The Aleph Institute recently presented its Compass Workshop on financial yashrus and integrity at Mesivta Tiferes Rav Zvi Aryeh Zemel in Passaic, New Jersey, for the second consecutive year. Being welcomed back for a second year, reflects the yeshiva’s commitment to helping prepare talmidim for real-world challenges they may one day encounter beyond the walls of the beis medrash, particularly in the area of financial conduct.

The workshop was hosted at the invitation of the menahel, Rav Chaim Witkin, whose steady leadership helps shape the tone and direction of the mesivta. The yeshiva is widely recognized for its clear and uncompromising commitment to yashrus and erlechkeit in every area of life, including financial conduct, where emes is viewed not as an extracurricular topic but as a foundational element of the yeshiva’s chinuch.

Aleph’s Compass Workshop, which is part of the organization’s broader Project 432 educational initiative, focuses on the financial decisions young bnei Torah may one day face in business, partnerships, investments, and everyday financial interactions. The discussion is not theoretical or abstract. It is grounded in real life scenarios that require clarity and yishuv hadaas. The aim is to frame financial decisions within a Torah worldview and bring the lessons of our Sifrei Mussar to life. We do this by sharing actual stories from Aleph clients and the lessons they learned, so that when nisyones arise, they will be prepared to respond the right way.

As part of the presentation, the workshop highlighted lessons from the lives of Gedolei Yisroel whose sensitivity to money matters was remarkable. From HaRav Chaim of Volozhin, talmidim saw the absolute precision by which repaying chovos are measured in shomayim. From HaRav Yechezkel Avramsky’s conduct, they were shown that even in difficult circumstances, a Yid does not justify wrongdoing or compromise on emes.

In addition, divrei Torah and perspectives were presented from HaRav Shlomo Ganzfried, HaRav Avraham Pam, and HaRav Aharon Dovid Goldberg, each emphasizing how financial matters represent an important area of avodas Hashem. The halachos of geneivah and onaah are explicit, yet the deeper message is that a person’s relationship with money reveals his relationship with the Ribbono Shel Olam. Is one acting as the owner, or as a shomer who understands that all brachah and hatzlocho come from Hashem?

The talmidim listened with attentiveness and maturity as the discussion explored how parnassah can present some of life’s greatest nisyonos. The workshop concluded with the well-known teaching that the first question asked in Shomayim concerns whether a person conducted his business dealings with honesty, prompting the students to reflect on how they would answer that question.

After the presentation, the general studies principal, Rav Uri Fox, shared: “Boruch Hashem, I received great feedback. The boys felt the workshop was valuable, and you presented it in a gentle way while making clear how serious these issues are. Tizku lmitzvos!”

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Project 432 is Aleph’s community awareness and education division, focused on promoting financial integrity and responsibility through practical, real-world education.

One of its signature programs is the Financial Integrity Masterclass, presented by Yaakov (Jake) Goldstein, a seminar designed for young entrepreneurs and professionals entering the world of business and personal finances. The program is delivered at shul events, corporate lunch-and-learns, and alumni gatherings, and provides participants with a clear framework for navigating complex financial and ethical challenges. A short trailer of this seminar can be viewed here:

Project 432 develops and delivers a suite of other curricula and programs that raise awareness of financial and legal responsibilities while strengthening a culture of transparency and accountability across the community. For more information about Project 432 or to schedule a presentation, please contact letstalk@p432.org.