In December of 2018, Yehoshua Zvi Hershkowitz passed away at the age of 92. You probably never heard his name and that is exactly how he wanted it. Mr. Hershkowitz was born in 1925 in Hungary. After the Germans occupied the country in 1944, he was deported to Dachau and spent the next year there, surviving on meager rations of bread and soup. After liberation, he made his way to the United States, moved to Borough Park and got married.
In 1975, he became aware that a neighbor of his was struggling to put food on the table and he realized there must be more people struggling like his neighbor. So, Mr. Hershkowitz founded Tomchei Shabbos out of the kitchen of his home in Borough Park. He and friends began gathering the ingredients of traditional Shabbos meals and dropping off packages of food by station wagon at the homes of those they heard were wanting. From this humble beginning, Mr. Hershkowitz built an organization that every week distributes meals to 600 families in the Borough Park area.
His concept and the name were rapidly imitated. Today there are Tomchei Shabbos organizations in New York, Boca Raton, Los Angeles, Toronto, Washington, Phoenix, Miami, Antwerp, London and other world cities, as well as dozens in Israel. Thousands of families have food to eat only because of the vision and hard work of a survivor who earned a living working in the Post Office in Brooklyn, but earned immortality by caring enough to think about struggling people around him.
His Tomchei Shabbos branch grew to a point where it deployed a fleet of 16 trucks to deliver food packages each week. He personally raised millions of dollars to fund it. He was constantly out of the limelight, took no pay for his work and never accepted public recognition. In fact, the New York Times obituary for him pointed out that he even rejected the prestigious sixth Torah Aliyah in his shul. When the Gabbai tried to convince him to accept it, he replied, “I’m sorry, I’m a plain Jew.”
Too many think the greater the name recognition, the greater the person.
Too many today associate going viral with adding value. They think the greater the name recognition, the greater the person, the more friends and followers on social media, the more of a difference someone is making.
A name is how we are known and how we are referred to and referenced by others. However, we exist even before we have a name, even before others label us. The core of who the person is far beyond the name by which they are called. Each of us has a soul with its unique character, personality and mission for which it is created. The real “you” is the person with no interference from others and no need to be identified or acknowledged by others.
Mark Twain famously said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” We each have a mission; we were born for a purpose. We each have talents, skills and assets that can make a difference. We were not born with them to simply have a nicer house or car, to drink a more expensive bottle of wine or to enjoy the most channels of cable TV. We are here to make a difference, to matter, not so that our name goes up in lights, but so that our essence makes the difference it was meant to make.
George Eliot once said, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” Don’t just be a name for others; be your truest self. Figure out what difference you can make, and then go make it. Don’t just be what you might have been. Be what you are still meant to be.
(15) Eren Efrain Escamilla, March 5, 2021 7:19 PM
Inspired.
The article is a very inspirational story, reason being, I now have read the name of one of the first people to have begun the "food truck"/"meals on wheels" charity/business phenomenon. That is awesome to know that there are people in the world, or had been people in the world, which are-and-were capable of being completely selfless, and growing and gaining for the process of expanding bestowal upon people for their maintenance and sustenance. It is awesome to know that there actually exist people who do such things out of the purest and the most sincere love for humanity, though life has it's tuggs-and-pulls, its stressors, and examinations of strength, also, it is awesome to know that he was allowed and capable of being humble about the factor of bestowing such benefits upon humanity while maintaining the humility to not be high-minded or think too lofty of self, while not expecting recognition or ego-centricity fuel from people. It is a wonderful thing, either way to know and be known, too have a sense of purpose and be made to make people aware of such a purpose, or to simply be humble and silently enjoying the fact that the difference being made is not for personal self-gain or doting upon ones capacity to provide services, but that love, hope, compassion and service, in truth, are very real and true concepts. I was inspired by the article.
(14) Alberto T. Castro, March 4, 2021 8:46 PM
The man was genial, was a great human being!!!!!! The world needs many men and women like him!!!!!! It is very important to be able to see the future of the work and the creativity, thinking in the future of your business and the comfort of the society where you are living... !!!!!!! He was a talented!!!!!!!!!!!!
(13) Jewish Mom, March 4, 2021 12:06 PM
Such a touching article!
Humility at it's best - just doing what's good and right because it's right, without looking over one's shoulder to see who's watching nor thinking that one deserves any recognition. A "simple" Jew, simply following G-d's ways of kindness, in keeping with the Torah commandment "vehalatchta b'drachav / And you should follow in His ways.” Tomchei Shabbos is known throughout the world and I grew up in Mr. Hershkowitz's neighborhood, yet until now I'd never heard his name! I called my mother and she, too, never heard of him. So admirable and worthy of emulation.
(12) Sayed Abuelmagd, March 3, 2021 8:52 PM
Hershkowitz was an inspiring soul!
It was amazing to know that Hershkowitz refused efforts to honor him for his work; he even once rejected the prestigious sixth aliyah, or call-up, for reciting a blessing during the Sabbath reading of the Torah. He was an inspiring soul.
(11) Ermest Josef, March 3, 2021 8:31 PM
what A Beautiful story a plain Jew wow
(10) Alaine Apap Bologna, March 3, 2021 7:50 PM
So wonderful!
It is truly so encouraging to know that such a person with truly important values ever existed.
(9) Maria Dodoc, March 3, 2021 5:26 PM
Thank You!
(8) Anonymous, March 3, 2021 3:42 PM
Such love from one man changes the world!
Rabbi Goldberg, when I am preparing parents for their child's baptism, I ask them to reflect on The creatuon passages of Genesis and Wisdom 2:23. I may quote you in future sessions because your words in this article help us realize who we are in God's heart. Peace to you and God bless you in your ministry! Deacon Larry
(7) Rachel, March 2, 2021 3:36 AM
Fame doesn’t always mean greatness, and vice versa
It may have been Churchill who said “We make a living from what we get, and we make a life from what we give.” Mr Hershkowitz lived a great life
(6) Dorothy Tiano Melvin, March 1, 2021 2:46 PM
Humbling
This man, who suffered so much, humbles me. He did not allow himself to live as a victim as so many today are wont to do. He saw suffering and immediately took steps to alleviate it. A giant. Thank you for allowing us to help honor his beautiful memory.
(5) Alexandra, February 28, 2021 8:10 PM
Beautiful article, todah rabah
(4) Anonymous, February 28, 2021 6:24 PM
This is a BEST reminder for everyone!
It helped me to look inside myself to make sure all the corners are swept clean.
(3) zlate1, February 28, 2021 6:17 PM
A Tzadik of our time
It is amazing that a "plain," person has an idea to fill a void a service he sees is needed, and once he acts Hashem sees to it that be is successful. Like Tomchei Shabbos, organizations such as Yad Sara Ezer Mizion, Hatzalah to name just a few were started by ordinary visionaries and succeeded beyond imagination. The lesson is to start and with Hashem's help it will succeed. Mr. Hershkowitz Ztzl.was a walking musar sefsr. Am Yisroel was blessed to have him.
(2) Barbara Berman, February 28, 2021 3:07 PM
An amazing story of the impact each one of us can have.
In the dark days of Covid, here in the United States, it is so nourishing to realize how much of an impact any one of us can have. I imagine a world where everyone pays it forward - glowing in the Light. What a world that would be!!
(1) Anonymous, February 28, 2021 2:34 PM
Humble importance
This man was a 'plain Jew'. His importance was and is to the people who were able to celebrate shabbat full and completely due to his carimg and generosity. And his legacy continues on. Even as he inspired others to provide in other states. How beautiful. Thank you for sharing this inspiring story.