Jewish Heritage Connection, 601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA (2026)

09/03/2026

Dvar Torah: Torah Portions: Nitzavim / Vayailech
Rabbi Dovid Saks

Recently, two individuals whose heroic actions proved to be life saving for themselves and others, were in the news. Both sensational incidents were captured on video.
One was Ryder Williams, a 16-year-old lifeguard in California, who rescued a 10-year-old boy from violent waves and rip currents. The breathtaking rescue entailed holding on to a limp Nathaniel Rai while navigating the fierce currents and waves.
The other was Faith Tenkley, a young pilot, who performed a miraculous emergency landing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Boca Raton when her plane’s engine failed.
She steered away from hitting buildings or swimmers and emerged unharmed!
Although both incidents entailed quick thinking, confidence, and skill, they were nothing short of miraculous!
It is thrilling to hear and see news of incidents that have a happy and good outcome, versus the inundation of tragic, sad, distressing and exploitative news.
The Halacha/Law is that when one is saved from danger, a special blessing called Hagomel is recited. The primary place to recite it is when the Torah is read in the Synagogue. This blessing is in lieu of an elaborate Thanksgiving offering (Todah) one would present in the Temple in Jerusalem when it was in existence.
The Talmud categorizes four situations that require this blessing: One who is released from prison; one who traveled over the seas or the desert; and one who recuperated from a severe illness. Included in these categories is when one emerged alive from a dangerous accident.
Many recite this blessing after flying overseas.
It is interesting to note that in our daily Amidah prayer that we recite three times a day, we mention during the blessing of thanksgiving our thanks to G-d for “The miracles You perform for us each day.”
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein o.b.m. wondered what we are referring to. Do we in fact witness miracles that happen to us each day?
Reb Moshe explains, what we are referring to are the miracles that we are totally unaware of that G-d does for us each day. For example, G-d often orchestrates that we pass dangerous areas just before or after a danger has occurred. Those are the miracles that He performs for us without us even knowing of it throughout the day. This is on a personal level. There are also miracles that are continually happening to us on a communal and a national level as well. No matter where a Jew may find himself around the world, he or she is part of this awesome miracle.
Then there is the awesome miracle of the mere existence and endurance of the Jewish nation. We survived, survive, and will always survive in the face of all the plans, wishes and atrocities that our haters wish to do and do to exterminate us. This is because G-d, in the Torah, guaranteed our endurance and continuance. Our presence and perseverance are through a continuum of miracles that G-d does for us. He continually protects us because we are His precious children.
What G-d wants most from us is that we follow His ways as He set forth in the Torah. Even when we are unworthy of His mercy, He still shines His compassion upon us. In fact, the Hagomel blessing, which is recited over being saved by a miracle or emerging intact from dangerous situations, spells this out.
“Blessed are You our G-d King of the universe who bestows upon the unworthy, good things, Who has bestowed upon me every goodness.” The congregation responds, ‘Amen, He who has bestowed upon you every goodness, may He continue to bestow upon you every goodness forever.’
Notice, the blessing indicates that the person feels unworthy for the miracle to have been performed for him, yet G-d in His kindness saved the person so that he contemplates the true meaning in life and strives to dedicate himself to serve G-d in the best way possible.
In Hebrew, the word for miracle is Nais. The word Nais also means a sign or banner. Our Sages explain that when a miracle occurs to a person, group or nation, it is an open sign to point out to us to express gratitude to the One who orchestrated it all.
This Shabbos night, as the Holidays will shortly approach, Jews around the world will begin reciting Selichos – penitential prayers.
A central feature of the Selichos is when the Ark is opened and the “Shema Kolainu – Listen to our voices” prayer is recited. This prayer is a selection of verses from our scriptures that are chanted by the Chazan and repeated by the congregation in unison.
One of the verses comes from Psalm 51. Although King David, writes, “Do not cast me away from Your Presence, and the spirit of Your Holiness do not take from me,” our Sages when composing this prayer instituted that we say, “The spirit of Your Holiness do not take from us.”
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein says our Sages changed this to let every Jew know, that not only was the revered King David, who was invested with the spirit of G-d’s Holiness asking that it not be taken from him, rather, every Jew is invested with a Holy spirit of G-d and we all plead to G-d that it remains with us.
This underscores the precious sanctity invested in every Jew. Knowing that we have this within us, reassures and boosts our confidence. All we have to do is blow on the everlasting flame of our Neshama/soul with the slightest prayers, Mitzvos and Torah, and it will invigorate the holy spirit of G-d within us!

