In recent weeks, I took to various Baltimore Facebook groups to share information about the book. To my astonishment, I discovered that there are hundreds of people who still fondly remember my grandfather, even though he left Baltimore over 50 years ago! Some individuals still remembered what he told them while officiating at their weddings. During the Shiva period, my family received a heartfelt letter from someone who stated that she and her husband were the sole religious members of their family, and it was all thanks to my grandfather. Because of his influence, she now has children and grandchildren who all attended yeshivas. Many others reminisced about him teaching them for their bar or bat mitzvah ceremonies. As a child, I like most children my age, never stayed inside for the rabbi’s speech. Yet, this week I learned that many of the children in Rogers Avenue Synagogue sat during his sermons and loved them. They told me that he had a way of keeping them engaged, as he had a unique ability to connect with children. As one woman succinctly put it, "he was a mensch."

Witnessing the profound impact my grandfather had on so many lives, even decades after his leaving the community, is truly moving. It also serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of my grandmother (may she live and be well).

One cherished memory from my childhood revolves around the Passover Seder. Each year, I would excitedly steal the afikomen from my grandfather. However, when I attempted to sell it back, it was always mysteriously missing. It turned out, he would hide from me, secretly observing my efforts to hide the afikoman, and then skillfully retrieve it. It was only through my grandmother's gentle hints that I managed to recover it each time. That was my saba, brilliant in leading thousands, yet able to bring joy and laughter to any child. His spirit overflowed with joy.

Throughout these past few weeks, I have written extensively about my grandfather, but there is one aspect that holds the utmost importance to me—my grandmother. While he was the rabbi, she embodied the essence of a rebbetzin, always by his side through thick and thin. Many remember the warm and welcoming atmosphere of their home during the Oneg Shabbat gatherings held each Friday night, an Oneg that she undoubtedly prepared week after week. As much as he loved the community, her devotion was equally profound. She never wavered in her support. It was evident to all who knew them that their relationship was something truly special. For almost 75 years, they were inseparable. She stood by him until the very end, and we are keenly aware of the immense void she feels without him.

May my grandmother find solace in the knowledge that countless friends from Baltimore, many of whom my grandparents kept contact with for decades, still remember and cherish them both. For every person who posted about my grandfather, two others expressed their deep affection for "his wife Flo" or shared stories of their mothers being best friends with her.

After receiving his smicha, my grandfather was offered a prominent position as the rabbi of a shul in Boston by his esteemed Rebbe, Rav Soloveitchik. This opportunity came with the allure of a congregation filled with brilliant scholars eagerly awaiting his shiurim. However, my grandfather sensed that he had a different mission in life, and how right he was.

In these past few weeks, our family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. My grandfather hailed from East New York, a teenager with little money for lunch but a relentless thirst for knowledge. He absorbed everything his revered teachers imparted to him. In the words of his contemporaries, he was a "true Talmudist." He went on to inspire multiple generations, leaving a lasting impact that continues to ripple through time.

I am immensely grateful for the years I had to learn from both him and my Savta. I am thankful to the people of Baltimore for sharing their cherished memories.

I am certain that he looks down upon us today, from his place at the front of the beis medresh in shomayim, pointing to each person from Baltimore and saying, "Look at what I have produced! With a little guidance here and a gentle nudge there, see the fruits of my labor. How many individuals have a love for Judaism because of me!"

We miss him tremendously.

Rabbi Mostofsky lives with his wife and children in Brooklyn, NY

His new book, “A Head of Iron: Memories of Rabbi Jacob Green” is available on Amazon