Dan barely remembers his grandparents, except for a slice of a Jewish lullaby his Baba used to hum. For a long time, that was Dan’s only connection with Judaism; one that was fading fast as the older generation passed on.

A colorful ad for the Tzivos Hashem Torah Contest and its near-miraculous grand prize of a trip to America caught Dan’s eye. The essay he wrote as part of his contest entry was rich and deep and full of longing, and it won him a coveted spot on the trip.

Fond memories of the trip lingered even after Dan’s family moved to East Germany where Jewish observance was frowned upon and downright dangerous. Soon Dan got in touch with Tzivos Hashem Board Member Ira Yavarkovsky to speak about his heartfelt wish: to learn more about Judaism. A generous sponsor stepped forward, and now Dan is mastering Hebrew and English in a yeshiva high school in Brooklyn. “It’s a dream come true,” said Dan.