This is the final installment of “Letters to My Children and Grandchildren.” If you have been following the series, you know that these letters are part of a book of advice for life, based on Pirkei Avos, that I wrote for my children. I have received good feedback from readers and hope that you have been inspired to write your own letters as a legacy to the next generation. If so, then my goal in sharing will have been accomplished.

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Dear Children,

Celebrate simchas and siyumim to their fullest. Each time you celebrate, give proper hakaras hatov (gratitude) to Hashem. Give tzedaka to the less fortunate so they can have simcha as well.

Happiness

The shivah is over for Baltimore’s esteemed First Lady of Chesed, Mrs. Hannah Storch,a”h, and her passing symbolizes the end of a generation of Baltimore greats, those who laid the foundations of the community we enjoy today. But more than a symbol, Mrs. Storch was a warm, kind, and generous individual, the quintessential eishes chayil, who fulfilled the ideals of the Torah and led by example. Hannah’s impeccable character spoke volumes to all who knew her and even to those who only heard of her. I, personally, have known her “forever” as the Storches and my parents were devoted friends. I am honored to have this opportunity to recount her praises.

In the introduction to this series, I explained how, many years ago, I wrote a book for my children on advice for life. It was based largely on Pirkei Avos, whose principles I have tried to live by and tried to instill in them. Parts one and two of this four-part series dealt largely with choosing a marriage partner. In part three, I continue with another element of success in life, namely family finances. This includes learning and working, planning for a career, investing, and using money as Hashem intended. This fits in well with the investment theme of this month’s Where What When.

Last month, I introduced this series of articles by explaining how, many years ago, I wrote a book of advice to my children in the form of letters. It was based largely on Pirkei Avos, whose principles I have tried to live by and which I have tried to instill in my children. Now, I am writing to my grandchildren, to transmit to them, too, whatever wisdom I have attained as well as their family history, stories, and minhagim.

In disseminating these letters beyond the family, I am not preaching, nor am I attempting to give mussar, both of which I may not be qualified or deserving to do. These are simply words of advice to my children and grandchildren, based on my personal Torah education, hashkafa (religious outlook), and life experiences.

Many years ago, when my children were in their teens, I thought to put into writing some of the principles I have lived by and that I tried to instill in them all during their growing-up years. I wrote many pages of advice, based largely on Pirkei Avos, something that I imagine loving parents and grandparents have always done in what has been called an “ethical will.”

It began with the Shidduch Book, which I wrote in 1996. Although my children were not yet dating, I wanted to prepare them for that most momentous decision in life: the choice of a marriage partner. I continued to write “letters” to my children and ultimately gathered my words into a beautifully-bound book, which I presented to each of my children as a legacy. I called them Letters to My Children.

We set out for Lakewood a few months before Pesach, 2019, to visit our dear cousin Rabbi Dovid Trenk, zt”l, who was not well. To most of the world, Rabbi Trenk was a beloved long-time rebbe in Adelphia Yeshiva. More recently, he was the revered Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Moreshes Yehoshua. In his over-50-year career teaching Torah, he was an inspiration and mentor to thousands of talmidim. (The biography of this talmid chacham, Just Love Them, by Yisroel Besser, which came out recently, is the top Jewish bestseller of the season.) But for me, he was simply Reb Dovid, an extraordinary individual and a cherished friend and cousin.