Today is the Yahrtzeit of my father.

He passed away twenty-two years ago today.

My father taught me to be an Oheiv Yisrael- a lover of all Jews.

The Kohen who redeemed him at his Pidyon HaBen was HaRav Kook ZT”L and so too when he was five years old his father took him to get a Briocha from HaRav Sonnenfeld ZT”l.

In 1941 he went with his father to meet the Imrei Emes when he arrived in Eretz Yisroel.

He also paid a visit to the Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak.

When he came to America he was equally comfortable in a Shul in Williamsburg as he was at 770.

He never ever distinguished between the frum members of the family and the non-frum.

He treated all equally from the gas station attendant to the most important person.

He simply loved all.

He never played favorites or treated one group better- he loved all groups.

When he was with Americans he spoke English. And when he was with Israelis he spoke Hebrew.

When he was with Hasidim he spoke Yiddish and when he was with Yemenite Jews he spoke Arabic.

He did his best to make everyone feel comfortable.

He was modest and self-effacing and he was my hero.

I miss him very much.

“If not now, then when?”- Hillel

Ron Yitzchok Eisenman

Rabbi, Congregation Ahavas Israel

Passaic NJ