08/27/2026

Dvar Torah: Torah Portion: Ki Savo
Rabbi Dovid Saks
In this week’s portion, the Torah lists 98 condemnations if we do not uphold the precepts of the Torah. The Torah focuses on the root cause of our rejection, saying, “It is due to not having served G-d with joy and a good heart, due to the abundance of good.”
A question is asked. Are all the punishments the Torah warns us about only due to not serving G-d with joy?
Rabbi Avrohom Schorr explains that worry and fear cause one not to be in the frame of mind of joy. When one believes that G-d watches over us, is aware of and is in control of everything, it limits one’s worry, for he believes and trusts that all is due to G-d’s watchful Eye and as a result, a joyful spirit will prevail.
In life, those who are happiest are the ones whose every detail of their lives is taken care of by others. For example: Children are for the most part the happiest segment of society. Why is that? Because others worry for them leaving them with not much to worry about.
Similarly, one who trusts and believes in G-d, feels as secure as a child being cared for by a parent, which brings him to a happy state.
Once one is in a happy state, it is easier to observe and attach himself to Hashem and fulfill His mandate rather than reject it.
Many times, one’s unhappiness with religion is due to their misunderstanding of it. Our leader Moshe appealed to each of us to explore, seek, study and clarify the Torah and Mitzvos that G-d loving gave to His cherished nation. We unequivocally and voluntarily accepted them with an everlasting bond at Mount Sinai.
In the Torah, Moshe exhorts us to choose and live life to the fullest through the teachings of the Torah.
Recently, there was a video clip that went viral. The celebrated Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson asked, what is the difference between children and adults?
He answered; “Adults hold grudges and kids don’t hold grudges.”
For example: If a child is unhappy and says, “I hate you Mommy”, three minutes later the mom gives her child some ice cream, and she says, “I love you Mom.” When kids are playing with each other and have a disagreement, all it takes is a slight distraction and they are back playing with each other.
However, when adults become slighted, whether it be a remark, disagreement or someone was cold to them, they will hold on to a grudge or resentment and might alienate each other for many years without attempting to iron things out. This tension and separation impacts couples, family members, friends and business associates.
The Tzemach Tzedek wonders about this phenomenon. We would expect the opposite. Since children are immature, you would think they are the ones who would hold grudges and adults who are mature, we would expect them to let go and reconcile. Yet, we see it is just the opposite. Why?
He explains because children choose being happy over being right, while adults choose being right over being happy!
This means that one would rather be miserable and estranged without communication with his brother, parent, in-law, partner or friends, in order to defend their position of being right.
My good friend Murray Glick gave all my children exceptional driving lessons. One of his instructions came in the form of a one liner, “You can be right - but dead right.”
This same quip can be aptly applied to many of our life’s choices.
The Torah encourages us to overcome our obstacles and seek to iron things out by overlooking and forgiving others for the sake of Shalom. Our Sages teach us there is no larger vessel than Shalom and it brings forth the greatest of blessings.
As Rosh Hashana approaches we seek merits to seal for ourselves and our family a good, happy and blessed year. When G-d sees that His children are striving to get along, He says, “This makes Me proud and gratified and I will lovingly provide for them what they request of Me.”

