admire the integrity of an outwardly religious Jew, Reb Shmuel emphasized that Torah and mitzvot are what actually provide the outline for success in the business world: “Google means everyone has access to knowledge. You have to have judgment. Any education you have is an advantage, but what matters is knowing who you really are.” The standard practice in the economic world—and the spiritual world—is to chase the latest trend with the quickest payoff. Reb Shmuel cautions against this. “I preach a diversified portfolio,” said Reb Shmuel, “but the one thing I’m not diversified on is being a frum Jew.”

The farbrengen provided the students with an example of how Judaism and financial success are not only compatible, but intrinsically linked. Above all, Reb Shmuel said, one has to do something meaningful with his gifts: “Most people in the business world look forward to retiring to a hammock somewhere, but anyone with a picture of the Rebbe on his wall knows that the point of life is serving Hashem and helping our fellow Jews.”