Last Tuesday afternoon, Moriah eighth graders were privileged to hear a presentation from Moriah alumni, Micah Kaufman, ‘93, and his sister, Margit Kaufman Feit, ‘95, that they will undoubtedly never forget. The eighth graders were introduced to Micah earlier that day when they watched the YouTube video, “The Miraculous Recovery of Micah Kaufman,” a film that details the horrific accident that left Micah in a coma and barely clinging to life less than one year ago. Both the film and Margit, in her introductory remarks, described the dire prognosis doctors initially gave for Micah’s recovery, and then his slow and gradual rehabilitation, against all odds, in a process that included medical intervention, intense physical therapy, ongoing tefillah, countless acts of chesed on his behalf and an outpouring of community support.

As the students listened in rapt attention, Margit described her brother as someone who always sought out opportunities to be helpful to others and who even donated a kidney to a woman, a stranger in her 80s, to afford her many more years of life with her family. Her message to the students was that even though they are still young, and many aspects of their existence are determined by the adults in their lives, what they do have control over is the kind of person that they want to be, and how they would like to be thought of by others. This was something that Micah always took to heart.

In his short talk to the students, Micah explained that the pasuk that now guides his life is,,יבנה״ ״עולם חסד the world shall be built with loving kindness. Micah claimed that he was not a good student in school, but explained that you don’t need to be a star pupil to perform acts of chesed; Anyone can do it. He directed the students to find something they’re good at doing, that can be transformed into an act of chesed, and to make it a part of their lives. He asked a favor of them. He explained that since his ability to do chesed is now limited, he would like them to be his chesed agents and to assume those acts of chesed that he can longer perform. Life has changed him from a giver of chesed to a receiver of the kindness of others. While it is far preferable to be a giver, this is now his lot in life, but the need for acts of chesed remains as strong as ever. There is no doubt that after Micah’s most moving and inspirational talk, many Moriah eighth graders will follow in his footsteps and heed his call.