NEW YORK (VINnews) – A Tisha B’Av film produced by Yaakov Langer of the Living Lchaim podcast network and featuring the parents of 8-year-old Charlotte Herzberg has drawn more than 267,000 views since its official release on the afternoon of Erev Tisha B’Av, gaining widespread attention across the Jewish world for its emotional message of forgiveness, faith and unity.
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The free documentary, “Letting Go,” tells the story of Yudi and Chumi Herzberg, who publicly forgave the close family friend whose vehicle struck and killed their daughter, Charlotte, in June. Rather than allowing the tragedy to divide their community, the Herzbergs transformed their grief into the “Shalom for Charlotte” initiative, encouraging acts of peace and reconciliation in her memory.
Since its release, the film has spread rapidly through social media and WhatsApp, with viewers describing it as one of the most powerful and emotionally moving Jewish documentaries they have seen in decades. Many have said the film’s message of forgiveness, faith and resilience left them deeply moved.
The documentary also features two additional stories centered on forgiveness following profound personal loss.
As the film continues to gain momentum, viewers have praised its message of healing and unity during Tisha B’Av, when Jews mourn the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash and reflect on the importance of overcoming division and strengthening unity.
Some degenerate deleted my well written comment about Torah’s perspective in hilchos rotzeach and ways to prevent such incidents in the future, such as driving under 25 mph in unzereh residential neighborhoods, insisting on installing sidewalks where we live, and teaching pedestrians — kids and adults — safe practices, such as using bicycle rear view mirrors and warning lights installed on high points of the bike, not riding segways on the road at night, especially without reflective clothes, as well as constantly paying attention and walking on the left side of the road when sidewalks aren’t available.
Statistically, most pedestrians survive being hit when a car was going under 25 mph, which gives drivers more reaction time to brake, and lower speed at impact means the kinetic energy reduction by a power of two.
For example: An object that has a velocity of 10 mph at the point of impact, delivers one ninth — not one third — of the kinetic energy of the same object at 30 mph. When you need to suddenly react and hit the brakes in under a second, you can probably reduce the speed by about 15 mph in such a short window, which means when you travel at 25 mph vs 45 mph, the speed at impact would be 10 mph vs 30 mph respectively. 900% difference in kinetic energy. Think about it.
You can accelerate from 0 to 60 in under 2 seconds on a highway, not where kids may cross the street. Unzereh lives are worth your driving time increasing by a minute or two.
I share a car with my wife, so I am at times a driver, and at times a pedestrian. In my opinion, one of the most dangerous moves a car can make is not stopping at the stop LINE, but further on at the cross road. The Stop Line is recessed from the cross road for a purpose: to allow pedestrians to cross! This is constantly violate by the great majority of drivers, both Jewish and Gentile. Not stopping st the Stop Line is extremely dangerous to pedestrians. Drivers justify themselves by claiming that the pedestrian is not present; however, it takes constant training and awareness not to become an Unintentional Murderer!
This film really is amazing! Heart wrenching but very inspiring.
I think all of us have to remember that its not just the Herzbergs who are good looking and wealthy that we emulate. We all may have that nebach nieghbor maybe slighly disshuffled and not put together, maybe divorced and a single mom or dad, or someone else who goes thru lifes tzaras yet is a forgiving and giving person. Emulate them and give the chizuk too. Its not just the cool with it who we admire. PS this is no way to knock the tremendous chizuk the Herzbergs are giving. They are extrodinary selfless people. But I just want to make sure the masses don’t get cuaght up in catchy stuff and realzie to properly internalize it to those aorund you too who are suffering just less fortunate. They themselves say they are thankful to hashem that they have it all and that helps them cope with tzara. Lets not foregt the yidden that don’t have it all. Invite them for shabbos etc.
I also don’t understand the need to embarass Abie & the Driver of the car that killed the younge girl. Why are you embarassing them by showing their faces for all to see? The poor chavrusa looks like he’s crawling ouf his skin from embarrassment but had no choice but to go alon g with this production. This is so disturbing to watch.
At 120 these parents will join Charlotte in the loftiest places in Gan Eden. Their most powerful message has accomplished so much. I cried through the whole film. That people in 2026 can do that! It’s incredible! שיתנחמו מן השמים
I don’t fully understand what happened here. If the driver was not at fault then there’s no need for forgiveness, he did nothing wrong. If the driver was at fault, how can you forgive before he asked forgiveness? There’s a process to human relationship repair.
In the story in the holocaust, there’s also no mention of the person asking forgiveness, the person did an incredibly evil act & never sought forgiveness. I don’t see the mitzva to forgive in that situation. That doesn’t bring Shalom.
There are people who cause tremendous pain to others, the first step is for them to seek forgiveness. If they sincerely regret their actions, the Rambam says that we should forgive.
There will never be Shalom without that first step.
it now has over 200,000 views.
Tisha bav became the chag of movies. In the olden days we used to say kinnos
Hello
he should go orei miklat
Thank for helping shed tears on the day we’re meant to cry.
1. Yehi zichrah baruch & a nechama to both of you. Yudi & Binny may you continue to shteig bhatzlacha u’breius!
2. Abie’s Mom may you continue to heal flourish
3. The one who blows my mind is the Aushwitz survivor who’s forgave his trusted friend for stealing his papers after his family losses. That’s on a whole other level.
I’d like to think and pretty sure I’d have the fortitude to forgive like first two cases in his/her shoes but I honestly don’t think I would have it in me for the 3rd story. May we never get tested.
ANYONE WHO IS “FRIENDS” (SUPPORTS) THE ROSHA AND KOFER, SHELDON STERN, WILL BE ERASED AND BANNED FROM VIN. THE RODENT SHELDON STERN WAS BANNED FROM YWN AND VIN.
The emphasis of this movie should be on staying off the cell phone putting it away not using it when you’re in your car or any other times that would have a lasting effect on many people and save such tragedies from ever happening again.