A Real Estate Broker on a Mission
Rabbi Ari Klein isn’t someone who seeks the spotlight. He doesn’t sign his name to his chessed, nor does he consider himself a community leader. But every week, like clockwork—and without fanfare—he does something that brings light to hundreds of homes in his neighborhood.
He distributes Toras Avigdor booklets.
“I came across the pamphlets some years ago and found them really inspiring,” he shares. “Then I started getting the emails. One day, I saw a note that the person distributing them locally had to stop, and they needed someone new. Without thinking too much, I just said, ‘Naaseh venishma,’ and went ahead.”
Paper, Paper Everywhere
In the early days, Rabbi Klein handled everything, using paper, cartridges, and staples supplied by Toras Avigdor. He’d print a few hundred copies, then staple and fold them.
“It became a family project, something we all did together,” he remembers. “I got into a routine, and my kids helped too. I wasn’t sure how I’d find the time, but it worked out. It didn’t take away from my learning or my parnassah.”
Eventually, Toras Avigdor began sending pre-printed copies. Every Thursday, around three hundred booklets land on his doorstep, and Rabbi Klein and other volunteers—some of whom collect them from his front porch—team up to distribute them. The demand only continues to grow. “I keep getting requests for more—it’s really popular! It’s more work, but that’s what Toras Avigdor is all about, and I’m happy to do it.”
And feedback? “The main feedback I get is that people want it. I get calls asking if I can deliver to their shul, or if they can pick it up from me. I usually just tell them, ‘Sure, I’ll leave some on my porch.’ And if they can’t come by, I try to bring it to them myself.”
The Emes Hallmark
Asked what keeps him going, Rabbi Klein doesn’t hesitate. “Rabbi Miller had this quality—he was completely truthful. He didn’t sugarcoat things or hold back. But at the same time, he was able to say things in a way that appealed to everyone.”
That authenticity resonates with many readers. “People appreciate the emes. In a world where people are afraid to speak plainly, Rabbi Miller just said it like it was. And that’s refreshing.”
Torah First
Though he’s now a real estate broker in Pikesville, Rabbi Klein’s journey includes years in yeshivah and chinuch. He learned in kollel in both Baltimore and Denver, and served as a rebbi in Denver and Phoenix. It’s easy to see where his heart lies.
“Work shouldn’t take away from a person’s commitment to Torah. We should still be learning with the same dedication as anyone else,” he says.
Baltimore’s Orthodox community, including around Pikesville, is thriving, baruch Hashem. “There are over twenty schools, including several yeshivos, and over forty shuls. Outside of New York, it’s one of the largest frum communities in the country.”
And let’s not forget, Rabbi Miller himself was born in Baltimore. “Sometimes when I drive around, I see old mezuzos on doorposts in neighborhoods that used to be Jewish. It’s interesting how the community has shifted over time.”
A Message from Rabbi Miller
The Kleins also get a chance to read the Toras Avigdor. “My wife usually reads the booklet first and shares it with us over Shalosh Seudos,” says Rabbi Klein.
It’s the perfect time for quiet reflection.
When asked to share a message with readers, Rabbi Klein responds with humility, “Honestly, Rabbi Miller says it better than I ever could. But the message would be to have a bakashas ha’emes, a desire for truth. Try to emulate Rabbi Miller’s approach to life, always striving for what’s true and real.”
He never met Rabbi Miller personally, but that hasn’t stopped him. “Like many others, I still feel like I gained so much from him. He had that kind of reach.”
True, Rabbi Miller is no longer walking the streets of Baltimore, but now, decades later, Rabbi Klein makes sure that his voice is still heard. Same city, same mission, same emes.
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