For more than thirty-five years the name of Rabbi Y.E. Henkin has been synonymous with that of “Ezras Torah.”
The Ezras Torah Fund was established in 1915 for the purpose of extending hope to needy rabbis and scholars.
Today the fund occupies spacious offices and employs a staff of secretaries. It was different in 1925, when Rabbi Henkin, who only two years earlier had arrived here from Russia, was appointed its director. A small room served as his office. Rabbi Henkin’s wife and children were his assistants.
He devoted long hours of the day and part of the night to the fund. For his and his family’s work he was paid $25 weekly. Since then Ezras Torah has become a large welfare agency. Last year alone it disbursed more than $200,000 among needy families. However, Rabbi Henkin’s salary has remained almost static throughout the long period in which the fund has made such great strides. His initial salary “increased” gradually until it eventually reach an “all time high” of $70. Several years ago, Rabbi Henkin, who is now over eighty, became ill and as a consequence thereof can only devote half a day to the fund.
He asked the presidium of the fund to make a cut in his salary and persisted in his demand until it was granted. Rabbi receives now—after more than thirty-five years of devoted work – $35 a week, not much more than he was paid when he began working for Ezras Torah.
How did he manage all these years? How could he afford to refuse the substantial increases due to him? How does he and his wife subsist on such a small income?
Rabbi Henkin’s austerity is proverbial. If there would have been many like him, furniture factories and stores would have closed down long ago and tailors would have had to bury their threads and needles. Furniture? The broken “pieces” which “decorate” Rabbi Henkin’s humble residence can hardly be called such. A new suit? – Rabbi Henkin thinks about things like that only once in many, many years.
Rabbi Henkin does not like to talk about himself, but he loves to speak of the wonderful work Ezras Torah is doing.
“Before the war Ezras Torah supported many needy families in Eastern Europe. Nowadays, the greater part of its beneficiaries are refugee rabbis and scholars and their dependents in the Holy Land. Though originally conceived to support only rabbis and scholars, the fund extends it aid to all who turn to it for assistance. Substantial grants are given to people who stand in need of hospitalization or medication.”
“Whenever misfortune strikes a Jewish community, Ezras Torah is one of the organizations appealed to. At present it contributes its modest share to the aid Jews all over the word are rendering to harassed Algerian Jewry, by supporting many a family.
“Ezras Torah derives its funds from appeals made in a synagogue and through the efforts of a host of individual supporters. The many devoted volunteers who are active in its behalf, know that they are welcome to Ezras Torah, not only when they bring their contributions but also when they come to draw the attention of its offers to a case which deserves their aid.”
Rabbi Henkin worked day and night for Ezras Torah He never took a vacation. On Sabbath and Holy Days he made appeals in synagogues. However, his efforts on behalf of Ezras Torah are only half the story of Rabbi Henkin’s acitivities since his arrival in this country.
A recognized rabbinical authority, his advice and decision in Halachic problems have constantly been sought by rabbis and communities. Money he received for his advice he frequently contributed to the fund.
Back in Russia, his native country, Rabbi Henkin served as rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva in several localities. For some time he was also a spiritual guide among the mountain Jews of the Caucasus. Though Rabbi Henkin is reluctant to speak of his activities, he will gladly tell you about the Jews of Georgia among whom he lived more than half a century ago.
“They have been simple and poor people. They lived in modest circumstances – a large family resided in one small room – but they were satisfied with their lot. They were mostly salesmen, peddling a variety of goods among the villages of the Caucasus. On the eve of Sabbath they would return home from their journey bringing their families the little money they had earned. They have been extremely benevolent and would give away half of their little income to support a worthy cause. None of them desecrated the Shabbath, and even on the intermediate days of the Holy Days they performed no work.”
Rabbi Henkin speaks with enthusiasm of the mountain Jews, of their austere mode of living and of their charitableness: Two virtues which he cherishes and presents in his own personality.
While taking leave of Rabbi Henkin, we picked up an appeal which he recently sent to supporters of Ezras Torah:
“… We most urgently appeal to you for your generous contribution for the High Holy Days.
“With the Approach of the High Holy Days, many tens of thousands of dollars must be raised promptly for the relief of Ezras Torah’s many thousands of beneficiaries. One would have to read himself their heartrending pleas, in order to get the real impact of their suffering and their extreme need…”
When we left the building we sure sure to remember the address: 235 East Broadway. That is the place where you may turn to , if you know of a person in need. This is the place where you should bring your contribution to the alleviation of suffering and pain.
Jewish Press, Aug. 17, 1962