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April 30, 1995

Eulogy for Judith Goldman (1995)

Eulogies & Memorials
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Still staggering from the trauma of the dreadful news of the demise of my niece, Judy Young, I find myself unable to offer adequately either my feelings of bereavement or an evaluation of her short but full life. My initial reaction is to quote Kohelet: והנה דמעת העשוקים ואין להם מנחם. You – I – we – all feel robbed, violated, devastated by Judy’s sudden death. And the pain is so great, that there is no consolation. But if I can’t find my own words, let me imagine what Judy would say to eulogize herself – knowing her attitude and her exceedingly firm bitachon, I believe she would say: don’t cry over me! She would assure us that: “The רבש"ע has been so good to me. He gave me distinguished parents who granted me inspiration and space to grow true to my own nature. I married a hero of Yiddishkeit, a prince of love, of decency, of devotion and a genuine תלמיד חכם and educator. We had a wonderful life together; and he was my חברותא as well. I beat back the מלאך המות several times – after the doctors had despaired of my recovery. As a young wife, they warned me that I would never be able to bear a child. But the רבש"ע had His own plans, and I was blessed with seven outstanding children – all loyal to Torah and תלמוד תורה and גמילות חסדים. In words of this week’s Haftorah, רני עקרה לא ילדה פצחי רנה וצהלי. In my battle for life – I won! So – celebrate my life with me! Of course, there will be tears and you’ll miss me – but remember always to be thankful to the Almighty on my behalf for all the חסד He showed me. Judy was a rare individual: she was a born leader – intelligent, energetic, strong-willed, single-minded to the point of stubbornness, charismatic, endowed with a powerful personality which made her such an inspiring teacher and innovative educator (whether or not one agreed with her educational philosophy) who influenced the lives of hundreds and brought them closer to תורה ומצות. And to think that all that primordial energy and all that talent and that long recor…
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Eulogy for Mrs. Rose Hurowitz (1974)

Reciting this farewell for our beloved Rose Hurowitz imposes a double burden upon me. First, there is a natural sorrow and grief at having to take leave of this wonderful woman who, after her long and heroic struggle, has finally succumbed, as indeed all mortals eventually must. And second, this occasion reopens old wounds, as we remember once again how very much we have missed and always will miss her beloved husband, our revered friend Sam Hurowitz, of blessed memory. For the two of them were inseperable.Indeed, their love for each other and their mutual respect were the most outstanding qualities of this extraordinary couple .It is impossible to think of one without the other.The classical honorific for such a lady in the Jewish tradition is Eshet Hayyil, which we normally translate as, "a woman of valor.” Rose Hurowitz fully deserved this encomium.She possessed in full measure the three special qualities that some commentators h»ve declared are implicit in this designation. The Hebrew word hayyil (חיל), valor, has been interpreted as an acronym for three words: Ton (love),Hessed (love) was Rose Hurowitz’s most distinguishing characteristic. The love she bore for Sam was unfathomable and !measurable. She was a loving woman par excellence, her heart overflowing with love for Bill and Monte, for her brother Sam and her Aunt Sylvia, for her daughter-in-law Susan, for members of her family and, indeed for all those fortunate enough to enter into the circle of her friendship. Most especially did she love and adore her two grandchildren, Stephen and Stephanie.And for Sam, Rose was a queen. Indeed, her deportment was regal. Her carriage and her bearing were those of natural royalty. Her demeanor was aristocratic, her manner princely. In turn, so powerful was Rose's devotion to Sam, that she could not and would not accept his death until her own dying day.It was no accident, but rather wise judgment, that lead the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies several years ago to…
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She Might Have Been a Rebbe: An Uncle's Hesped for Judith Young (2007)

Still staggering from the trauma of the dreadful news of the demise of my niece, Judy Young, I find myself unable to adequately offer either my feelings of bereavement or an evaluation of her short but full life. My initial reaction is to quote Kohelet: “Vehinei dimat ha'ashukim ve'ein lahem menachem – Behold the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter” (4:1). You, I, we – all feel robbed, violated, devastated by Judy’s sudden death. And the pain is so great that there is no consolation. But if I can’t find my own words, let me imagine what Judy would say to eulogize herself. Knowing her attitude and her exceedingly firm bitachon, I believe she would say:Don’t cry over me! The Ribbono Shel Olam has been so good to me. He gave me distinguished parents who granted me inspiration and space to grow true to my own nature. I married a hero of Yiddishkeit; a prince of love, of decency, of devotion and a genuine talmid chacham and educator. We had a wonderful life together, and he was my chavruta as well. I beat back the Malach Hamavet several times after the doctors had despaired of my recovery. They warned me, as a young wife, that I would never be able to bear a child. But the Ribbono Shel Olam had His own plans, and I was blessed with seven outstanding children—all loyal to Torah, talmud Torah and gemilut chasadim. In the words of the Navi, “Rani akarah lo yaladah, pitzchi rinah vetzahali, Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy” (Isaiah 54:1).In my battle for life, I won! So celebrate my life with me! Of course, there will be tears and you’ll miss me—but remember always to be thankful to the Almighty on my behalf for all the chesed He showed me.Judy was a rare individual: she was a born leader—intelligent, energetic, strong-willed, single-minded to the point of stubbornness, charismatic and endowed with a powerful personality, which made her such an inspiring teacher and innovative educator (whether or not one agree…
Eulogies & Memorials