08/20/2026

Dvar Torah: Torah Portion: Ki Seitzai
Rabbi Dovid Saks
Recently while studying the Daf Yomi, a daily study of a page of the Talmud learned worldwide, I came across where the Talmud relates that although G-d in His Torah forbade categories of foods and relations, still, He introduced a taste of what is otherwise forbidden in a permitted way.
For example, if one wishes for the taste of pig, there is a kosher fish called Shibuta that tastes like pig. If one wants to experience what milk and meat tastes like, he can roast the udder of a kosher slaughtered cow.
In terms of relations, the Torah forbids relations with someone else’s wife, yet, it allows one to marry a divorcee.
The Torah forbids one to marry their brother’s wife after a divorce or when widowed, yet, we read in this week’s Parsha that if a brother died leaving over a widow without children, the Torah permits and obligates a brother of the deceased to marry his sister in law. This is called Yibum.
If he opts out (as is the common practice) then they must have the ritual of Chalitza done. Once it is performed the sister in law can then marry someone else, with the exception of a Kohain.
This ritual is not a usual occurrence, and when it is required, an expert in its laws must preside with a Bais Din – Jewish court of three.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein o.b.m. was the person who people would contact when a situation warranted the ritual of Chalitza.
In the process, the man wears a specially made leather shoe with a strap that he ties on his right foot. The woman unties the strap and removes the shoe. She then spits on the floor and proclaims that this is what is done to a man who does not wish to build the home of his deceased brother.
The Halacha states that the man’s foot has to be free of any dirt or foreign matter before he dons the Chalitza shoe.
Rabbi Feinstein would personally wash the man’s foot with soap and water. Although it would seem to be beneath his dignity, he would explain that it was a privilege for him since it was a Mitzvah.
Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz o.b.m. was once present at a Chalitza that was performed in an elderly man’s apartment. When the old man removed his sock, the stench was too unbearable for him to bear and Rabbi Zlotowitz was compelled to leave. Yet he observed how Rabbi Feinstein stood there with a sponge and pail of soapy water and began washing the man’s foot. Rabbi Zlotowitz would say, “Reb Moshe showed us that it was his honor and duty to do this Mitzvah no matter how repulsive the situation was.”
I recently read that a woman living in Israel went to the famous Chazon Ish o.b.m. and related to him that right before her husband died he told her that he has a brother living in the US and since they were childless, she would need to go there for Chalitza to be performed after he passes. She asked the rabbi, to whom should she contact to take care of the Chalitza in the US?
The Chazon Ish told her to go to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. She traveled to the US and contacted the brother-in-law who was not interested in going through with the ritual unless she gave him $5000. She agreed.
The brother in law showed up at the set time and went through the procedure. After the procedure, the sister in law went to pay the $5000 dollars they agreed on. He said he wasn’t taking it. He then explained, “Last night my deceased brother came to me in a dream and asked me that I perform the Chalitza without taking any payment, and since Rabbi Moshe Feinstein is presiding over the Chalitza it will be a merit and a catharsis for his Neshama – soul."
The man then asked Rabbi Feinstein for a blessing which he gave warmly.
This experience gave the man such a renewed and appreciative attitude towards religion and its observances that he eventually embraced a Torah inspired lifestyle!

