Once at yechidus, Rabbi Yaakov Gluckowsky had a question: He was teaching at the Beis Yehudah school in Detroit. He took his job seriously, spending many hours preparing classes and organizing activities for the students. Nevertheless, he also saw that the Jewish community at large needed attention. Would it be considered a conflict of interest for him to involve himself in such matters?

The Rebbe replied that when a school hires a teacher, the intent is that in addition to teaching, he perform a certain measure of community service. Every teacher should look for one or two matters outside the school that require attention, and devote himself to them. This is not in conflict with his job; it is part of his job!

This message stayed with Reb Yaakov all his life. In his later years, he was teaching a Bar Mitzvah program for Israeli youth in Toronto. Besides the classes, he would spend Sunday mornings with the boys, arranging a minyan and a breakfast.

The director of the program, Rabbi Landau, wanted to pay him extra for the Sunday morning hours, but Reb Yaakov refused to take the money.

He told Rabbi Landau the above story and concluded: “The situation with these Israeli boys is one of the matters in the community that require attention. I have decided to devote myself to it, and so the extra time is already included in the check I receive for teaching.”