Home Home / Eulogy for Mrs. Rose Hurowitz (1974)

Speech

March 19, 1974

Eulogy for Mrs. Rose Hurowitz (1974)

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 Mrs. Beatrice Greenbaum (1967)

The Hassidic author of Benei Yissachor tells us that the name Nisan, comes from the word nes, meaning miracle, because this is the month in which great miracles occurred. What is the greatest of all miracles? This we can determine from the word nes itself. The word is composed of two letters, nun and samekh, which are, respectively, the initial letters of two Hebrew words: nofel, and somekh.This indeed is the greatest miracle of all Jewish history.We have experienced the worst vicissitudes that have ever befallen any people; time and again we have been in the category of fiofel, fallen to the lowest depths of misery and suffering. Yet our re- deeming feature has been that always we have been somekh, we havefound support in the source✓׳of our faith, we have been able to riseagain to ever greater heights.This holds true not only for our people as a collective group,but also for individuals. Even if we experience ynofel - we must have the faith and the confidence that someday, somehow, by some means,-2-we shall achieve somekh.At a time of this sort, I cannot eulogize,because we are now in the afterglow of the holiday of Passover, nor am I permitted by Jewish law to offer the usual consolation at a time that the body of a loved one lies before us. However, I have only this prayer:that even as you are now if nofel try to have the fiaith and theconfidence that in time you will achieve somekh, that the God Who has given you the blessing of the past will give you the strength to survive this tragedy and this grief and this bereavement and, in HIgood time, you will find consolation as well. Of course, in yourpresent condition you think that it is Impossible, and that everagain to be a somekh would be a sheer miracle.ButI agree. It is a miracle. That is what a nes is: the factthat after being a fiofel, you too will be an somekh.
Eulogies & Memorials

Speech

Eulogy for Mrs. Erna Sondheimer Michael (1964)

This is the moment we had feared, and which so many worked with such dedication and so valiantly to avoid, or at least ward off. But, in the words of Job, that man of suffering, את אשר יגרתי יבא לי – “that which I had feared has come to pass.” This occasion is not an end, but a transition. For the family, it is a transition from the comforting knowledge of her presence to the grief that is inevitable in her absence. For her husband, especially, this is the transition from a long and arduous struggle fought on her behalf against a dread disease, to a period when, despite inevitable and inexorable physical defeat, he emerges with a moral victory. And for her, this is the transition between olam hazeh and olam haba – between this life and life hereafter.Two Hebrew words can best describe the mood of this transition period: עם חשיכה . Literally that means ”withthe darkness," and figuratively it means "twilight.” Indeed a sun has set, and it is still too early to feel the full impact of the bitter darkness, and certainly too soon to look for the redeeming rays of the moon and the stars.Even more, this is a twilight not only for a day that is done, but of an entire week, symbolizing the life of Erna Sond- heimer Michael. It is, in the language of our Rabbis, ערב שבת עם חשיכה , the late Friday twilight, that period towards the end of the week when active life, the days of labor, have come to an end, and final peace, the eternal Sabbath מנוחה is about to arrive.It is at a time of this sort that we recall the words of the Mishnah: שלשה דברים צריך אדם לאמר ערב שבת עם חשיכה,*t during this period of twilight on Friday evenings, a man must say three things in his home: , ערבתם , עשרתםהדליקו את הנר : Have you given the tithe? Ha/e you made the Eruv? Light the candle!The home where Mrs. Michael was raised was a distinguished one in Israel. It was a kind of home where she was taught since childhood the three components of life that stand by a person to the ׳ery end, even until ער…
Eulogies & Memorials

Speech

Eulogy for Mrs. Florence Feinberg (1967)

Florence Feinberg was a woman of rare strength. That was probably her most notable characteristic. Throughout her life she manifested an unusual moral heroism that evoked a passionate loyalty from her husband and the profound admiration of her family and friends. She was gifted with an astonishing fortitude of character: she attained vision when others merely possessed sight. She learned how to listen, with an inner ear, to the heart-beat of others, while others never progressed beyond mere hearing. Although beset, for so many years, by physical illness, she emerged with attitudes that were remarkably healthy. Optimistic, cheerful, and never complaining, she overcame her shortcomings by a display of power of spirit. It is this that prevented her from ever succumbing to bitterness and moroseness and that helped her on to achieve a disposition that was sweet, gentle, and noble. It took brave stamina for her to attend the Center’s Tuesday Bible classes regularly, no matter what the circumstances. I shall miss her sorely; it will never be the same without her at my right hand.It is altogether appropriate, therefore, that in tribute to this lady of strength of character and courage of spirit, we now recite selected verses from that immortal passage from King Solomon’s Proverbs beginning with the words eshet hayil. ;.'his is an idiom which we normally translate as ”a woman of valor.” But in fact hayil means ”Strength” — and the valor of our eshet hayil, Florence Feinberg, lay in her hayil, her moral might and bravery.A woman of valor who can find?For her worth 18 far above rubles.The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. And he hath no lack of happiness.She doeth him good and not evil. All the days of her life.She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;Yea, she reacheth forth her hand to the needy.Her husband 18 known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she laugheth at the time to come. She openeth …
Eulogies & Memorials