Home Home / Edmond J. Safra Memorial (2000)

Outline

March 19, 2000

Edmond J. Safra Memorial (2000)

Eulogies & Memorials
View The Text

This content is currently available in its original PDF format. As we expand the library, we plan to add a text version as well.

RELATED CONTENT

Speech

Eulogy for Isidore Moed (2005)

Isi - our Isi - is gone, and our friendship of about 47 years has come to an end. During these decades, we and our family have become dear and precious friends. Molly and Isi and my wife and I were together at The Jewish Center’s Young Marrieds when indeed, we were “young marrieds.” Our children were classmates in Manhattan Day School and in “Central,” Yeshiva University’s High School for Girls. Throughout the course of our friendship I never had reason to question his loyalty or to criticize him. He was pleasant and kind and warm beyond words, and I always considered it a זכות to know him and consider him a friend.Isi was born in Antwerp to a warm and compassionate family. His sister Elsa Weinman, long a leader in The Jewish Center, and his brother^ were prepared by their parents to be responsible members of the community. His father was a loyal member of the Center and “davened” there regularly. His mother was especially sharp, bright, innovative. It was she who saved her family from the Nazi onslaught by insisting that they had to emigrate, to get out of harm’s way in Europe. At her urging, they left Antwerp on the last ship out of that Hell, on the Quanza - a ship of 80 passengers who were turned away by Portugal and Cuba. When they came to these shores, they were rebuffed by Virginia. Through the help of Maritime attorney Morowitz, who obtained the intervention of Eleanor Roosevelt, they granted safety and celebrated Isi’s Bar Mitzvah at The Jewish Center.Isi’s was an engaging personality; widely popular, he had many good friends. He had a remarkable talent: he loved whatever it was he was doing, whether it was successful or not, whether he was winning or losing. He was a happy man who welcomed a challenge, who was invariably optimistic and, no matter what the provocation, almost never complained.Isi was a Zionist to the core of his being. He loved Israel - delighted at the chance to visit, and sad at the thought of leaving it. He was a most respectful son who…
Eulogies & Memorials

Outline

Eulogy for Morris B. Abram (2000)

His general record well-known; no need repeat his brilliant record in law/civil rights/govt/etc. Concentrate on pers’y/J contrib’s. Suave/sophisticated/brilliant – yet compassionate/friendly. Southern charm mixd w אידיש חן – a marvlous combination! Love family: wf Bruna Molina; ch – Ruth/Ann/Moriss/Adm/Josh. Courage: Neither cancr/KKK could mk ths mn cower, neither anti-Amer’n diatribes could intimidate him.J Orgs: headed AJCom/Natl Conf Sov Jy/Conf Presdnts Major A-J Orgs; short stint Pres Brandeis U; and Ch, BD/CSL/Y.U-- & mmbr Trustee Com . choose new Pres. (I've since forgvn hm'In all public If (civil/J/polit), he couldn't be pigeon-holed as Extrmst/Modrt. Anyone wh opposd KKK as vigorously... was not modrt. So f 1-man 1-vote. Rather—examind each case on own merits & determnd hs approach. Maimnds: שיהא אדם שםopinions/p-v. Bt whn h arrvd at decision, pursued it w convictn. passion—bt w fairness. Thus, h gave lie t myth tht moderts= wimps. Struck me as man who always a passionate moderate. ,Brought litigator skills to commty work: at CSL/BD-a master at work... found'g Ch/BD/CSL-76-78. Rcvd HD from Y U, I shll evr b gratfl f hs advc/counsel/guidnce as newly mintd PresIsrael: Read his letter/record 22 Sept J999 on UN/Annan/IsrRei Dimension: "[I am] without a [J] background (which I somuch wish I had)"—high praise Lubavitcher RebbeRead: his letter to me of July 24, 1986Today: R.CH. Nisan- שלא חיסר בעולמו כלום וברא בו בריאותטובות ואילנות טובים להוות בהם בנ״אWherein company MBA, felt: all's well w world. & that if anything went wrong, this charmg, brave man—whose favrt motto-'if elevator broken, use stairs"--would set it aright. We ought bless G-d f gift of such a man in our midstEnd: Used t write t me (mostly by hand) 2-3x yr״ Annual ck to Y.U. w gracious note "wish I could do more" Morris, after all I've said about you, I wish 1 could do more—because you deserved it
Eulogies & Memorials

Speech

Rabin Eulogy (2008)

Rabbi Lamm eulogizes Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Eulogies & Memorials