The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

Rosh Hashanah is not the usual day for acts of Chesed.

Rosh Hashanah is spent most of the day in Shul and at family meals, and with the exception of inviting guests, most of us don’t have the opportunity to engage in physically active acts of Chesed.

However, there are unsung heroes who quietly, albeit not silently, go about the days of Rosh Hashanah performing acts of chesed that are deserving of our recognition.

They don’t seek recognition; however, that doesn’t excuse us from recognizing their acts of kindness.

Many of these unsung heroes are the countless people who go around our various neighborhoods blowing the Shofar for those who are unable to make it to Shul.

One such unsung hero davens just a few feet from me; however, if not for a chance encounter, I would have never uncovered the depth and length of his Chesed.

It was the second day of Rosh Hashanah, and it was past 5 PM, and as I arrived at the Beis Medrash to retrieve a Sefer in preparation for my upcoming Shiur, I was approached by a young man.

He was a bit hesitant at first with his request, and I soon understood why.

Without too much explanation, the young man asked me where he could hear the Shofar as sunset was rapidly approaching.

There was no reason to question why the young, healthy specimen standing before had failed to fulfill the Mitzvah until so late in the afternoon; the only goal was to find him someone who was competent and willing to facilitate the fulfillment of the Mitzvah.

I turned to other men and asked them if they knew anyone who could blow Shofar.

They informed me not to worry, as the Baal Tefillah of the Mincha taking place at that moment in the Main Shul could certainly blow the Shofar.

I left the situation in the hands of the other Mispallelim and went back to preparing the Shiur.

After Yom Tov, I approached the Baal Tokea and thanked him for blowing for the young man so late in the day.

I then casually asked if he had blown for anyone else in the neighborhood.

It was only then that I learned the extent of the Chesed that was performed.

Our unsung hero, who is also the main Gabbai of the Shul, is my good friend Jonathan Pittinsky.

Jonatahn informed me that he had blown 340 kolos each day of Rosh Hashanah and walked over three miles each day to blow for countless people.

The beneficiaries of his Chesed include women who cannot attend Shul, as well as elderly and infirm individuals who, without Jonathan, would have never heard the Shofar.

This was in addition to his role as the regular Baal Tokea in the Vasikin Minyan.

While many of us were thrilled to hear one hundred Kolos each day, and many were satisfied with thirty Kolos, Jonathan Pittinsky had the privilege to blow almost seven hundred Kolos over the two days of Yom Tov while walking over three miles each day!

An unsung hero finally gets a bit of well-deserved recognition.

Thank you, Jonathan!