 Since he did not want any rabbinic post, his wife administered a modest coal business, while he continued his single-minded pursuit of Torah study, amassing knowledge of phenomenal breadth and scope.Nonetheless, the avalanche of requests from varied kehillos that he led them as their Rav continued, and his friend, Reb Meir Arik, prayed that his business fail so that Klal Yisrael not be deprived of his leadership.For twenty years, this Tshebiner ba'al habayis (layman) – already renowned as the "Gaon of Tshebin" – was consulted by leading rabbanim with whom he maintained a vigorous correspondence; still he remained deaf to all rabbinical offers.