In an extraordinary turn of events at the massive Ateres Shlomo Torah network, thousands of avreichim who had gone three months without receiving their monthly stipends were paid in full Thursday — after an American donor agreed to cover the enormous shortfall on one unusual condition: Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon HaRav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin would accompany him to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.
According to B’Chadrei Chareidim, thousands of avreichim learning in Ateres Shlomo kollelim across Eretz Yisroel had not received their stipends for three consecutive months amid serious financial difficulties facing the network.
The financial strain was attributed in part to the weak U.S. dollar, with the network struggling to close substantial budget gaps while continuing to support its enormous network of yeshivos and kollelim.
The remarkable breakthrough came when HaRav Sorotzkin visited the home of a wealthy donor in Miami.
The donor presented the Rosh Yeshiva with an unusual proposition: “If Rosh Yeshiva comes with me to Uman for Rosh Hashanah — I will cover all the debts that same day and transfer the full amount for the three months.”
HaRav Sorotzkin, carrying the responsibility for thousands of avreichim and their families, did not immediately accept the offer.
Late Wednesday night, he held an urgent telephone consultation with one of the Gedolei Yisroel, explaining the situation and the condition imposed by the donor.
After hearing the details and considering the tremendous financial pressure facing thousands of families just before the Yomim Tovim, the Gadol instructed HaRav Sorotzkin to accept the offer.
HaRav Sorotzkin then turned to the donor with a simple response: “Transfer the money — and I’m coming.”
The Rosh Yeshiva subsequently departed for Uman.
And the donor kept his word.
By Thursday, the bank accounts of thousands of Ateres Shlomo avreichim had been credited with the outstanding funds, with all three months of unpaid stipends deposited in full.
The dramatic development brought tremendous relief to thousands of families just days before Rosh Hashanah, ending a months-long financial crisis with a conclusion few could have imagined.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
15 Responses
Wow what a donor – not only saving the financing but also being mekarev the Rosh Yeshiva!!
How does anyone obtain a visa to Ukraine 🇺🇦 so fast?:- website states it takes 10 working days to obtain a visitor’s visa to Ukraine & 5 working days to obtain an expedited visitor’s visa to Ukraine.
wow … where is respect for chachomim … I don’t think I can afford a Rosh Yeshiva, but I’ll check with a local kollel how much for a Rosh Kollel to join me on my chol hamoed trip.
The donor is not satisfied with being so wealthy that he can write a check to cover 3 months of stipends. He has to throw his weight around and make sure the Rosh Yeshiva knows he has to dance to the tune dictated by the donor. It’s a disgrace and a Chutzpah.
Would he sell his values for $$?
Just curious what he would do for me, if I was the donor…
To hold all those avreichim and their families hostage to this “gvir’s” obsession with Uman is a bizayon of Torah. To treat a Rosh Yeshiva and Kollel Yungerleit as if they are dolls to dance on the end of his strings is just plain evil.
If it’s true, is that not a real moves from reb nachman, the koach of uman..think about it , rav sorotzkin needs to cover the bank big time..collecting in Miami calls everyone he knows..needs a BIG CHECK..there is no prize he can give a gevir they have everything.. and the pull to uman..in breslov Brent a fire…and rav sorotzkin will come back blown away
Is what was the shaloh for the gedolim?
🤦♂️
The Rebbe Rav Nachman comes through for Klal Yisroel.
Not sure if this donor wants to make Reb sortzkin chassidish or he wants all of Uman to support Ateres Shlomo
Shmuel & R’ Shalom Ber: Two Amazing Stories of Elevated Selflessness.
I. Shmuel – The Kol Nidrei Drunk
Those who arrived early at the village synagogue on Yom Kippur eve could not but notice the man sleeping in a corner. His soiled clothes and the strong scent of alcohol that hovered about him attested to the cause of his slumber. A Jew drunk on the eve of the Holy Day? Several congregants even suggested he be expelled.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Rebbe entered and signaled for the Torah scrolls to be removed for Kol Nidrei. At that solemn moment, the drunk staggered up to the central platform, pounded on the table, and loudly announced the start of Simchat Torah’s hakafot—confusing the most awe-inspiring night of the year with its most high-spirited festival. As the scandalized crowd moved to eject him, the Rebbe stopped them: “Let him be. For him, it’s already time for hakafot. He’s there already.”
