After Shabbat ended, he moved to a rooming house. At work, he advanced from handy-boy to apprentice to professional worker, and four years later he was able to send money for his parents, sister, and newborn brother to join him. He was able to support his family in New York City on his salary, enabling his father to work as a rebbi. At age 21 Herman met his future wife, Aidel, daughter of Rabbi Shmuel Yitzchok Andron (one of the founders of Rabbi Jacob Joseph School), on a shidduch. At first Herman's mother nixed the match, since Aidel's father could not afford a dowry. A few months later, Herman bumped into Aidel's brother Yankel Leib, who asked why he had ended the shidduch. Herman explained his mother's demand and Yankel Leib suggested that Herman give him $2,000, which he would present to Herman as the "dowry" on the night of the engagement. The shidduch was concluded successfully, and the couple was married on 29 December 1903. They had four daughters and one son. Open house Herman told his bride that he wished to have an open house in which guests would be welcome for Shabbat and Jewish holidays, and she agreed. Thus began their "business" of hachnasos orchim (hospitality to guests). Dozens dined at the Herman table each week, including men with social and emotional disabilities whom no one else wanted as guests. Many great rabbis from Europe stayed with the Hermans while visiting the United States. Noteworthy among them were Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz, rosh yeshivas Kaminetz, and his son-in-law, Rabbi Reuven Grozovsky, who stayed with the Hermans for two years; Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, Mir rosh yeshiva; Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz; and Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler. The latter wrote to his father, Rabbi Reuven Dov Dessler, about his host during the summer of 1930: He is a businessman brought up in America. But he is an outstanding y'rei Shamayim (God-fearing man), who observes the mitzvos of the Torah meticulously. He influences many people and guides them to become observant Jews. Reb Yaakov Yosef is known for strict adherence to the mitzvah of hachnasos orchim. On Shabbos, there are approximately twenty guests at his table. Herman lost his wholesale fur business and most of his savings in the 1929 stock market crash. Yet he continued to provide kosher meals and lodging for many guests in his home. Mitzvah pioneer At