08/13/2026

Dvar Torah: Torah Portion: Shoftim
Once the Jews settle in the Land of Israel, the Torah gives a Mitzvah to appoint a Jewish King. A king has additional laws to observe to ensure that power, fame and wealth do not get to him, lest he forget his responsibilities toward G-d and the nation.
A king was prohibited to amass excessive wealth, not to have unnecessary horses on hand, and was not allowed to marry many wives. Eighteen was the limit.
A king was commanded to have two Torah scrolls written for him. One was to be kept in his treasury, and another smaller one, was to be with him wherever he went.
These Torahs served the king as a reminder to remain focused on his mission, to serve G-d and the Jewish nation.
While it is understandable that a king is more vulnerable to misuse his power and wealth and was therefore required to have additional reminders to keep him focused, the truth is, G-d gave each of us reminders to help keep each one of us in line and they are called Mitzvos – commandments and observances, and to occupy ourselves with the study of Torah.
The Torah contains 613 Mitzvos that are divided in two categories, 248 positive commandments and 365 prohibitions. Our observances are the vehicle through which we serve the Almighty, help keep us focused on the priorities in life and shield us from straying away from G-d.
The Torah commands us to affix a Mezuzah on the doorposts of our homes. Essentially, a Mezuzah has the markings of a Torah scroll. Its material is made from parchment, the words come from the Torah – the first two portions of the Shema, and it is hand scribed with a quill and black ink by a trustworthy Sofer/scribe with the same Ashuris font as a Torah scroll. Essentially, whenever a Jew walks into his house and into the rooms within, he is surrounded by constant reminders of G-d’s presence.
The spiritual energy that Mezuzahs impart to us and ‘scan’ us when we pass them while we are in our homes, carries with us when we leave our homes.
Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul. Elul is known to us as a reflective month as we prepare for Rosh Hashana and it is also a merciful and gracious time when G-d is seeking our closeness as well.
It is interesting that our Sages found and shared acronyms of first letters of four successive words from various verses that form the word Elul.
Each of the words of the acronyms give meaning to the month. The most notable is the verse from Song of Songs, Ani Ledodi V’dodi Li – I am to my Beloved and My Beloved is to me.
This means that although we are approaching a pensive time of the year, we are to recall that we have a beloved relationship with the Almighty – He seeks the best for us.
In this week’s Parsha the Torah speaks of the laws with regards to an unintentional killer. Whereas he must flee to and take up residency in one of the 48 cities of refuge and has to remain there until the Kohain Godol dies, and then he can leave the city.
The Torah had previously stated laws associated with the cities of refuge, and in those verses great Kabalists find reference to the month of Elul as well. “A person who did not lay ambush and G-d caused a death to come to hand – I shall provide a place to which he shall flee.” The acronym of four consecutive words in the verse also spell Elul.
This requires some explanation as to how it applies to Elul, for most have not committed such an act.
Commentators explain that what is hinted to here is, an unintentional killer is totally besides himself. He had no intent for this to happen and for some reason G-d orchestrated it this way. The Torah tells us, the unintentional killer is provided with a place to run. He has a place of refuge.
So too, as Rosh Hashana approaches and one finds himself reviewing the past year and there are things where he has fallen short from his spiritual responsibilities and he may feel overwhelmed by the daunting task of reconciling, and imagines that he has no place for refuge.
The Torah hints within the verses of the unintentional killer, that just as G-d provides him with a place, likewise, before Rosh Hashana – G-d provides an atmosphere - a place where we all can find refuge and throughout this G-d embracing month of Elul there is a special dose of positive energy, giving each of us the ability and place to come closer to the Almighty.
It is interesting that the Talmud connects the law of a 2000 cubic boundary of the city of refuge to a law of Shabbos that one may not go past 2000 cubics of what Halachically defines the edge of his dwelling. The connection between the two laws is through a common word Makom – place, that is written by both laws.
Our great Chasidic masters develop this idea and point out that our focus on the sanctity of the Holy day of Shabbos is the targeted ‘place’ for us to embrace a closeness to G-d during the month of Elul. Shabbos is the pinnacle of our week. It is when we enter into the space and environment of holiness, and we are closest to G-d. It is during Shabbos when one can experience an elevated spirit and connectedness to G-d which helps boost one’s will and determination to keep its energy through the course of the coming week!

