Salary

R’ Michoel “der Alter” was a renowned chosid and a mashpia in Tomchei Tmimim. During the farbrengen of Yud Shvat 57430, the Rebbe spoke about him, and repeated a story that R’ Michoel used to tell his students. The following story is about his being hired for the position:

When the Rebbe Rashab decided to employ R’ Michoel as mashpia in the Yeshiva, he called in a chosid who would serve as a go-between; who would present the “offer’ to R’ Michoel. The Rebbe Rashab was telling the chosid exactly what to say to R’ Michoel; - what his responsibilities would be, what would be expected from him, how he should go about it etc. At the end, the Rebbe Rashab concluded “And tell him that he’ll get paid 4 rubles a week”.

The chosid was very surprised: he knew well of R’ Michoel’s level of avodas Hashem, and how little value he attached to material matters. Thus, it felt strange to him to go and discuss with R’ Michoel something as mundane as . . a salary! Although he didn’t say anything, the Rebbe noted his incredulity on his face, and set his mind at ease, saying: “Daaga nit, in krume d’chafya al mocho farnemt dos an ort!” [=Don’t worry, although his mind, his intellect, is totally preoccupied with spiritual and G-dly matters, nonetheless there is room for concern about the amount of his pay in “the membrane that covers the brain”; - i.e., it concerns him at least in a ‘makif’dige’ way]