The next evening, the Rebbe revealed the truth behind the drunkenness of Reb Shmuel.
That morning, Shmuel had learned of a poor family imprisoned by a nobleman over unpaid rent. He spent all day collecting ransom money, but by late afternoon he was still 300 rubles short. Desperate, he entered a tavern where wealthy gamblers offered him 100 rubles for every pitcher of vodka he chugged in one gulp. Shmuel drank three pitchers, secured the 300 rubles, freed the family, and staggered directly to the synagogue before passing out.
“We fast, pray, and repent to elevate ourselves before G‑d,” the Rebbe explained. “Only after the awe of Yom Kippur do we reach the spiritual joy of Simchat Torah. But through his total self-sacrifice to save a family, Reb Shmuel was already there.”
II. R’ Shalom Ber – The Rosh Hashanah Na-Nach
Those gathered in Uman on Rosh Hashanah eve could not help but whisper when they saw the head of the great Ateres Shlomo network. A premier Rosh Yeshiva of Litvishe nobility spending the Day of Judgment at the grave of Rav Nachman, dancing alongside the joyous Breslover chassidim? Onlookers wondered how such a leader could abandon his usual seat of honor for a foreign courtyard on the holy day.
As the prayer leader began the solemn service, Rav Shalom Ber joined the Na-Nach chassidim, leaping into the air with ecstatic joy, singing and clapping as if it were already the height of Simchat Torah. To the confused crowd, it seemed as though he was confusing the terrifying Day of Judgment with the year’s most high-spirited celebration.
“Let him be,” an elder chassid told the murmuring crowd. “For him, the sweetening of the harsh decrees has already taken place. He is there already.”
After the fast, the story behind his sudden journey came to light.
For three long months, thousands of avreichim in his kollelim had gone without their stipends due to severe financial strains. With the High Holidays approaching, thousands of families faced empty tables and unpaid bills. Desperate to rescue them, Rav Shalom Ber traveled to Miami to appeal to a wealthy donor.
The donor made an audacious offer: “If the Rosh Yeshiva flies with me to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, I will cover the full sum for all three unpaid months today.”
Carrying the burden of thousands of hungry families, Rav Shalom Ber consulted a leading Sage, who instructed him: “Accept the condition and save the families.” The Rosh Yeshiva turned to the donor and agreed. Before the sun set on Rosh Hashanah eve, the bank accounts of thousands of Torah scholars were credited in full.
“On Rosh Hashanah, we stand in fear and awe, praying to be written in the Book of Life,” it was explained. “We labor to secure our heavenly decrees through tears and repentance. But through his total self-sacrifice for the sustained life of thousands of Torah families, Rav Shalom Ber had already secured his sweet decree. When he danced, it was no mistake—for while we were just beginning our judgment, for his scholars, the salvation had already arrived.”
If u had 5 mill to give to the tzedakas of your choice, who would get , wud sorotzkins kollels be on your list? The gevir owes sorotzkin nothing ,he is not a Talmud and there are a million worthy kollelim
There is also no prize rav sorotzkin can give him..
Yet 1200 yungeleit need the chk desperately to make yom tov
MAH ASAH HAKODOSH BORUCH HU,!,!! Rav Bachman was the shliach..in a crazy way
He can sell the Aron Kodesh he built for $10,000,000 and maybe the Avreichim wouldn’t have needed to wait 3 months for their measly stipend
How much was the donation?
Davening in Uman is not selling ones values. I have davened in Hospital on Rosh Hashono, I have davened in Amshinov, and i’ve davened beyechidus. When the situation calls for it, it’s not the end of the world.
Asking the Rosh Yeshiva to accompany him is asking for a personal favor, a kavod, a chizuk, and memories that will be treasured for generations. There is not much more that a Rosh Yeshiva can do for a gvir. Buy him a sefer torah? He could buy 10 himself!
And nowhere is there mention of the Rosh Yeshiva behaving frivolously or even as if it was Simchas Torah – he will certainly be an inspiration for many people in Uman who usually behave and feel that ‘Uman Rosh Hashono’ is a carnival.