New Montana Gemach in Memory of Zayde Shimon

A campaign has been launched to create Montana’s first Gemach, providing interest-free loans to Jews throughout Big Sky Country.  The Gemach is being dedicated in loving memory of legendary Crown Heights activist Rabbi Shimon Goldman, OBM, who recently passed away, and who, together with his wife Mrs. Esther Goldman, spent over forty years overseeing Gemilas Chessed Shomrei Shabbos in the community.

“It would be hard to find a family or Mosed in Crown heights that wasn’t assisted at one time or another by my Zayde. He genuinely enjoyed helping a Jew in need, whether a wealthy businessman or poor family trying to make ends meet, and it’s so befitting to perpetuate his legacy of Chessed by doing exactly that” said his grandson, Montana Shliach Rabbi Chaim Shaul Bruk, who is overseeing the campaign. “Whether after a long day at his butcher shop in Flatbush, at midnight after returning from a Simcha or on Sundays from sunrise to sunset, Zayde was always ready to take out the Gemach’s checkbook and help another soul. He lived and breathed kindness and we could only hope to follow in his footsteps”, Bruk said.

Interestingly, it was the Rebbe himself, who twice in 1986 (on Yud Shevat and Parshas Mishpotim) encouraged every “Beis Chabad” to have its own fund to help those In their community in need of an interest-free loan.

This campaign is well-timed as It’s in Parshas Mishpotim that we are commanded of this altruistic Mitzvah. In addition, It was each year during the Rebbe’s Mishpotim Farbrengen that Rabbi Goldman, wearing a Shtreimel, would have the Zechus of sharing a story before the Rebbe and inviting the community to the Melava Malka in honor of the Gemach. “To me it’s coming full circle” said Rabbi Bruk “Zayde and Mishpotim were synonymous, and we are hopeful that all those who benefited from Zayde Shimon’s kindness, will help us start this vital fund”.

To donate in memory of Zayde Shimon, please visit www.JewishMontana.com/FreeLoan.