08/06/2026

Davr Torah: Re'eh
Rabbi Dovid Saks

The Torah states, “You are the children of Hashem your G-d,” and immediately afterwards it states, “you shall not cut or mutilate yourselves and not rip out hair from between your eyes over the death of a person, (which was an Amorite custom). For you are a holy people to Hashem your G-d, and Hashem has chosen you for Himself to be a treasured people, from among all people on the face of the earth.”
Rashi explains; Since the Jewish people are G-d’s children, we are supposed to act respectably, be presentable and not deface ourselves.
A Jew is to have self-dignity, for we are G-d’s children.
The Torah goes on to state the laws of Kashruth and delineates which animals, fish, and fowl are permitted and which are not, and also mentions the prohibition of cooking milk with meat.
Here too, the Torah tells us that G-d instructs us in these Kosher dietary laws because, “You are a holy people to Hashem your G-d.”
The menu and foods prepared and served for royalty and nobility is on a higher level than for other members of society. So too, G-d set parameters for the foods that His children eat.
This Shabbos before Mussaf, we will bless the introspective month of Elul.
The verse, “You are the children of Hashem your G-d,” benefits us immensely in reconciling our misdeeds and achieving forgiveness from G-d.
The Talmud tells us that a father can forgo the honor that his son is commanded to have for him. However, a king cannot forgo the honor that is to be afforded to him.
Based on this, after a Jew sins, how can he asks G-d for forgiveness so that He forgoes the dishonor that he did through his misdeeds, for the King of Kings cannot waive and pardon the dishonor that was done through sin? After all, a king cannot forgo his honor.
An answer offered is, since G-d calls us Bonim – children – that makes G-d our father as well; as we familiarly say and chant, Avinu Malkainu – Our Father, Our King. Thus, we can ask Hashem our King for forgiveness in the capacity of a loving Father, who can forgo His honor.
The Baal Haturim, points out that there are 12 words in the verse in which G-d calls us His children. This is to signify that all 12 tribes of Israel are the children of G-d.
Clearly, a father is most honored, pleased and gratified when his children get along with each other.
The Torah exhorts us to give a tithe to the poor, and even rewards us with prosperity when we give Tzadaka.
It seems unrealistic to say that when one shares their earnings with the poor, they will not lack and they will even prosper as well. The only way this works is because we believe that all that one earns comes directly from the One who provides and has set our earnings for the year.
A hint to this idea is in the word the Torah uses for money, Kesef. This word is spelled כסף. The letters in the Aleph Bet that precede the letters that make up כסף are עני – poor.
This suggests when you give to an עני – a poor preson – it will lead to the letters that follow which spell ,כסף and it will bring you additional Kesef – money in your pocket.
Moshe tells the Jews that after they enter, conquer and allocate the Land of Israel they will finally establish a Temple in a permanent location in Jerusalem.
The word Yivchar – that G-d will choose – is the word used by the Torah to describe the Temple in Jerusalem. Rabbi Dovid Feinstein o.b.m. shuffles the four letters that spell יבחר - will choose – to spell ירחב / Yerachev which means - will widen. This is a reference to the Talmudic teaching, that although the Jews stood shoulder to shoulder in the Temple, when the Jews prostrated themselves, a miracle occurred and there was plenty of room, for the area of the Temple widened.
Another word that emerges from shuffling the word יבחר – will cho0se – is יחבר / Yichaber – will connect. For the holy Temple allowed people to deeply and awesomely connect themselves with G-d.
Unfortunately, while the Temple was in existence there were unscrupulous leaders such as King Menashe who erected an idol in the Temple, so that instead of connecting to G-d, they connected to idols. What will occur is also hinted in the word יבחר / Yivchar, because it also forms the word, יחרב / Yecherav – will destroy. G-d would destroy His Temple when this would occur.
Whether it will be through the manifestations of G-d’s pleasure with our service to G-d, or through His anger which will destroy the Temple, the place that G-d יבחר - will choose - will always be obvious.
May we merit to see the rebuilt Temple in all its grandeur!

