The Barber Who Gave Up Friday Nights

A Late-Night Business and an Unexpected Challenge

Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein recounted a remarkable story shared with him by Rabbi Eliyahu Broida, the rabbi of the Ramat HaChayal neighborhood in Tel Aviv. During a visit, Rabbi Broida introduced him to a religiously observant Jew and revealed the surprising journey that led him there.

“This man,” explained Rabbi Broida, “was a professional barber. Unusually, his barbershop operated on Friday nights as well. When I asked him why he would so openly violate Shabbat, he explained that many Israeli Air Force pilots lived in the area, and Friday night was the only time they were available to get a haircut.”

Rabbi Broida tried to persuade the barber to close his shop on Friday nights for just one month. “Test it,” he encouraged. “I promise you’ll earn 30% more than you do now.”

The barber agreed, and to his amazement, after a month of Shabbat observance, he calculated that not only had he not lost money, he had gained 50% more than usual. That experience sparked a profound transformation. He and his entire family drew closer to Torah observance and became fully committed to a religious lifestyle.

Testing Hashem—or Sanctifying His Name?

Rabbi Zilberstein was deeply moved by the story, but also troubled. “Is it really permitted to test Hashem like that?” he asked. “After all, the Torah says, ‘You shall not test Hashem your God’ (Deuteronomy 6:16).”

He reasoned that when such a test is conducted for the sake of kiddush Hashem (the sanctification of God’s name) and accompanied by heartfelt prayer, it may indeed be permissible. He pointed to the biblical precedent of Elijah on Mount Carmel, who invoked Divine intervention to demonstrate Hashem’s power.

But the most compelling support came from Rabbi Zilberstein’s brother-in-law, the late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky. Rabbi Kanievsky brought proof from the book of Daniel. When Daniel was pressured by the Babylonian king’s steward to eat royal food, he requested a ten-day trial in which he would eat only seeds and legumes. Daniel’s goal? To prove that even a restricted, kosher diet would strengthen him and his companions and thereby sanctify the name of Hashem.

“In situations where the sanctity of Hashem’s name is at stake,” concluded Rabbi Zilberstein, “a trial like this is permitted. And especially when it comes to Shabbat, the very source of blessing, it is not only allowed, but at times,