H3 Business Halacha Summit in Florida

The Opening Keynote Session set the tone for the entire Summit. Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro, the internationally renowned speaker and Rav of Shaaray Tefilah in Miami Beach, opened with a definitive charge to the attendees, “Everywhere that you go, every step that you take, every person that you meet, make it an admas kodesh (holy ground). That is the challenge.” He was followed by an inspirational drasha from Rabbi Joey Haber, Rav of the Magen David Synagogue, who focused on two main topics, making one’s office a location that is fit for a ben Torah and on the proper treatment of employees and colleagues.

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R’ Avi Schron, a well know personality in the real estate industry and in the world of askanus, closed the session from the perspective of a ben Torah in the workplace and the responsibility to create a Kiddush Hashem in in all situations. One specific point he touched upon, is one of the main goals of the H3 Summit Movement; To inspire the participants to take concrete steps to ensure that all business deals are executed within the framework of halacha. He asked, “Businessman have consultants for everything related to their business, why can’t they have a Rav or posek on retainer or payroll to oversee every contract and business deal?”

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The Summit was graced by the participation of many renowned Rabbanim and Poskim form across the country. Rav Zev Cohen, Rosh Kollel of the Choshen Mishpat Kollel in Chicago, electrified his audience in a session about honest business dealings, and Rabbi Yosef Viener, the Rav of Kehillas Shaar Shamayim in Monsey, delivered the closing keynote address.  In addition, they both participated in a powerful Q & A session on Thursday afternoon, where they shared clear daas Torah on the topics of bitachon, work-life balance and other business-related matters.

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Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, Dayan of Agudas Yisroel of Illinois and close talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, gave a shiur about the halachos of hiring and doing business with other Yidden. Rabbi Ari Marburger, Dayan for the Bais Din Maysharim in Lakewood, spoke about various halachos related to the Employer- Employee relationship, and Rabbi Yosef Kushner, posek for the Bais Havaad of Lakewood, spoke twice.

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Once about Commerce on Shabbos and another about the hlachos of Tzedakah and Maaser. All speaker marveled at and spoke about the Kiddush Hashem of 400 attendees taking off a day of work to learn and apply lessons to run their business according to halacha.

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In addition to the guest speakers, there were several local Rabbanim representing most of the Jewish communities in South Florida, who also spoke and gave shiurim. A session about Business Travel in Halacha was opened with divrei pesicha from Rabbi Nachman Luban, Rosh Kollel of the Boa Raton Kollel, followed by a shiur from Rabbi Yaacov Gross, the Rosh Kollel of the Miami Beach Kollel, and Rabbi Ephraim Friedman, the Rosh Kollel of the Ezra Franco Kollel in Aventura. In a parallel session on “Avoiding Common Pitfalls in the workplace” the session heard divrei pesicha from Rabbi Moshe Schreck, the Rav of Beis Medrash Heichal Hatorah in Hollywood, followed by a shiur by Rabbi Dovid Schoen, the Av Bais Din of the Bais of Florida, and Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Blejer, Rosh Kollel of the North Miami Beach Kollel. Each speaker drew upon his expertise on these matters to educate and illuminate these often- complex issues. To round off the list, Rabbi Yosef Galimidi the Rav of the Beit Edmond J Safra Shul in Aventura and Rabbi Yaakov Gibber of the Jewish Center in Boca also share inspirational remarks. Each session was chaired by a local businessman, giving some perspective on the topic or session at hand, including Josh Kon, Avrohom Liberman, Ari Pearl, Andre Roitman, Meir Rosenwasser, Joseph Saka.

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A highlight of the entire event was the closing keynote address by R’ Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman of Agudath Israel of America. Mr. Werdiger emphasized, “The most important thing that I can impart to all of you is consistency. Your home life, your shul life have to be the same as your business life. You do not have dual lives” He then regaled the audience with stories about how acting with dignity and courtesy can make a Kiddush Hashem and inspire others to come closer to Judaism.

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To learn more about the event, visit h3summit.org/florida

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