About

Tamid’s Story

Tamid Mordechai Zaghi was born in Iran in 1982 to a loving and caring family. He received his Bachelors of Science in Marketing from CSUN. He suffered from a very rare genetic disease. While he was told he would die in his 20’s, his positive outlook on life helped him survive past the age of 37. Tamid had a spirit so pure, a heart so golden and a soul that had the power to love immeasurably. Tamid embodied and embraced the highest ability to live without anger without any complaints and he was a true expert in how to treat others with kindness. He was always smiling, polite in nature, and had a quiet laughter at the silliest of jokes. Tamid, was very modest and certainly humble without even trying. He connected with everyone without words being spoken. Once you met him, he could never leave your heart. He had a strong natural ability to bring family together.

Despite the many years of pain and suffering he endured from his condition, he never complained, and was grateful for every moment of his life. Tamid would say that the cards you are dealt is only chance; what counts is how you play the cards. Similarly, he would attest that he had no control over his health condition, but that he had complete control over how he would deal with it. Tamid played each card in his life with spirit, love, hope, and determination.

Tamid used the last week of his life to organize a campaign to fund Orthodox Jewish education for those in need of scholarships.

Instead of being in despair in his last few moments, he was thinking of how he can make the world a better place by continuing to make an impact beyond his time in his world.

When his family moved to America from Iran, he was very thankful for receiving a scholarship to attend South Peninsula Hebrew Day school while living in San Jose, CA. Since Jewish education is for Jewish children, it symbolizes the Jewish future. Tamid wanted to spark a love for Jewish learning because the lessons he learned as a young child in Jewish school helped him maintain the hope and inspiration to play each card in his hand with love, strength, respect, and determination.

It is no coincidence that Tamid decided to name his foundation Ner Tamid. Hashem instructs us when building the Mishkan “Lehaalot Ner Tamid” this is an eternal flame that was above the Aron. It was the light that was constantly on when the Jews were in the desert (midbar) which represents barrenness and exile. It has therefore become a well recognized symbol in every Jewish synagogue of G-d’s eternal presence even in times of darkness.

Tamid left this world without having had children, but Rabbis teach that if you help educate one child in Jewish education, it is as if you have adopted that child as your own. The Ner Tamid Foundation is hopeful that Tamid’s loving memory will continue to live on through the impact of his foundation. Your donation will help promote Tamid’s vision and would allow a child from a financially needy family to receive a Jewish education.