Jewish communities in Israel and around the world have been heartbroken by the losses suffered by the Bibas family. And they’ve found a broad range of actions to express their sorrow and support for the family.

One of these expressions, in our local area, may provide dividends for decades to come.

Rabbi Avraham Minsky, the director of Chabad in Newark, New Jersey, shared on his LinkedIn page that on February 21, one of the participants in Chabad in Newark activities contacted him with an urgent question. Adam Benglas, a student at Seton Hall University School of Law, asked: “Can I say a prayer in their [the Bibas family] memory?”

Rabbi Minsky first sent him a prayer, then called him and suggested: “These two little boys will never grow up to become bar mitzvah and put on tefillin. How about you put on tefillin in their memory?”

Benglas replied: “Rabbi, if you could provide me with a pair of tefillin, and teach me how to put them on, I’d be honored to do so.”

As Rabbi Minsky considered Benglas’ answer, he soon got another call.

A supporter of Chabad in Newark (who asked to remain anonymous for this story), contacted Rabbi Minsky and said: “Rabbi, I want to sponsor a pair of tefillin in memory of the Bibas family. Do you know someone who needs a pair?”

As Rabbi Minsky described it, he was “blown away” by the timing of the two phone calls.

The donor told The Jewish Link that others contributed to the pair of tefillin, after the donor posted it to his status on social media. The donor said: “I wanted to do something that lasts more than 24 hours. This felt right.”

Rabbi Minsky got Benglas a pair of tefillin and stated so beautifully, “Now we will bring light to this world in memory of the Bibas boys.”

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback.