Shomer Shabbos CEO Inspires

Chabad of Melville, NY recently hosted another of their popular Jewish Business Networking breakfasts.

Organized by Rabbi Chaim Vaisfiche for the Jewish Professionals of Melville, the Jewish business Network has become an engaging and much sought after event.

Each Jewish business Network starts with a Living Torah video. This is followed by a gifted guest speaker that empowers the participants to be a better person, thinking out of the box and thereby achieving greater success in their jobs. Some of the speakers included CEO Alec Stern, one of the founders of Constant Contact and Ron Greenstone, CEO of Greenstone Marketing. Networking and an elaborate breakfast is offered for all to partake.

The most recent guest speaker was the Shomer Shabbos, Chief Officer of Canon USA, based in Melville, Mr. Seymour Liebman. Seymour shared some humorous anecdotes how he achieved his status at Canon by utilizing some non-conventional yet successful business strategies.

He also touched upon the respect he receives from the Japanese Canon executives who admire him for keeping his religion.

Participants expressed their amazement at the stories of Kiddush Hashem told by Mr. Liebman.

Liebman related that he instructed the receptionist at the Hotel in Japan that he is a Sabbath observer and to not transfer any calls from 4:00 pm Friday as the Sabbath begins at 4:30 pm until after Sundown on Saturday.

At 4:15 pm as he was about to light Shabbos candles, the phone rang. The frantic receptionist apologized that there is a woman on the phone insisting she is your wife and she must speak to you now before it is too late. His wife went on to say she spent fifteen minutes arguing with the receptionist to put her through. She woke up in middle of the night realizing she must call now or miss speaking to him for 24 hours.

Another time when he was in Israel on business he was surprised to find the fridge in his hotel room stocked full with a large variety of kosher foods. Upon inquiring about this he was told that Canon asks the hotels he stays in around the world to purchase all foods they can find with an OU on the package. Since he was in Israel – that included a large variety of products.

The Jewish Business Network of Melville, directed by Rabbi Asher Vaisfiche is a wonderful means whereby friendships are created, increased business contacts are forged and a Kiddush Hashem is made.