A video of Rabbi Eli Stefansky addressing public questions about the $8 million Aron Kodesh built for Ateres Shlomo—under the leadership of Harav Sholom Ber Sorotzkin shlit”a—is rapidly going viral. In it, Rabbi Stefansky lays out the financial and spiritual rationale, and how the investment spurred unprecedented donations in support of Torah.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
9 Responses
Vulgar.
The explanation is lame, and hasn’t appeased me whatsoever. I am all in favor of beautifying a beis hamedrash, but there are points at which it becomes gawdy. When Klal Yisroel built the Mishkan, it was exquisite, with most keilim made of gold, silver, and otherwise ornate work. However, that generation was recipient to the wealth of Mitzrayim, with the first collection prior to the leaving, and the second at the Yam Suf. Klal Yisroel had minimal to no use for any of these valuables. They had no grocery bills with all sustenance from Mohn and the Be’er shel Miriam. They had no clothing expenses, nor for shoes. There was no commerce, and money was meaningless. They willingly donated from their wealth to the Mishkan.
Today’s generation has expenses that grow astronomically, whether food, homes, simchos, and all the related expenses. We need to think about wealth differently. I still see this beautiful Aron Hakodesh as obscene, with so much poverty throughout Klal Yisroel. Yes, some fund raising events are similarly obscene.
With all due respect to Rabbi Eli —
You’re a gifted maggid shiur. Please keep uplifting Klal Yisrael through Daf Yomi and Torah. But when it comes to matters of chessed and the real needs of struggling Yidden—you’ve missed the mark.
It’s easy to justify grandeur when you live in comfort. But for thousands of families in pain—emotionally, financially, spiritually—this kind of spending feels not just out of touch… but deeply painful.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Designed by Trump?
No one is jealous, people are just hurting in pain
If you have to explain and justify yourself — that alone already smells off
I know an organization — HegyonLibi.org — that’s quietly saving lives.
It’s the only one out there actually funding therapy sessions. Not awareness. Not hotlines. Real help. Real people. Real healing.
Hundreds have already been helped.
And yet… not one gvir has given a cent.
It makes you wonder:
Do we only support what we can photograph?
Or are we ready to back the work that actually holds people up when they’re falling?
I’m sorry but I still don’t get it. 2 questions: we all know so many people who are struggling financially. Even if they can BH put food on the table it’s a struggle. So the optics of something like this just doesn’t make sence to me. Where is nosai b’ol I’m chavero. It is a slap in the face to the majority of jewish families who need to submit themselves to a tuition board and are up at night thinking how they will pay the bills. The reason there is a back lash is because this is out of touch with most of klal yisroel. Second question: aren’t there many chazal that discuss the need for humility to be kona torah. And that it is a necessary ingredient to becoming a tzdik. Also what about all the stories we hear of gedolim living with simplicity I dont see How does this fits with that? There is another word for doing big showy things it’s called gayva and it would seems that’s a pretty bad thing in Judaism. Would love to hear an answer.
Har Sinai was tiny. The Beis HaMikdash was everyone’s. Your gold ark? Just your pride on display. One day you’ll be embarrassed every time you see it.