07/29/2026

Dvar Torah: Aikev
Rabbi Dovid Saks

Before the death of our leader Moshe, the Torah tells us that he reviewed with the nation all that had transpired during his 40 years of leadership. Moshe also gave a charge to the nation encouraging them to follow the ways that G-d had set forth in the Torah. “For if you will observe this entire commandment that I command you, to perform it, to love Hashem your G-d, to walk in His ways and to cleave to Him,” Hashem will wipe out all the mighty nations who would stand in your way.
Cleaving to Hashem means praying and relying on Him.
The famous Chofetz Chaim – Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan o.b.m. would say: being alive affords us the greatest opportunity to attach ourselves to G-d. For King David in the Ashrai Psalm that we recite three times a day states, “G-d is close to anyone who calls out to Him.” Isaiah proclaims, “Seek G-d when He is found, call to Him when He is near.”
This means that when we are alive in this beautiful world, G-d is close to all of us. G-d says, “Any place where you mention My Name, I will come and bless you.”
While we are alive, we can speak to G-d at any time and this is an awesome and unique opportunity!
Once one passes away and his soul continues on its way to the metaphysical sphere, the Heavenly world, this free pass to speak to G-d at any time, can come to a halt.
Once a person completes his journey of life in this world, and enters into the next realm, he no longer has his freedom of choice that he had when he was alive. In the Heavenly world of truth, it is not an automatic that one can speak to G-d at any point. Yes, there is a heavenly tribunal that one faces, but even then, one is petrified by this awesome experience and may feel limited to speak up.
This is because when we enter the next world, our merits are based on the choices we made in this world. In this world is where we can accomplish in both the material and spiritual realms. When our focus is on the spiritual, such as Torah and Mitzvos, and blend it with the material, and keep our distance from sin, we merit a pass to the higher realms of spiritual levels in Heaven.
But the opportunities for anyone to speak to the Almighty at any given time is only when we are alive!
The following is an illustration that captures what the Chofetz Chaim shared with us.
There was a reputable and very hospitable man, and bad people fabricated allegations against him and reported him to the authorities. It cost him time and resources to defend himself in court, and unfortunately, the bad guys had an in with the court system and things looked really bleak for him. He was in real trouble with the law.
The plaintiff’s friends advised him that the only recourse he had was if he gets an audience with the king himself and speaks to him, for the King was known to be merciful, and would straighten his situation out and get him out of his troubles.
It was the custom during those days that kings would go incognito into the towns of their kingdom to mingle with the common folk to get a sense of what they are going through and what their needs are.
One day the king came to town disguised as a regular visitor, and was actually hosted as the guest of the plaintiff, who had no idea that the king was in his house as a guest, and to whom he could have asked for whatever he needed!
A few days after the king departed town, word got out that it was the king who was the plaintiff’s visitor. When the plaintiff heard that it was the king who was in his house and that the opportunity to beseech him passed right under his nose, the man burst into uncontrollable cries and said, “Woe to my terrible Mazal. Had I known that the king was in my house I would have pleaded with him to clean my slate and he would surely have forgiven me.
“However, now, what can I do? To travel the far distance to his palace is not something that I can do, and even if I travel there, the security is so tight chances are, they wouldn’t let me in.”
The message of the story is that while we are alive, the king is with us; it is like he is visiting us in our own homes. We can ask Him for anything and thank Him for all that He gives us. He listens to everything that we express to Him and wish from Him.
But once we are no longer living, access to the king is predicated upon the connectivity we had with Him when we lived our lives.
We are all unsettled by the rise of anti-Semitism, wars, turmoil in the world, and in the land of Israel. At times we feel helpless and frustrated.
It is at these times when it is most opportune to call out to G-d in prayer for His help. Calling out to Him, is our demonstration that only He can help us out and we believe and depend upon Him.
So, when are driving, walking in the street, at the office or at home and we feel overwhelmed by a dismal situation, we can discuss it and commiserate with others, or… we can turn to G-d in personal prayer – in any language that we choose – and seek His assistance and help. We who are alive have this advantage because He is always there to listen to us!

