I can’t help believing that European leaders during the Holocaust thought that at long last the centuries-old “Jewish problem” was about to be solved. I’m not saying they would have pulled the trigger or ushered Jews into the gas chambers themselves, but I do think they wanted look away from what was happening, take a deep breath, nervously await the Final Solution and perhaps prepare some touching eulogies to European Jewry in order to assuage their consciences.
Current EU members are their successors. That is why with respect to the Jews, they’ll never play by the rules.
Arnold Rich
(Via E-Mail)
Birchas HaChaim
Chaim Kaminetzky took joy in sharing in the happiness of others – of family, friends and acquaintances; in short, of Klal Yisrael. He had his serious side, always searching to help someone in need, as well as his humorous side, entertaining you with his good natured quips.
It is hard to grasp that we are at the point of Chaim’s Shloshim, and harder still to accept his sudden petirah. For thirty years Chaim was an integral voice at Ohel as a vice president and lay leader. And lead he did. In many of our conversations he asked whether there was another idea, a road not traveled, a new way, to improve a child’s life. And so we talked often of the many paths to achieve specific goals.
Modest as he was, Chaim touched and improved the lives of so many of the children, adults and families who are part of Ohel’s history – and future.
Sheya Mendelowitz, whom I met through Chaim, suggested I look at Birchas HaChodesh and in that berachah see how the life of Chaim Kaminetzky was lived. It is a good way to remember Chaim every chodesh.
Chaim personified and exemplified all of the following attributes:
* Chaim of emes
* Chaim full of heart and soul
* Chaim of tzedakah
* Chaim with love of Eretz Yisrael
* Chaim dedicated to Ohel’s children
* Chaim filled with empathy
* Chaim full of emotion
* Chaim of leadership
* Chaim of music
* Chaim with a love of family and Klal Yisrael.
We will not forget you, Chaim!
David Mandel
CEO
Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services