Reviewing: “Kan Tzipor: Inspiring Stories on Seizing ‘Magic Moments’ of Opportunity to Do Chesed,” by Stephen Savitsky. Feldheim Publishers. 2022. English. Hardcover. 239 pages. ISBN-13: 978-1680255713.
Stephen Savitsky was the former president and chairman of the Orthodox Union, a former member of the board of governors of the Jewish Agency, a board member of Mesorah Heritage Foundation and founder and president of the Kew Gardens Hills eruv, which led the movement for eruvim across America. He was the chairman of Mesivta Ohr Torah and president of Congregation Anshei Chesed in Hewlitt. And he has also been CEO and founder of several publicly traded companies. So yes, Savitsky has been busy and productive in his various roles, contributing much to the Jewish community.
But Stephen Savitsky’s past accomplishments and contributions to the Jewish community are only part of the story. He is still engaged in accomplishments and still engaged in service to the Jewish community. Currently, he is president of the Bnai Zion Foundation, chairman of Partners in Torah and on the executive committee of the Conference Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations and president of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway. Savitsky is president and chairman of the board of ATC Health Care Services, a nationwide provider of temporary medical staffing services. He also founded and served as CEO and chairman of the board of Tender Loving Care—Staff Builders, one of the nation’s largest providers of home health care services. Savitsky has traveled the world speaking and representing the Jewish community on many occasions. His imprint on the Jewish world is indeed significant.
And now, Savitsky has just published his first book, “Kan Tzipor: Inspiring Stories on Seizing ‘Magic Moments’ of Opportunity to Do Chesed,” published by Feldheim.
“We as individual people have the ability to look into the Torah and expand it, as long as it is in accordance with halacha. You can find new things,” said Savitsky. “I never understood the mitzvah regarding a bird’s nest (kan tzipor) and shooing away the mother bird before taking her eggs or nestlings (Devarim 22:6) beyond it being the Torah thing to do. I looked at this mitzvah and knew that there was more to it. More importantly, I realized that you cannot prepare for this mitzvah. You come across a situation and how do you react to it? Something comes along, unexpected, out of the blue. But I realized that this would be the most important moment, that if missed, was missed forever. Once I saw this, a whole new world opened up for me. I call these “kan tzipor” moments.”
Everyone has their own “kan tzipor” moments. For them to be “kan tzipor” moments,
Savitsky has the following four criteria for how Hashem brings these moments to us:
1. No preparation
2. A little out of the ordinary, a little uncomfortable to do
3. No one else to talk to. You have to make the decision right away.
4. If you do not do it, the moment is gone. “Hashem is trying to teach us to be ‘observant Jews.’ Look around. Observe. Why did Hashem put me in this place at this time? What chesed am I expected to do at this moment? This is one of my goals, to try to make people ‘observant Jews,’” explained Savitsky.
“Kan Tzipor: Inspiring Stories on Seizing ‘Magic Moments’ of Opportunity to Do Chesed” is a collection of true stories about how people from all walks of life, in different places and times, reacted to their own “kan tzipor” moments. Many times Savitsky mentions the real names of the people the story is about. Stories included take place at a wedding, in a shopping mall, while sitting shiva, in a supermarket, while riding in a taxi and many other situations. Savitsky started telling these stories and then decided to compile them. Then he decided to write his first book. Savitsky said, “These stories are what the book is about. Most are my stories, but some are not.”
“Kan Tzipor: Inspiring Stories on Seizing ‘Magic Moments’ of Opportunity to Do Chesed” is a perfect book for a Friday night or Shabbos read. Also a great Chanukah present! To order from Feldheim, email [email protected], phone 845-356-2282 or visit https://www.feldheim.com.
Susan R. Eisenstein is a longtime Jewish educator, passionate about creating special, innovative activities for her students. She is also passionate about writing about Jewish topics and about Israel. She has two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education from Columbia University.