07/24/2026

The other day I noticed a news headline that read, “Archaeologists claim to have found charred wood beams from the First Temple’s destruction.” The article explains how large charred wooden beams were uncovered while excavating the Givati parking lot in Jerusalem’s City of David. The charred beams that were discovered date back to 589 BCE which is the time when our first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians.
This find coincidently comes right before we commemorate the destruction of the first and second Temple which were both set ablaze on the ninth day of Av – Tisha B’Av.
It’s interesting, our prophets forewarned the Jews of the Jews’ exile and the fate of the Temple if they do not mend their wayward ways. The fast of Tisha B’Av was instituted by our prophets and we’ve been marking Tisha B’Av as a day of mourning and fasting since the first Temple was destroyed - for over 2500 years. For a Jew, the destruction of our Temple is a reality.
On Tisha B’Av, we sit as mourners on a low bench, we listen to the Book of Lamentations which was authored by Jeremiah the Prophet who describes the destruction of the Temple and how Israel languished and was exiled.
We mention the rebuilding of the third Temple in our Amidah prayers each day. We break a glass under the Chupah at the conclusions of a couple’s marriage to remember the destruction of the Temple. When a house is built, an area the size of two-foot square is left unpainted across from the doorway as a remembrance of the destruction of our Temples.
When we visit Jerusalem and see the Temple mount where the Temple once stood, we are to rend our garment over its destruction.
When we approach the Western wall and pour our hearts in prayer and some feel a jolt of spiritual inspiration; this is because our tradition is that G-d’s presence – Shechina, never left that area, and it always hovers over the lone remaining wall of the Temple.
With all this, when we hear of the discovery of a remnant, a charred beam of the Temple, some physical evidence of the actual destruction, I (we) kind of feel like, how can our naysayer enemies now refute this reality that the Land of Israel is ours from way back?
The truth is, no matter what we come up with to prove our claim to the land it will not satisfy our enemies due to their insatiable quest to disregard, harm and destroy us.
Our resiliency is another point of contention that our enemies have with us.
Just a short eighty years ago, the N***s tried desperately to annihilate us. They murdered 6 million of ours, and with the indomitable spirit of our dear survivors they miraculously forged ahead and rebuilt and recreated life and we are the results of their devotion and dedication to keep Judaism alive and thriving.
The Prophets capture this reality as, Ud Mutzal M’eish – a vibrant ember that was saved from being consumed by fire. The beaten survivors were an ember which was saved from the inferno of the Holocaust.
Earlier this week, my sister Tzippora arranged a family gathering and dinner at her home, which consisted of grandchildren of our maternal grandparents Reb Shia Ahron and Faiga Herzberg o.b.m. Our uncle Reb Asher Herzberg spoke eloquently, poignantly and reflectively on the lives of his parents; their travails and the legacy they left through their family, and we chimed in with our personal memories.
One point my uncle made is that our grandfather was the youngest of nine children, and in 1937 at the age of 17 he left his hometown, Lodz to attend a great assembly of Sages in Marienbad Czechoslovakia and he didn’t return to Poland. It was in France where he married our grandmother and they had three children. During the war they escaped to Switzerland and in 1949 my widowed grandfather and his children Shoshana (Lefkowitz), Malka (Saks) and Asher emigrated to the US.
My uncle made the following observation. “I can only imagine the thoughts that were going through my grandparents’ minds when their youngest child left home. "What is going to be with Shia Ahron as he is leaving the Shtetel into contemporary society?” Little did they know that because of his decision to leave before the war, he was going to be the lone survivor of his family! After the war he did not have a known relative left.
He, like many survivors, were the lone ember of their families that were saved from being consumed by fire.
With the many challenges our grandfather was faced with over the course of his lifetime, he remained loyal and devoted to his Yidishkeit, his Rebbe, the Bais Yisroel of Ger and with his vision and great sense of humor he forged ahead to ensure that his future generations will follow in their loyalty to G-d and His Torah.
The Mishna teaches us that G-d created man, Adam, a single human being rather than many – such as with the animals. This is to give each person a boost and drive that just as the vast world was created for the purpose of one-person, Adam, and through him populated the entire world. So too, each person should feel that the world was created just for him/her. This energizing drive serves to prod us to perform and produce to the best of our personal abilities, for the world depends on each of us!
Our amazing ancestors have to have felt this way to survive and we are fortunate that they paved the way for us!
Our Sages teach us that one who mourns over the loss of our Temple will eventually see it in its rebuilt state. This reality is up to each of us!

Jewish Heritage Connection

09/03/2026

08/27/2026

08/20/2026

08/13/2026

08/06/2026

07/29/2026

07/24/2026

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