How do we inspire the next generation to move back and plant roots in our communities?

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/ CATHERINE ZIBO

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ver the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with some of the finest balabatim in Montreal to discuss an initiative close to my heart — attracting young families to our community.

It’s a conversation happening not just in Montreal, but in frum communities across North America, from Toronto to Los Angeles, Houston to Minneapolis.

The question we’re all asking is the same: How do we inspire the next generation to move back and plant roots in our communities?

Our out-of-town cities have so much to offer. We have tight-knit, warm, welcoming kehillos, with incredible talmidei chachamim, a world-class chinuch system, and a proud legacy of Torah, chesed, and avodas Hashem.

Yet despite all these strengths, many young families hesitate to move back to their hometown. Why?

The most common concern I hear is simple: parnassah.

People want to be here, but they need viable career opportunities. The job market can be challenging, and for those just starting out or seeking a change, securing a stable position can feel daunting.

While at first glance this may seem like a hurdle, in reality, it opens the door to a powerful opportunity — one that allows us to actively drive progress and strengthen our community’s parnassah landscape. A thriving kehillah depends on several factors, each contributing to its strength and vitality. A flourishing kollel, for instance, serves as the heart of a makom Torah, enriching the community with learning and inspiration. But there’s another powerful piece to the puzzle — investing in our own talent. When we nurture and support the individuals within our midst, we create a foundation for lasting growth, ensuring our kehillos continue to thrive for generations to come.

Building a Thriving Ecosystem

Klal Yisrael is a nation built on the values of chesed and charity. When a family faces hardship, we come together to help. We raise millions for medical emergencies, tzedakah causes, and mosdos. The kindness of our community — and the tzedakah — is unparalleled.

But the Rambam (Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 10:7-8; see Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deiah 249:6; see Shabbos 63a), in his ranking of the different levels of tzedakah, writes that the highest level is helping a person become self-sufficient. It’s far more valuable than raising money for him.

A job isn’t just a paycheck — it’s dignity, stability, and independence. It’s the ability to raise a family with confidence, contribute to the kehillah, and be a giver rather than a receiver.

By prioritizing hiring from within, we aren’t just making business decisions — we’re investing in the future of our community and performing the highest form of mitzvas tzedakah.

But hiring is only one piece of the puzzle. There’s a second piece. To truly create a sustainable, flourishing frum economy, we also need to prioritize buying from and doing business with each other.

A thriving kehillah isn’t just built on shuls and schools — it’s built on strong local businesses. When we choose to support Jewish-owned businesses, we’re ensuring that our financial resources remain within the community, funding mosdos, creating jobs, and strengthening our collective future.

Again, this isn’t just a beautiful concept — it’s actually halachah. The Torah commands us, “V’chi simkeru mimkar la’amisecha o kanah miyad amisecha” (Vayikra 25:14) — to prioritize commerce with fellow Jews whenever possible, when they are at a comparable price and quality.

When we build a thriving ecosystem, we enjoy several very important benefits:

• A Stronger Kehillah — Every job created and every purchase made within our community helps sustain the institutions and families that define our way of life.
• Shared Values — Jewish businesses understand our needs, our challenges, and our priorities. Unlike corporate giants, they stand by Klal Yisrael — whether it’s about Eretz Yisrael or some other cause we’re passionate about — in good times and bad.
• The Ripple Effect — When you shop at a frum-owned business, your money doesn’t just stop there — it keeps circulating, supporting more families, businesses, and institutions within the community.

Here’s an illustration of how this works:

You buy a dining room set from Greenberg’s Furniture for $1,000.

Mr. Greenberg spends $900 at Cohen’s Grocery.

Mr. Cohen spends $810 at Rosenbaum’s School Supplies.

Mrs. Rosenbaum hires Feldman’s Plumbing Services for $729.

Mr. Feldman donates $655 to a local yeshivah’s tuition fund.

Your $1,000 just created over $4,000 of impact — all within the frum community.

It Starts with Us

Perhaps there is one more point for us to consider. Beyond encouraging hiring and supporting local businesses, perhaps it is time for us — as a kehillah — to take a more proactive approach and establish a committee or organization tasked with job placement, career support, and integrating new businesses within the community.

Such an initiative would ensure that those seeking work are connected with potential employers, that new business ventures receive the support they need to thrive, and that our economic ecosystem continues to strengthen. By fostering structured economic growth, we create an environment in which families feel confident building their futures within our kehillos.

Imagine the impact if every frum employer made a conscious effort to hire Jewish workers. If every consumer prioritized buying from a fellow Yid. If every business owner sought to serve the community first. The results would be transformative.

We already excel in giving — we just need to extend that generosity into the way we build our economy. Not just through donations, but through opportunity. Not just by helping in times of crisis, but by ensuring long-term success for our friends, neighbors, and future generations.

Because when one Yid thrives, we all thrive. And when we choose to invest in each other, we’re not just supporting a community — we’re ensuring its growth and success for generations to come.

Rabbi Aryeh Kerzner is the rav of Agudas Yisrael of Montreal and a noted posek and popular speaker. Many of his shiurim and speeches are available online. He is the author of the sefer Halachah at Home, published by ArtScroll/Mesorah

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1051)