The Mishna (in Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers), teaches that when one turns 50, they have reached the age at which they can provide counsel gained from meaningful life experience. Having recently turned 52, it apparently took me a couple years longer than anticipated. I have come to appreciate that the most refined pursuit of Torah knowledge comes through the simple act of opening one’s eyes to the insights of others, regardless of their age. In my case, it took a reflection on past remarks made by our son to reveal a sacred path for our people – one paved with intensely dedicated brotherhood and unapologetic Zionism.

Before going down that path together, we must go back to 2017 and 2024…

In 2017, our family traveled to Israel to celebrate the B’nei Mitzvah of our son Eli and my nephew Zachary. It was a memorable trip for all the usual reasons, but there is one anecdote that has resurrected itself nearly a decade later – perhaps I needed my hair to go gray to recognize its importance. During our trip, we visited Yad Vashem. The museum offered a Bar Mitzvah program wherein, among other things, the boys would participate in a twinning exercise – meaning they each received a dossier with biographical information and pictures of a 13-year-old boy murdered during the Holocaust. Upon receiving his curated folder, my son Eli remarked “thank you, I always wanted a brother.” His innocent response to a heavy moment, pregnant with both tragedy and beauty, struck me. I recall my mother, the child of survivors, wiping away tears. She has spent countless hours tirelessly volunteering her time in service of........

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