Rav Baruch HaLavi Epstein (1860-1941) was an accountant and later the head
of a bank. It was said of him "On Epstein's word you can build a bridge".
He "also" wrote the famous commentary on the Torah called "Torah Temimah"
and a commentary on the siddur (prayer book) called "Baruch ShaAmar". He
wrote a biography of his uncle and his (the author's) childhood which was
translated to English, "My Uncle the Natziv", published by Artscroll. In
the back of the book there is a short biography of him about his successes
and his suffering in his last years.
Harav Avraham Danzig (passed away in 1833) was a traveling businessman. He
traveled to different fairs and markets in Europe. When he retired he wrote
a book called "Chayay Adom". His book was a very well received abridged
version of the first section of the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law).
It was so well received that he was encouraged to write a companion volume
called "Chachmos Adom" on another section of the Shulchan Aruch. When
people inquired how a simple businessman was able to write such an
excellent learned book, he replied that the learning of Torah was never far
from him. Every day he had a set amount that he would learn, no matter
what. At times, when he was in the middle of business deals, his mind
would sometimes wander and dwell on issues that he had studied in his daily
study periods. In a deluxe edition of his books that was republished a few
years, back there was a nice biography of him.
Rav Danzig wrote in an introduction to his book that he chose to be a
businessman because he did not want to be a slave to the community or
school. He writes that it is not an impossible job to remain a Ben Torah
while working in the business world. "Lo maAver HaYam" - It is not
attainable only in a far away place. [or in a distant past -yz]
Over the years, I have found that in most communities there are a few
unheralded layman that are appropriate role models. Because one of the
traits of the Balebos is modesty, one does not find these role models
unless one looks for them. (For several reasons the Yeshiva world does not
go out of its way to publicize these people so they remain hidden to the
typical Yeshiva student.)
Here in Israel I can think of contemporary figures which are appropriate
role models for a Ben-Torah today in the fields of law, banking, hi-tech,
academia, and even politics (hard to believe).
Shana Tova,
yakov z.