Letter About Yonah's Chessed

Dear Goldman Family,

What a bitter Thursday it was last week when we heard the horrifying news about Yonah. Our tears flowed; we were filled with shock and grief.

Yonah was always very special to us, as he was no doubt to countless others. As a young teenager, you-his wonderful parents, encouraged him to do Chesed. We know because he once told us that you expected him to do some kind of volunteering, Chesed, work.

Great Chesed he did. Yonah was the first teen to ever take an interest in our son, Shmueli*. Shmueli has special needs that are complicated. His disability is not visible so most teens would get very put off and uncomfortable because they didn’t understand him or understand his demands and idiosyncrasies.

Yonah was not put off in the least, or even if he was at first, he never showed it. I can still picture his sweet, shainedik (handsome) face and quiet smile when we would open the door to his knock on Shabbat afternoons.

He was so warm, calm, and at peace with being here that it was calming for us and Shmueli as well. We always looked forward to his visits. Shmueli usually just wanted to talk or occasionally go for a walk. We were so grateful he had a teenager to talk to. Yonah did so much for our family by these visits. We know it is a huge Zechuts for him in the Next World (Olam Emet)

Yonah also spoke to us about his family at times. He had a lot of pride in how his parents raised the family. I remember being impressed when he told us how on Shabbat HaGadol the family would sit around together and review the HaGaddot. His love and admiration for you was clearly evident.

We later shared in his excitement to go off to Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel, although we knew we would miss him.

We will always remember and love Yonah.