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October 1997

In Honor of Prof. Aaron Kirschenbaum (1997)

Birthdays & Tributes Biographical Material
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Eightieth Birthday

Moses lived to 120. But his real career began when he turned 80. אתה גיבור לעולם ה׳... מי כמוך בעל גבורות – how wondrous to have merited, with God's help, to reach the age of strength. I am reminded of my own closeness to the subject of death. I once saw a woman throw herself from a rooftop. Then, in first grade, my dear friend Yehoshua Kaufman died. And in third grade – my friend Shaul Goodman...כל זה גרם לי שלא אהיה בטוח אם אגיע לבר מצוה, או לישא אישה, למצוא תרופה לחלייו....וזה לא הפך לאובססיה, אלא להחשיב כל רגע שאני בחיים, ובעיקר יכול לפעול לטובת אשתי ומשפחתי.The sheer joy of being alive -really alive - ...מודה אני לפניךThe Sages say that בן שמונים לגבורה, “at eighty years one acquires (or is characterized by) strength.” This is a popular dictum, one oft repeated by those who congratulate new octogenarians. It is usually assumed to reflect on the physical stamina that allows a person to reach this level of longevity. However, the source for this statement in the Mishna is a verse in Psalms that reads :ואם בגבורות שמונים שנה, that eighty years is the time for גבורות , “strengths” in the plural. To me this implies that there are two types of “strength” - physical vigor and resilience, which normally characterize a younger person; and moral or spiritual strength: the wisdom that comes with experience, the courage to defy all and contribute to the world and to the community, the valor to do what is right rather than what is convenient. 7 should add that these words are not descriptive but normative; this is not the way of most people, but the way it should be—the right wayברכת שהחיינו? ? .6?.Special mission in lifeWhen I retired from presidency, 1 announced in public that henceforth I expect to have the time to walk in the snow in Central Park with my wife, reread the Federalist Papers, perhaps learn Greek or Latin, and learn the political theories of the Founding Fathers and, of course, finish studying a few מסכתות. I am sorry to tell you that I have done none of t…
Pirkei Avot Birthdays & Tributes Biographical Material

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Tribute to Rabbi Kenneth Brander (2003)

Pleased to join you in tribute t colleague/studnt/abv all – friend. I dclightd observ evolution young/inexprncd rabbi t 1st-rate communl LDR. His special gift – combines body/soul, sp/mattr, teachg/buildg, schol’p/managmnt. יודע היה בצלאל לצרף אותיות שנבראו בהן שמים וארץ. He combns Theortcl/Practcl; Sacrd/Profn; TuM. He = very successfl Rabbi – shul/ed instttns/communl lp; etc. But I nvr imprcssd success: Martin BUBER – met ppl success > success, & failures; othrs failur > failur, &: successes. Sp/rabbc lp has preccdnt: charismtc lp of Biblcl prophts, esp: MOSES… Paradigm… (coincdntlly: tods Birthdy/Yahrzeit). Talm (Yev 49): כל הנביאים נסתכלו באספקלריא שאינה מאירה, .....................משה רבינו נסתכל באספקלריא המאירה. Rashi: וכסבורים לראות ולא ראו ומשה נסתכל באספקלריא המאירה וידע שלא ראהו בפניו...... KB nvr used hs achvmnts as excuse arrognt/suprrcillious. Knows how much he has yet to do, how much t learn, how much t achieve… And bec he possess such awareness, ומשה נסתכל באספקלריא המאירה וידע שלא ראהו בפניו, I confdnt he’ll go מחיל אל חיל...
Birthdays & Tributes

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Tribute to Reb Dovid Lifschitz (1992)

Introd: Highlight of evening... our tribute to Suvalker Rav, our Rebbe R. Dovid Lifschitz שליט"א – period of ספירה... figure רשב"י. 1. גמ' סוכה (מ"ה ע"ב): ארשב"י ראיתי בני עליי' ומועטין הם. 2. Same plaint rises to our lips when we contemplate Suvalker Rav, How few/rare are the רשב"יs of our generation! 3. But singularity Guest Honor even more pronounced as ponder statement of רשב"י acc. Rav Kook: יש בני העלייה – ובני הבית. ומועטים הם בני העליי' שבמקום לשוטט במרומים ולהסתכל רק כלפי מעלה
Birthdays & Tributes