On December 3, the SAR community gathered for an evening of storytelling and shira commemorating the first yahrzeit of Yossi Hershkovitz, HY”D, a beloved member of SAR’s family. The event took place at Giti and Jack Bendheim’s home.
A letter to the community described Hershkovitz’s lasting impact on all who knew him. “Yossi’s unwavering dedication to his family, community, and beloved Israel defined his life and continues to inspire us. When Israel was under threat, there was no question he would volunteer, even at 44, for reserve duty. He made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so. Yossi carried a calm, steadfast presence, principled strength, and a warm smile that could light up a room. Together we remembered the deep impact he had on so many.”
SAR Principal Rabbi Binyamin Krauss said that Yossi’s brother Ido had invited his parents to come for Shabbat, to be together when Am Yisrael was in trauma after October 7, 2023. It was described as a Shabbat to be with the grandchildren, to give them a little bit of strength to go on in this difficult war. Ido described the evening: “We’re sitting at a great meal, Friday night, laughing, talking, hearing divrei Torah from the children.” That night, chayalim informed the family of Yossi’s passing. “I didn’t really understand what they were saying. I fell on the floor. They asked where my parents are. I told them to please give me a second. Nobody’s telling my parents except for me. I walked into my parent’s room, about to destroy their life.”
Krauss explained why Ido shared this story. “When people read about chayalim who were killed, you have to stop and pay attention. Each of them represents the exact story I just shared. His own family, six brothers, two parents, a wife, five children—that’s one life, one loss. The only way to understand numbers like 800 is to focus on one.”
Krauss cited Rabbi Yitz Greenberg on SAR’s central tenet of tzelem elokim, “the infinite value and the unique value of each individual. Tonight we recognize the gift of Yossi Hershkovitz. We recognize the unique value he brought to our community. Over this year, we’ve learned things that we didn’t know about him and how many lives he touched in so many different places.”
SAR faculty members shared Hershkovitz’ former students’ statements. One expressed: “He was more than just my seventh grade teacher, mentor and friend. I looked up to Yossi. The joy he brought others with music and his outlook on life always inspired me. Yossi encouraged me to join the SAR band he led, my first time playing instruments with others. Playing music every week with Yossi was amazing. At eighth grade graduation, Yossi made sure every student was set up, ready to perform. The experience on that stage stayed with me ever since, and, in part, the reason I pursued music full-time. Yossi’s positivity, creativity and ability to lead made him one of my favorite teachers.”
Another student wrote: “I remember how much we respected Moreh Yossi. When he demanded quiet, we were quiet. When teaching us an important life lesson, we listened. Our respect didn’t come from fear but from love. We knew how much he loved us. Because of that, we respected him. His humility made it obvious to us. He showed up every day for one reason—because he loved us.”
A third student recently named his newborn son in Hershkovitz’ memory. “I didn’t love seventh grade, but I loved going to Ivrit class because I loved Moreh Yossi, a very soft-spoken, patient, understanding and loving human being. He was one of the first important male role models in my life. I never got to tell him of his real role in shaping me. I think about him quite often. On Erev Shabbat, before entering northern Gaza, in a video for his students at the ORT’s Pelech Boys High School, Principal Yossi said, ‘In Israel, there’s no right wing, no left wing, no Haredim, just Jews. Klal Yisroel needs more of his mindset to get through this darkness.”
YIOZ Rabbi Shmuel Hain shared: “We were beneficiaries of Yossi’s working at SAR Academy, not just because our kids were educated there, but also because of the family’s enormous impact in the community during their entire stay in Riverdale.” Mizrachi’s Simchat Torah Project placed Torah covers in memory of those killed. YIOZ requested and was selected to honor Yossi’s memory.
Morah Sarah Richter addressed Hershkovitz’s wife, Hadas: “You and Yossi were a power couple with a special bond. You have our word, we’ll do our utmost honoring Yossi’s memory by strengthening ourselves, following his example to be mission-driven, strong and soft at the same time, promoting achdut, seeing beauty and potential of every person, with lives dedicated to ahavat Am Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael and Torat Yisrael.”
