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April 2002

Hesped for Dr. Wurzburger

Eulogies & Memorials

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Eulogy for Dr. Hyman Kirschenbaum (2000)

Tu B’Av = semi-holiday; required not over-indulgent expression of sorrow. I and my wife knew Hy and Judy >40 years. Admired him for his professional competence, humanity, family, Yiddishkeit. Born London, Ont.; public school; Western Ontario Medical School. Yiddishkeit – from intensely Jewish home; father taught him. Major part of career – BIH, neurosurgery. Intensely devoted to patients; his surgery saved thousands; not only professional care, also personal attention... Patients = humans... רופא נאמן / רופא רחמן... so: imitatio Dei. Humble: never affected by professional arrogance, though earned undying gratitude of patients and their families. When federal anti-religious cuts impacted kashrut in 1981, recall – Hy was outraged. Fought at the peril of his own career, but never relented until he won. When Russians came to New York – spared no effort: classes, lectures at BIH, highest pass rate – all free. Continued several years. Honored often – awards, plaques, etc., loved and admired – yet never sought such rewards. Passionate for honor, not honors.Three anomalies:Died of an aneurysm – the very condition he so often treated. Very busy surgeon, yet always made time for the family he loved. We take leave of him in sadness... on a happy day in the Jewish calendar. Mishna at the end of Taanit: לא היו ימים טובים לישראל כט״ו באב וכיום הכיפורים שבהם בנות ירושלים יוצאות וחולות בכרמים. Such contradiction! But see it as part of the progression – Tu B’Av → Shabbat Nachamu – Tu B’Av with its theme of shidduchim, marriage, children, family = continuity of Am Yisrael.So, no anomaly: today is a Tu B’Av; but be confident – eventually נחמה – and then, his family will continue in health, strength, and devotion to his ideals. The grandchildren he so adored... will live, achieve, and be a blessing to Hy’s memory. In your sorrow, know consolation will come – and then... for generations.
Eulogies & Memorials

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Eulogy for Walter Wurzburger - Sheloshim (2002)

I heart-broken as rise to spk eulogy f my friend/colleague WW – membr fac YU/RCA – I know him > 50 years. Was an excellent Rabbi – I recall his serve in Boston (w Rav...) – then Toronto (tliey dejcctd tht he left) – & finally Far Rockwy. My successor at TRADITION – Co-autrhrd “Treasury TRAD". He was the ideal of a scholarly Rabbi – studied philo Harvard – taught at YC (incc 67). Bt>teachr of philo – was a philospher – ideas were real t him, almst artifcts of the mind. As a result – affectd his persnlty: transcendd pettiness... He livd/experienced grt thoughts. Was a Rav, a Lamdan – and also a man of culture, a thinker.I owe t him my intrst in RHV—T.L.........Let me spk a bit about scope of his intcllct by referring ב״ב דף נ״ו—tod’s דף יומי—(explain) —חזקה של שלש שנים deals wמשנה: שלשה אחים ואחד מצטרף עמהם [דהיינו אח לשנה אח לשנה ואחד עם האח, שאותו אחד מעיד עם כולן] הרי אלו שלש עדיות, [- ולהכי כשר עדותן דאשתא דקא מסהיד האי לא קמסהיד האי ואין כאן שני עדים קרובים בעדות אחת.]גמ,. מתני׳ דלא כרבי עקיבא; [דלר״ע לא מהני עדותן כלל הואיל וכל אחד אין מעיד על חזקה שלימה דשלש שנים אלא על שליש חזקה והיינו חצי דבר.] דתניא, א״ר יוסי: כשהלך אבא חלפתא אצל רבי יוחנן בן נורי ללמוד תורה, ואמרי לה: ר׳ יוחנן בן נורי אצל אבא חלפתא ללמוד תורה, אמר לו: הרי שאכלה שנה א׳ בפני שנים, כ­בפני שנים, ג׳ בפני שנים, מהו? אמר לו: הרי זו חזקה; אמר לו: אף אני אומר כן, אלא שר״ע חולק בדבר זה, שהיה ר״ע אומר: +דברים י״ט+ דבר - ולא חצי דברThe Tannaim tlius disagree on the nature of the testimony. The Mislma holds that each set of witnesses is focused on an individual year. They are “specialists” and tlieir testimony is combined and is accepted as valid עדות for all 3 years. R. Akiva, however, disagrees. Unless tliey see the whole process, testfy to all 3 yrs as continuum—each is disqualified bee none offered testimony for all 3 yrs. No '/2 way measuresI hv grt respet f scholars of narrow focus—they often provide info tht is important for the synthesizers. But WW was not tlit kind tliinkr. Was more…
Eulogies & Memorials

Speech

Hesped for Rabbi Melech Schachter (2007)

Rabbi Lamm, alongside Rabbi Hershel Schachter and Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, delivers a eulogy for Rabbi Melech Schachter.
Eulogies & Memorials