From Mitzvah to Miracle: When a Thought Becomes Action

Written by Simon Lichter, Director of Alumni Engagement at NEJA (Class of 2008) - slichter@neja.org

A Gift of Life: Michel Black’s Journey of Kidney Donation

Michel Black, past president of NEJA, is no stranger to leadership, but one of his most powerful acts of service came not in a boardroom, but in a hospital room. 

It began with a phone call about a close family friend, Aria Shnap, who was on dialysis and in desperate need of a kidney. “I had a flash of a thought—let’s do a mitzvah,” Michel Black recalls. “And that thought turned into action.” He asked his doctor, Dr. Barry Izenstein, about the possibility of donating, and despite a busy schedule, the physician paused to explain. From there, Michel Black began months of thorough testing. He wasn’t a direct match for Aria, but by entering the donor bank, his kidney helped ensure Aria received a life-saving one from Pennsylvania. As a side note, Dr. Barry Izenstein and his parents were one of the founding family philanthropists to start HHNE (Hebrew High School of New England).

When Michel Black told Aria, he simply gave him a hug and wished him well.

Their bond was deep—two Springfield men, fifteen years apart in age, both rooted in Jewish tradition.

Pictured: Michel Black (standing) holding Aria Shnap's hand.

The Recovery Journey 

An avid mountain biker and skier, Michel Black worried about how donation might affect his active lifestyle. Instead, it made him stronger. Preparing for surgery, he focused on core fitness. Afterward, he walked the hospital floor hour by hour, lap by lap—refusing narcotics, determined to heal naturally. Within 24 hours, he was home. That Friday night, he was already back in synagogue, his sons by his side.

The Blessing of Giving 

Within just weeks, Michel Black was back to himself—physically strong, spiritually uplifted, and filled with gratitude. “It doesn’t affect your life in the way people fear,” he reflects. “If you are healthy, it’s not that challenging. And the difference you can make in someone else’s life—it’s immeasurable.”

His message to the community is simple but powerful: if you’re healthy, speak to your doctor. Explore the possibility. A single decision could save a life. 

Michel Black's story reminds us that the greatest mitzvahs often start as a single flash of thought—and become a lifelong legacy of love and courage.

Today, You Can Be That Lifeline

Right now, another NEJA community member, Naama (Kellman) Green, class of 2006, is desperately seeking a kidney donor for her seven year old son, Ethan. Their family is praying for a miracle, and you could be the one to provide it.

Please help spread the word by sharing Naama’s flyer and joining her Facebook group.

Together, may we pray and act for a speedy donation—and may Ethan, like Aria, receive the gift of life.