Yudi Herzberg recalled the horror he felt on June 2, when his wife called him, hysterical, saying that Charlotte had been hit by a car while she was out riding her bike near the family’s home in Monsey, New York.

He said he arrived several minutes later, somewhat relieved to see two close friends from the neighborhood, both volunteers with the Hatzolah Jewish emergency medical service, on the scene.

But as Herzberg approached, one of them, his study partner of seven years, looked away in shame.

“Suddenly everything clicked,” Herzberg told The Times of Israel. “He was the driver who had hit her.”

The juxtaposition floored him.

“I was completely lost at that point. It didn’t make any sense to me,” Herzberg recalled. “How could it be that this great person and incredible friend was responsible for this? I couldn’t fathom what was happening, but I understood that, for whatever reason, this was a challenge sent from Hashem,” a Hebrew name for God.

But rather than allowing the tragedy to destroy their friendship, Herzberg embraced his grieving friend. That decision has since inspired thousands around the world to reconcile broken relationships.

In memory of Charlotte, remembered for her infectious smile and boundless energy, more than 2,600 people have now committed to letting go of grudges and reconciling arguments, according to the website Herzberg created, shalomforcharlotte.com. Herzberg is making a new push to commemorate his daughter’s legacy through unity ahead of the Tisha B’Av holiday this week, which marks the downfalls of the First and Second Temples, which some root in communal strife.

“I understood that Hashem was testing us to see if we could withstand the temptation to succumb to fighting and conflict,” Herzberg told The Times of Israel in a phone conversation. “I felt........

© The Times of Israel