Dear Rabbi Rothwachs,

As I was getting settled into my seat for my daughter’s Chumash presentation at RYNJ, I received the email about your selfless act of chesed of donating your kidney to Donny Hain. I was overcome with emotion from different angles at that moment. I was shocked at the news, but honestly not shocked at all. Rabbi Rothwachs, you truly epitomize what chesed is. You do not just preach to the kehilla about chesed and of its importance, but you are the Nachshon ben Aminadav and just DO. We learn from chazal that saving one life is like saving a world. You have given of yourself to save Donny Hain’s life. However, you give of yourself in countless other ways to the members of your kehilla on a daily basis. I personally have benefited and have been “saved” with your kindness, words of wisdom, guidance and mentorship. You have saved worlds even before you gave up your physical kidney.

I grew up with Donny Hain being an active member of greeting and shmoozing with everyone in shul. His family was close with mine and I know how special they are.

I am sincerely humbled by your selfless act of chessed. Tonight I was overwhelmed and comforted with emotions as I continued to watch my daughter with such simcha sing and receive her first Chumash and think about your gift of a kidney that Donny received and how you surely gave it with fervent simcha as well. As the girls sang about receiving the Torah and the words “Na’aseh V’nishma,” I couldn’t help but think of you exemplifying the “Na’aseh.” I truly felt that I experienced the foundation of this world this evening with Torah, Avodah, and Gemillut Chassadim.

Mi K’amcha Yisrael.

May Hashem bless you with a complete refuah and chizuk to continue in His ways.

Tzippy Staum