Among the plethora of inspirational videos leading up to Yom Kippur, one stands out for its personal affirmation of the power of individual and communal prayer. As we prepared to sit down to the final meal before the onset of Yom Kippur this past Sunday, a video was streamed by Congregation Beth Aaron featuring member Micah Kaufman, miraculously able to address the community with words of chizuk and encouragement after surviving a horrific car accident nine months ago.
On December 19, 2019, as they were leaving Congregation Bnai Yeshurun after Maariv services, Shelly Mermelstein, 75, and Micah Kaufman, 42, close neighbors and friends, were struck by a car on West Englewood Avenue. Mermelstein, longtime Teaneck resident, head of the local chevra kadisha and beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, succumbed to his injuries and was memorialized at an overflow funeral of family, friends and community leaders a few days later at Congregation Beth Aaron. For Kaufman, who had been on his way to visit a recovering kidney donor at NYU Langone Medical Center, the excruciating journey to recovery had just begun. Kaufman sustained a 3+ bilateral injury to the midbrain and was unresponsive. The initial diagnosis by the team at Hackensack Medical Center was dire with no possible chance of full recovery.
Through siyata dishmaya, tremendous perseverance, medical expertise, constant family support and encouragement, and individual and community prayer, Micah Kaufman was able to convey a message of chizuk and encouragement to a video audience this Erev Yom Kippur.
In his introductory message, Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, morah d’asra of Congregation Beth Aaron, recalled how a mere 72 hours after his injury, Kaufman was played recordings of Eliot Shapiro’s Yomim Noraim davening at his bedside in an attempt to stimulate him with the melodies that he so loved. Miraculously, Kaufman moved his legs to the cherished niggunim.
“This is a milestone reminder to us of the power of prayer,” said Rabbi Rothwachs. “As we enter into the 10th day of Aseret Yemei Teshuva, we are strengthened by having had the opportunity to see the power of prayer when an entire community comes together to beseech Hashem for the recovery of an individual. We witnessed the amazing, small but definite steps of Micah’s recovery and it is fitting for us to declare ‘hodu lashem ki tov.’”
Following the rabbi’s remarks, a video created at Yeshivat Frisch depicting Kaufman’s story went viral. The video was prepared at the initiative of Kaufman’s sister Dr. Meryl Feldblum, who chairs the English department at Frisch. Kaufman has addressed the students at Yeshivat Frisch in person over the last week. Beginning with his emotional visit in August with the 85-year-old grandmother to whom he donated a kidney to the horrific day of his accident, the video recreates the determination of those around him to bring Kaufman back to his former self. The video concludes with a recent scene of Kaufman clearly reciting the brachot prior to an aliyah in a backyard minyan.
After the video, in a clear and emphatic voice, Kaufman addressed the community. He opened with words of gratitude to Rabbi Rothwachs and Rebbetzin Chaviva for their constant care and support. He then went on to say how the accident turned his life and the life of his family upside down in a mere instant. And although he has a long way to go, he wanted to convey his emotions at this time in his recovery.
The stirring words of Kaufman followed. “Not meaning to sound arrogant, I am a doer. I have earned the reputation in the community as someone who gets things done. We can all be doers whether in shoveling snow, putting up a sukkah, driving to doctors’ appointments or simply helping with daily errands. We can find out who needs support and offer to help. I am happy to be involved in many community organizations. I am on the board of TBO, which gives so much joy to the young baseball players in our community. I volunteer at SINAI with special needs students as well as at a senior home for adults. I provide accounting services for Tomchei Shabbos and have served as my shul’s treasurer for 10 years. My fervent wish is to follow my dear friend Shelly Mermelstein, z”l, as head of the local chevra kadisha. I donated a kidney through Renewal. I even snuck out of the hospital after recovering from the procedure to visit a friend who had undergone knee surgery.”
Kaufman urged: “No matter where you are you will have opportunities to perform chesed. I am the recipient of tremendous chesed from others. I can honestly say that providing chesed is easier than being on the receiving end. I am very much looking forward to returning to giving chesed, and hope to slowly give back more and more. Gmar Chatima Tova to all!”
In his closing words, Rabbi Rothwachs acknowledged Kaufman’s message as the best Yom Kippur drasha one can give. The message of never holding back in beseeching for rachamim even when a “sharp sword is resting upon your shoulders” is powerful. “We thank Hashem for the miracle of Micah’s recovery and pray for a miracle on behalf of our people during these Yomim Noraim.”
