Eulogy for Rabbi David Kahane (1996)
As I rise to speak a eulogy over my friend Rabbi David Kahane, I think back to a eulogy that David delivered – not our David Kahane, but David King of Israel, who lamented as follows over the death of his commander-in-chief, Abner: "Know ye not that a prince and great man has" fallen this day in Israel?" (II Samuel 3:38 ). There are some people who occupy high and responsible positions; they are, by virtue of these positions, "princes," leaders. And there are those whose qualities are innate, who possess virtues independent of any worldly position. They are "great" – in and of themselves. Our David was both—a שר, a prince, a leader, a superb congregational rabbi—and a גדול, a great human being endowed with marvelous qualities of heart and mind. Look at his congregation and you can see that he was a prince, a true and tried leader. Look at his family and you can see that he possessed greatness.As a professional, he earned the love and respect and admiration of his congregation. He came here to a small, unknown congregation with more potential than reality, and—with the help of devoted congregants and community leaders whom he inspired with his vision of what could be accomplished—he built this into a congregation renowned throughout the city. His spirit, his personality, left fingerprints all over every activity of this institution, and his influence was felt in every family.He was, as his surname indicates, a כהן, a descendant of Aaron, the High Priest of Israel. And the Talmud wonders, concerning the כהנים, whether הני כהני שלוחי דידן או שלוחי דרחמנא... But clearly, in the case of our Kohen-Kahane, he was both: a messenger from the Almighty to his people, bringing to his beloved congregation the teachings of divine care and concern and compassion, the teachings of Torah and Tradition; and the ambassador of his people to their Father in Heaven, bearing to Him their pains and their joys, their loves and hopes, their frustrations and their aspirations.He had the capa…
