Zev Vagner was born in 1951 to a family that was deeply connected to Grand Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel Twersky of Machnovka, who had been exiled by the Soviets for his continued efforts on behalf of Judaism. His grandparents, Reb Aharon and Miriam, were very religious—scrupulous about mitzvah observance even in the harsh years of Communist rule. His parents were less meticulous, but they kept Shabbat, kashrut and Jewish holidays.
“They had regular places in the Great Synagogue of Moscow. I remember going with my father to the synagogue when I was very young,” recalls Vagner of his early years. “I knew I was Jewish, but it took me time to realize that I was different than other people.”
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