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September 19, 1954

Eulogy for Mr. Abe Suher (1954)

Eulogies & Memorials
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Eulogy for Abe Stern (2006)

Tisha B’Av early this year... Indeed, generally: man = microcosm; but sages: micro-Mikdash. Hence: your premature Tisha B’Av = ours... Both as family member and communal leader – he was a powerful personality, leaves indelible imprint on lives of wife, children, grandchildren, all Jewish community. In his personality, paradoxically combined two opposites – firmness and flexibility. וידבר משה אל ראשי המטות – "מטה" – "שבט" – rod/whip. Avraham: both strictness/principle; suppleness/means. At home = loving and giving husband/father/grandfather. At work = disciplinarian; could demand as well as inspire.Used skills as Soc Wrkr (YU)t fulfil sp mission: OUTREACH I remember lsl YU Seminar—was insprtn JSS; set pattern f... Truly /tv rahani -tho othrs claimd credit;sp’l fathr thousandsYoungst mmber large/distngshd famy, h brought thm נחת Presided talentd, committd, loving family Dghtrs=also hs studnts; role model gr-chAbove all: Malka’s heroism...a classcal example Iv/loyaltySaid: hs Death =Churban,TB. But trad: glimmer hope/conslatnבמנחת ט"ב נולד המשיח|.איכה: קרא עלי מועד.לכן: אין תחנון, צ״צ בשבת חיד״א: לכן לא מיחו חכמים’על בנות דאהר חצות מתעסקות בכל כחן לכבד הבית ולתקן המטות, חיזקו ידיהם לקבוע אמונת הגאולה ולא יתיאשו ח״ר.Final note:תענית כ"ט—תי׳ר: משחרב הבית בראשונה נתקבצו כיתות כיתות של פרחי כהונה, ומפתחות ההיכל בידן, ועלו לגג ההיכל ואמרו לפניו: רבש״ע ... יהיו מפתחות מסורות לך, וזרקו□ כלפי מעלה. ויצתה כעין פיסת יד וקיבלתן מהם, וה□ קפצו ונפלו לתוך האורSo: Abe left “keys” t dghtrs, ..... Build yr fams, educate thm as he would have wanted
Eulogies & Memorials

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Eulogy for Abraham Cleeman (2007)

What is there left to say after hearing such tribute by son to father? All one can do is to use different words – but basically say amen, and perhaps reduce all that’s been said into two Yiddish words – ר' יחזקאל אבראמסקי על ר' איסר זלמן מלצר eulogy: even if you took away all his learning – he’d remain א שיינער איד. AC was just that – business... finally VP Prudential. But: a gentleman – humble, polite, refined, friendly smile, soft talk, properly dressed, courteous, sincerely pious; יר"ש – especially during davening... א שיינער איד. I knew Abe C – 49–50 years in TJC. Recall his Jim's.Highly intllgnt — imncredbl mmory...hid hs own high knwldg...Nvr spoke loudly/angry/ man of modrtn — א שיינער אידDevotd late wf- what tendrnss, sweeetnss! Could count exact numbr dies since sh passd away—what quiet yt profnd love His If devotd t her, to Jim (pride), to gr-child.א שיינער איד...- מוקיר רבנים—Belovd mmber TJC2 Heb names - אברהם מאיר - both “artfcial” אברהם אברם;/fatherly/enlghtnd ... מאיר—נהוראי—שהאיר עיני חכמים SoBrought LIGHT t those around hm ..to Jim/Debra/Miriam Indeed - this is what is reqrd t b known as א שיינער איד So to Abe, our partg wish: א ליכטגן גן עדן פאר א שיינער איד“Jimmy...You a wondrfl son; yr כיבוד או"א pride yr achvmnts. May you derv as much נחת from Miriam as y gave hm ”
Eulogies & Memorials

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Eulogy for Henry Lindenbaum (1982)

I rise to speak the eulogy over Henry Lindenbaum out of pain, of course, and out of love and sympathy – but mostly out of numbness. We read from the Torah that when Aaron, brother of Moses, lost his two children, va-yidom Aharon. The accepted translation is that Aaron was silent. Silence, indeed, is the most sensible reaction to the enormity of the disaster that has overtaken this family and our community. What can one say about this terrible coincidence, this repetition of an unspeakable tragedy: his father was killed in a crash at the age of 47, and now Henry is killed in a crash at age 45, leaving a wife in the prime of her youth; mothers and brothers and a sister to relive the pain of the old wound even as the new one sinks its teeth into them; and children bereft of a father whom they idolized.But there is a second translation of that Scriptural term va-yidom (attributed to the Jerusalem Targum) and that is, ve'shabbach, "and Aaron praised." The plain meaning of that commentary is that Aaron, despite his grief, praised God. But why not interpret that to mean, as well, that he praised his deceased children?We are here to say farewell to Henry and to bemoan him but also to give him the praise he 80 richly deserved.Perhaps the most salient feature of his short life was his capacity for growth. Orphaned of a wonderful father when veryyoung, angry and resentful at his harsh fate, a rebellious child — he grew and matured to a pleasant, warm, gracious, tranquil, loving, and loveable adult.He gallantly overcame his childish pique to become a splendid human being -- and, as well, a highly successful businessman.In his business dealings and in all his relationships he was impeccably honest. He conducted himself with unsullied honor and uncompromised integrity. He was fair, straight, ethical -- a true gentleman.Henry never spoke an evil word about another person, and no person ever had anything bad to say about him. His character was never touched by envy. No matter wha…
Eulogies & Memorials