Over the years the programs tackled many issues and featured more parenting conferences, weekly Torah seminars for women, and conferences that dealt with the difficult subject of infertility.
At one such event for Puah, which deals with infertility issues, Rabbi Kenneth Brander, vice president for university and community life and the David Mitzner dean at Yeshiva University, praised Buchweitz for his unique talents as both a visionary and a man of action.
“I compared him to Yosef who had two dreams: the binding of the sheaves and a one about the sun, moon and the stars,” said Rabbi Brander. “Often people are dreamers, focusing on their vision: the sun, moon and the stars. Others focus on the binding of the sheaves – the details. Frank has the ability to have vision and an implementation strategy. He lives in both paradigms.”
There is no doubt that Buchweitz is best known for creating the OU’s highly successful marriage retreat weekends, the ninth of which took place the weekend of July 11th in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Geared towards couples who want to strengthen their commitment to each other and their marriage, this year’s retreat like so many others featured a full roster of experts on topics including self-esteem, coping with illness, raising children, intimacy, conflict resolution and dealing with in-laws. The retreat attracts 75 to 100 couples annually and has been hailed as a unique opportunity for couples to grow in their marriage.
“Something like this was unheard of when Frank started it,” said Susan Buchweitz. “Frank was a revolutionary and people starting coming to the retreats and they loved them. We brainstormed each year on how to improve them and who to bring in.”
The Buchweitz legacy extended not only to creating programs but, in keeping with his German lineage, ensuring that every event went off without a hitch.
“When Frank does something he does it well and you don’t have to worry about dotting the i’s or crossing the t’s,” said Rabbi Steven Weil, senior managing director at the Orthodox Union. “If Frank said something was done, it was done. You never had to ask a second time and he brought out the best in people, making everyone around him perform to a higher degree.”
The key to Buchweitz’s success was no mystery, according to Rabbi Weil.
“Frank is a man who has a tremendous passion and love for the Jewish people. Everything he does is a labor of love.”
Buchweitz suffered a stroke just four days before Rosh Hashanah in September 2011, but despite being confined to a wheelchair, he is still active and continues to use his trademark talents to the best of his abilities.
“Frank was very lucky because the stroke affected the left side of his body and the right side of his brain,” said Susan Buchweitz. “He may be physically disabled but his cognitive skills are 100 percent intact. He is intelligent, engaged, involved and as charming as he ever was. His mind, his memory, all of that is intact.”
As always, Buchweitz continues to do whatever he can to help others.
“Frank still has so much to offer in terms of the community and projects,” said Susan Buchweitz. “Things may be harder now but his mind, his business acumen and his commitment to Klal Yisroel, that is all still there. He is still active, ready and willing to participate and looking forward to new opportunities.”
“Despite having some physical handicaps, Frank Buchweitz is an excellent administrator, organizer, program designer and implementer,” added Rabbi Moshe Krupka, executive vice president of the Touro College and University System, who worked together with Buchweitz for fifteen years at the Orthodox Union. “Rabbi Buchweitz is capable of adding value to any organization, institution, or synagogue, large or small with his winning personality, indomitable spirit, and acceptance of all denominations of Jewry, project unity and ahavas yisroel.”