Finding a Way to Reach People
Rav Shimshon's originality was well known. He could find ways to reach people where others could not. Once, while the aliyos were being sold on Purim, the gabbai announced, "Fifty shekels for opening the Oron hakodesh." Rav Shimshon leaped to the bimah and said, "Pesichoh, for saying asher yotzar word by word for one month." When someone undertook to do this for three years, Rav Shimshon awarded him the mitzvoh.
A woman once consulted him about a pill made from chometz that she had to take on Pesach. Rav Shimshon was concerned that she might not take the medication even though she had to, and he wanted to make clear to her that it was permitted. "What is the problem?" he said. "Put matzoh all around the pill, and then it is absolutely fine." The woman did so and was reassured.
Once the Toldos Aharon institutions held a fundraising drive in Ofakim. In a piercing voice Rav Shimshon called out, "I know that you have no connection to Toldos Aharon. But do not give to Toldos Aharon. Give to the Ribono Shel Olam. Where is a Jew's sense of self-sacrifice?" The Rebbe of Toldos Aharon said that the collection was an unbelievable success, with tens of thousands of dollars raised.
When a collection was organized for a communal worker who had become buried in debt, and people were not enthusiastic about paying someone's debts, Rav Shimshon stood up and said, "It is really the other way around. When someone asks for money to do worthy things with it, people give, although it is not certain that his endeavors will succeed. Here we are dealing with a case where we know that what he did was a success. Can we give any less?" The collection succeeded.
During an election campaign Rav Shimshon called the mayor, whom he opposed, and said, "Elections are war, and one takes out all one's ammunition. I propose that you fight us to the end, but do not fight against Hakodosh Boruch Hu." Toward the end of the campaign the mayor was drawn to anti-religious areas. One of the communal workers relates, "After the victory I approached him and asked, 'Is the Rav pleased?' He replied, 'You see that in the end he did come out against Hakodosh Boruch Hu. Perhaps none of it was worthwhile.' Then he added, 'Let him think whatever he thinks about religion inside, but to come out with it. We learn in Maseches Negoim, "If a house is dark, one does not make windows."'"