Yesterday, during the Fast of Firstborn, I made siyums with my ten-year-old son, Shlomo Eliezer, and my eight-year-old son, Aharon.

My family sponsored the siyum in memory of my grandfather, Reuven Wasser, who passed away 35 years ago this week. My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor who miraculously survived six years in Poland under the horrific Nazi regime. He lost his first wife, two children, parents, grandparents, and siblings during those years. After the Holocaust, he married my grandmother and then moved to the United States, where my mother, his only surviving child, was born.

Every year, on the night of Pesach, Jewish people convene at their seder tables and, collectively, share our story with the next generation. This transmission of our heritage ensures the continuity of the Jewish community and creates a bond of tradition we call mesorah — tradition.

I remember my late grandfather at my seder. I am eternally indebted to him and my other grandparents, who also survived the Holocaust, rebuilt their lives, and passed on the Torah to their grandchildren.

My sons, Shlomo Eliezer and Aharon, never met my grandfather, Reuven, yet with his siyum today, he is forging another link, based on the tradition I received from my grandparents and theirs...

Chag Kasher v'Sameach/Happy Passover to All!