I remember when we used to come over on Friday nights after our Shabbos meal to join Zaidie and Bubbie. We had to come with an arsenal of divrei Torah, as the conversations with Zaidie always revolved around Torah. If there was a need to discuss anything else, it would be a short, to-the-point conversation, so that we could get back to discussing Torah. To this day I give a small dvar Torah almost every morning in shul, keeping to the tradition my Zaidie instilled in us – that we should never be caught off guard without something to say.
Something else that makes me feel like Zaidie was a talmid of Avraham Avinu was the multitude of guests he always had at his large table. Now this is impressive on its own, but imagine if the guests were not at your home but rather at a weekend vacation at a hotel! I know wealthier people, but I have never known anyone more generous than my Zaidie and Bubbie. This reminds me of Avraham Avinu, whose home was always open to all.
But I would venture to say that more than anything else Zaidie, to my mind, was like Avraham Avinu because his goal was not only getting his family and immediate circle of friends to keep Torah and mitzvot but, like Avraham Avinu, Zaidie was involved most of his time in bringing as many other Jews as possible closer to Yiddishkeit through The Jewish Press.
I remember before every election how candidates would come to the offices of The Jewish press seeking the paper’s endorsement. The strange thing is that Zaidie never cashed in on any of this. He only did what he thought was best for Klal Yisrael. These stories remind me of Avraham’s encounter with the king of Sodom, and Avraham’s refusal to take anything from him “from a string to a sandal strap” (Bereishis 14:23). Zaidie as well did not want or take anything.
Chaval al davdin. Zaidie, we miss you. But as I am sure you see from Heaven above that we too try to keep up the traditions of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov that we learned from you. May your neshamah gain an aliyah in the zechut of the mitzvot and the learning we do because of you.
Miriam Klein
Sukkos at Bubbie and Zaidie’s house was so much fun. First we would spend a lot of time decorating their incredible sukkah. Zaidie would fill it with all of our artwork. They had the biggest and most beautiful sukkah. On Sukkos our family would eat some of the meals in their sukkah. Eating with them was such a treat. Bubbie made my favorite carrot soup among other delicious things and Zaidie told us the most interesting dvar Torahs. And then he asked us questions. We were so proud when we knew the answers, and Zaidie made a big deal out of it as well.
Yaacov Greenwald
My best memories of Zaidie were Shabbos lunch, from the time I was old enough to remember until I got married and moved out. Zaidie and Bubbie would come over to my parents’ house every Shabbos and it was very special to be able to spend so much time with him each week. He would give divrei Torah and we would all discuss the parshah and sing many zemiros.
Many times I would walk him back to his house. In later years I had the zechus to be the one to bring him and take him back in his wheelchair. I was very lucky to have grandparents live so close by, and will always remember those Shabbosim.
Michal Popper
My Zaidie was the symbol of all that is good and kind in the world. When I think of my Zaidie the first image that comes to mind is him sitting by his desk in his study, leaning over his Gemara and learning, which he loved to do.