נִיט הַייזעֶר אוּן געֶלְד אִיז דעֶר אִידִישׁעֶר רַייכְטוּם. דעֶר אִידִישׁעֶר אֵייבִּיקעֶר רַייכְטוּם אִיז, אַז מעֶן אִיז אִידעֶן וואָס הִיטעֶן אָפּ תּוֹרָה אוּן מִצְוֹת אוּן מְ'בְּרֵיינגְט אוֹיף דעֶר וועֶלְט קִינְדעֶר אוּן אֵיינִיקְלאַך וואָס הִיטעֶן אָפּ תּוֹרָה אוּן מִצְוֹת.

Jewish wealth is not houses and money. Jewish wealth, which is eternal, is the observance of Torah and mitzvos, and bringing children and grandchildren into the world who will observe the Torah and its mitzvos.1

A Story with an Echo

R. Meir Avtzon was an elder chassid who had played an active role in the Lubavitcher underground in Stalinist Russia. After migrating to the United States he settled in Detroit, where he raised a family of fifteen children. R. Avtzon made Torah study, the development of the Jewish community, and the spreading of Torah his primary concerns. He worked hard at several jobs, but providing amply for his family and for the many tzedakah projects he undertook was always a challenge.

He and his wife bore the burden without complaint. Yet, as his children began to reach marriageable age, he began to feel some concern. At his next yechidus, he told the Rebbe that he and his wife had never worried about their own finances, but that he wanted to provide each of his children with at least a modest wedding and dowry.

The Rebbe replied: “Material nadn (‘dowry’) comes and goes; spiritual nadn stays forever. G‑d gave you the unique gift of being able to provide your children with spiritual nadn. This is genuine nadn. You can tell this to your prospective in-laws in my name when you sit down to discuss the wedding details.”