Rabbi Mordechai German – The Life And Legacy Of Rav Avner German, zt”l

Chazaq Torah Talks – Episode 91 (Aired February 14, 2023)

When I sat down with Rabbi Mordechai German for Episode 91 of Chazaq Torah Talks, the conversation was never meant to be academic. This was about memory. About roots. About a father whose influence is still being felt decades later — not through slogans or institutions alone, but through people.

At the center of the discussion stood Rabbi German’s father, Rav Avner German, zt”l — a man who quietly shaped generations of Jewish life in America, often before there was language for what he was doing.

 

Growing Up With Nothing — Except Torah

Rav Avner German grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, in circumstances that today feel almost unimaginable. The home was religious, but poor — very poor. His father worked as a butcher, yet would get up in the middle of the night to learn Torah. Shoes were saved for winter. Summers were barefoot. Breakfast wasn’t guaranteed.

There was no local yeshivah, so Rav Avner attended public school during the day and whatever Jewish education was available afterward. When he was just twelve years old, his parents put him on a train — alone — and sent him to New York to learn Torah.

That moment changed everything.

From there, Rav Avner grew into a of stature, eventually becoming deeply involved with Yeshiva Ohr Baruch (Be’er Hagolah), where he would later serve as dean and shape the lives of thousands of students.

 

Doing Kiruv Before Anyone Called It That

Long before kiruv became organized or professionalized, Rav Avner was already doing it — naturally, instinctively.

In East New York, he founded Congregation Bnei Israel and a Talmud Torah that served over 500 children, many of whom attended public school in the mornings. There were baseball leagues, after-school programs, warmth, structure, and Torah. From that environment, countless boys went on to full-time yeshivah learning.

He wasn’t chasing trends. He wasn’t branding anything.

He simply believed that Jews belonged close to Torah — and he acted on it.

 

“Facing Sinai Means Turning Away”

When I asked Rabbi German what quality most defined his father, he didn’t hesitate. He shared a teaching Rav Avner repeated throughout his life — what he called “the family flag.”

The Torah says that Klal Yisrael encamped opposite Har Sinai. Most people focus on the obvious: they faced the mountain, ready to receive the Torah. But Rav Avner pointed out the other side of the picture.

Their backs were to the world.

To truly receive Torah, you have to want it — and you also have to be willing to say no to what surrounds you. Rav Avner believed this deeply. He wasn’t impressed by trends, popularity, or outside approval.

“We have our own drum,” he would say.

“We don’t dance to their music.”

And he lived that way.

 

A Father First

Despite his leadership roles and public responsibilities, Rav Avner was, above all, a father.

Rabbi German spoke with clarity and emotion about growing up knowing — without question — that his father loved him and believed in him. He demanded greatness, yes. But it came from confidence, encouragement, and deep personal connection.

That sense of responsibility to Torah and family continues through Rav Avner’s children and grandchildren, many of whom are themselves deeply involved in Jewish education and leadership.

 

Parenting That Actually Matters

From there, the conversation turned to parenting today — and Rabbi German shared thoughts that felt especially grounded.

Children are priceless, he said — but parents often forget to live that truth. We say our children matter most, yet time, attention, and presence don’t always reflect that.

At the same time, parents often underestimate how much they matter to their children. Even when kids push back, even when they argue — a parent’s voice still carries weight.

A firm, loving “no” isn’t damaging.

It’s anchoring.

Children may not enjoy hearing it — but they need it.

Questions Are Healthy — Doubt Is Not Required

In closing, Rabbi German shared a teaching from Rabbi Noach Weinberg that beautifully captured the balance Judaism demands.

We are allowed — even encouraged — to ask questions. About suffering. About history. About pain.

But questions don’t have to become doubts.

Life is complicated. Faith doesn’t mean pretending otherwise. It means staying rooted even when answers aren’t immediate.

 

A Legacy That Still Walks With Us

Rav Avner German, zt”l, didn’t build his legacy with noise. He built it with consistency, courage, and a refusal to bend Torah to the moment.

Through his children, his students, and the institutions he helped shape, that legacy continues — quietly, steadily, and powerfully.

This episode of Chazaq Torah Talks wasn’t just about looking back.

It was about remembering what it means to stand firm — and pass that strength forward.

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Rabbi Yaniv Meirov is the mara d’atra of Kehilat Charm Circle in Kew Gardens Hills and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Chazaq. He is the host of Chazaq Torah Talks, a long-running series that explores real-life questions through honest, grounded Torah conversations.
Now with 222 episodes, Chazaq Torah Talks continues to resonate by showing that emunah is built through lived experience — not polished answers.