Ask anyone who grew up in Teaneck or anyone who ever attended a Yachad Shabbaton over the past 30 years if they know who Donny Hain is and the answer is sure to be “of course I know Donny!”

On Monday, March 30, the world lost a very special person—my dear friend, Donny, z”l. I met Donny when I was just a teenager attending Yachad events and Shabbatons. His bright personality and enthusiasm for making new friends was like no other. If you met Donny at a Yachad event then you know exactly what I am referring to. He was not shy in any way, always making it a priority to introduce himself to everyone in the room. While many of us tend to be hesitant in new situations with people we do not know, Donny made it look easy. His approach looked something like this: “What’s your name? Where do you live? Can we be friends?” He made it all so simple—just be nice to someone and ask them to be your friend.

During the past few years he came to programs even more prepared with his special signature cards that he would hand out to his new friends. The card read “Donny Hain—The Guy You Want To Know,” and on the bottom it said, “A call from you would make my day.”

This card pretty much sums up Donny. For one, he was the guy you wanted to know! Who would not want to be friends with some as kind and genuine as him? He craved meaningful socialization and showed us each and every day that being your best self was what mattered. He taught that to me personally and to everyone he interacted with at Yachad. I have no doubt that he brought that message to all the communities of which he was a part.

On behalf of everyone at Yachad, we miss our friend and are grateful for all the special moments we have had. Donny will always be remembered for his warm smile, big heart and, of course, being “the guy you want to know.”

If you have stories or a message you would like to share about Donny, please send to [email protected].

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Chani Herrmann is the associate director of Yachad.