By Ari Hirsch

MI KAMOCHA YISRAEL!

This is a story that I simply had to share.

Last Friday morning, after I finished davening Shacharis, I turned on my phone and saw a hilarious bit about the bungalow colonies in the Catskills, made by comedian Dovi Neuberger.

I had never met Dovi before. I certainly never expected that, within a few minutes, I would have the opportunity to meet him and witness an incredible act of kindness that would stay with me.

After watching the reel, I headed back to my car, which I had managed to find after quite a bit of searching for a parking spot. As I was leaving, I was almost certain that I had spotted Dovi Neuberger walking into Citrus Cafe in the middle of Woodbourne.

I immediately called my friend Eli Lederman, who owns Citrus Cafe, and asked him, “Is comedian Dovi Neuberger in the store?”

Eli confirmed that he was.

So, naturally, I turned the car around.

I headed back into town, hoping to find another parking spot and, hopefully, meet Dovi and take a few pictures. I also wanted to introduce myself and see if we could set up a time to do some fun-question interviews with him for the Country & Jewish Vues.

After about 10 minutes of driving around looking for a spot—because apparently finding parking in Woodbourne requires its own degree in advanced mathematics—I finally spotted Dovi crossing the street. He was walking with Chumie, the daughter of Chaim, the manager of Dougie’s, and heading into Hakol Besefer. 

I stopped him and introduced myself. We spoke for a few minutes, and I took some pictures.

Then Dovi walked into Hakol Besefer and went to the back of the store to introduce himself to the owner, Moshe Rosenbaum. That is when the story took an unexpected turn.

Dovi told Moshe that he was doing a show this Thursday at Camp HASC that is open to the public, and he wanted to promote it. He was hoping to put something inside one of the seforim in Hakol Besefer, and whoever found it would win tickets to his show and get to keep the sefer.

Normally, Moshe would not allow something like this in his store.

He doesn’t want people coming into Hakol Besefer and flipping through seforim simply to look for a hidden prize, without any intention of purchasing a sefer. He runs a seforim store, after all—not a treasure hunt. But there was something about Dovi that made Moshe want to make an exception. Perhaps it was his personality. Perhaps it was The way he approached him. Whatever it was, Moshe was willing to help.

And that small exception turned into something much bigger.

Moshe, however, had no idea who Dovi was. I explained to Moshe that Dovi is the son of Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University and the longtime rabbi of Beth Abraham in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Moshe immediately became excited and told Dovi about his father’s incredible humility. He then recalled an incident he had witnessed at a simcha that had left a lasting impression on him. He remembered seeing Rabbi Neuburger changing the paper towels in the shul because the supply had run out.

Think about that for a moment.

A Rosh Yeshiva. A tremendous talmid chacham. A distinguished rabbi. And there he was, changing paper towels.

That simple act said everything.

It reminded Moshe of his rebbi, Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l, and the countless acts of tzedakah and kindness that his rebbi performed with his legendary humility.

Moshe then told Dovi that he would be happy to help promote his show, but he was extremely busy at that moment trying to raise money for a chasunah that was taking place that Monday.

Dovi immediately asked him a simple question: “How much do you still need to raise?” Moshe told him that he still needed somewhere between $8,000 and $9,000. Without hesitation, Dovi asked, “Is there a Zelle number that I can contribute to?”

I was standing there watching the entire exchange. I was amazed.

Here was a comedian who had just met Moshe. He didn’t know the chosson or kallah. He didn’t know the family. He had no connection whatsoever to the fundraising campaign. Yet the moment he heard that a Jewish couple needed help with their upcoming wedding, his immediate reaction was: How can I help?

Moshe tried to find the Zelle information.

After a few moments, he found it.

Dovi immediately sent $1,000!

Just like that.

Then, as if the scene wasn’t already incredible enough, another person walked into the room, saw what was happening, pulled out $300 in cash, and gave it to Moshe. Right there.

On the spot.

MI KAMOCHA YISRAEL — X 2!

I have met and interviewed countless people over the years, and I have heard many stories about great Jewish personalities and their incredible acts of kindness.

One story that always comes to mind is about the legendary Reb Shlomo Carlebach zt”l.

Over the years, I interviewed many people who knew Reb Shlomo, and they would tell me that he was often broke himself. Yet when someone would come over to him and ask for tzedakah, Reb Shlomo would reach into his pockets and give whatever he had to a fellow Jew.

He didn’t ask for the person’s background.

He didn’t ask whether the person deserved it.

He didn’t need a long explanation.

A fellow Jew needed help.

And that was enough.

Watching Dovi that morning brought that same feeling to mind.

There were plenty of people who recognized Dovi as he walked through Woodbourne. Police officers and others who saw him were excited to meet him and take pictures. He was clearly a familiar and popular personality. But honestly, that wasn’t what impressed me most. What impressed me was what happened when there was no social media moment and no audience.

Dovi heard about a chosson and kallah who needed help, and his first instinct was to give. He didn’t know them.

He didn’t know their story.

He didn’t know the people raising the money.

He simply heard that another Jew needed help, and he wanted to be part of the solution.

And when the Zelle information couldn’t immediately be found, he didn’t say, “I’ll send it later.”

He gave on the spot.

That is what made this encounter so special.

Perhaps this is something Dovi learned from his parents. Perhaps it is something he absorbed from watching his father, Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger, perform acts of chesed that others might never notice.

We often talk about Kiddush Hashem.

We talk about Jewish unity.

We talk about what makes our people special.

Sometimes you don’t need a speech.

Sometimes you just need to watch one Jew hear that another Jew needs help.

And then watch him reach into his pocket.

MI KAMOCHA YISRAEL.

WOW.