Weekly Dvar Torah: Reb Yosef Aronow – A Visionary of Telecommunications, Faith, and Moshiach

This week, the Lubavitch community lost a giant—a humble yet formidable soul whose generosity and dedication changed the landscape of Jewish life. His name was Reb Yosef Aronow, affectionately known as Joe Aronow.

Joe was a man who climbed the ladder from humble beginnings to great success, yet his wealth was never his defining feature. It was his unwavering commitment to Torah, to the Rebbe’s vision, and to the cause of Moshiach that truly set him apart. He dedicated millions to support Chabad and many other Jewish institutions worldwide, yet his humility remained intact, his simplicity unshaken. While so many have spoken about his incredible philanthropy, I want to share a different side of Joe—his wisdom, his deep understanding of the Rebbe’s teachings, and the profound way he saw the unfolding of Moshiach’s arrival within the very fabric of the modern world.

I had the privilege of knowing Joe for over 30 years, back when he worked in a small law office on Park Avenue South. His keen intellect was evidently deep and visionary. After the AT&T breakup—a court ruling spanning thousands of pages, filled with intricate legal details—Joe did what no one else dared. He read every single word, studied every last detail, and understood it inside and out. He saw an opportunity and seized it, launching what would become a thriving telecommunications company.

But Joe’s success was not just the result of sharp business acumen; it was a reflection of a profound truth he had discovered. He would often say, “The more tzedakah you give, the more Hashem blesses your business.” And he lived by those words. The more he earned, the more he gave—disproportionately so. His first major project was the Chabad House on 77th Street, directly across from where he lived. And from there, his giving never stopped.

Yet, my relationship with Joe was not just as a witness to his generosity. We were like family. We spent hours together, discussing, learning, exploring the deepest ideas. And in those conversations, I came to know the depth of his soul—a man of extraordinary thoughtfulness and deep emotion. Every intellectual discussion would inevitably lead to a practical application in Avodas Hashem. Every insight was another step in bringing Moshiach.

Two conversations with Joe stand out in my memory, both carrying the same powerful message, yet in vastly different circumstances.

As his company grew and telecommunications technology advanced, Joe once explained a new development in the field, his eyes alight with excitement. “Rabbi, do you realize what’s happening?” he asked, almost breathless. “This is Moshiach!”

I looked at him, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

He explained with clarity and conviction. “The biggest cause of war and strife has always been a lack of communication. People misunderstand each other, and that leads to conflict. But now, communication is becoming easier and cheaper. This will enable dialogue, which will bring peace to the world! Isn’t that exactly what Moshiach is about?”

I was floored. He was right. He had taken what we had taught him about Moshiach—that his arrival is not just an event, but a process already in motion—and he saw it unfolding in real-time, through the very advancements of technology. He saw Hashem’s plan woven into the fabric of progress itself.

Another conversation took place around the year 2000. I visited him in his MetTel office, where I found him unusually preoccupied. The President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the UK had just announced a controversial stance: that patents on medical science should not be used to enrich private corporations but should be accessible to the public. As a result, pharmaceutical stocks were plummeting.

I saw Joe’s eyes scanning his computer screens, making rapid calculations, issuing buy and sell instructions. I stood up to leave, sensing the pressure he was under. But Joe stopped me. “No, Rabbi, please stay. We need to talk.”

When things settled down, he turned to me with a look of deep intensity. “Rabbi, I’ve invested heavily in medical technology. I study the science behind it because I believe in where it’s headed. The advancements we’re seeing today in genetics, in DNA research, in medical technology—this is Moshiach!”

Again, I was speechless.

“You taught me that when Moshiach comes, all illness will be cured, and people will experience true longevity. Look at where we are headed! Science is unlocking the secrets of life itself. The revival of the dead isn’t just a mystical belief—it’s becoming a medical possibility! Don’t you see? Moshiach is already influencing the world!”

At that moment, my mind flashed to a story passed down for generations in Chabad. Reb Benyamin Kletzker, a Chossid of the Alter Rebbe, was once reviewing his business accounts. He tallied millions of rubles in income and expenses, yet when he reached the bottom line, all he could think was: אין עוד מלבדו—there is nothing besides Hashem. His business, his wealth, his entire reality was nothing but G-dliness.

This story has been revered for over two centuries as the pinnacle of Chassidic devotion. And yet, here before me sat a Jew—not from the first generation of the old great Chassidim, not steeped in the deep study of Chassidus—yet he had internalized the Rebbe’s teachings so deeply that he saw Moshiach not only in moments of triumph but even amidst financial turmoil. His faith, his vision, his Emunah was unshaken. He was living the Rebbe’s message in the most real way possible. To me this was the seventh generation on full display.

Joe, or as I lovingly called him, Reb Yoseif, left me with a lesson that I will carry for the rest of my life. He taught me that Moshiach isn’t just a dream or a distant hope—it’s a reality unfolding before our eyes, if only we choose to see it.

Thank you, Joe. Your wisdom, your generosity, your unwavering faith in the Rebbe’s vision will continue to inspire us all. You were a true Chossid, a true believer, and a true force of light in this world. May we merit the speedy arrival of Moshiach, and we’ll continue our conversations once again.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.

Have a Shabbos of Vision and Peace,
Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Yosef Katzman