His family loved him. Any parent or grandparent would want to be treated the way Rabbi Portal was treated by his family. When we visited the Portals in Israel, Mac counseled me never to retire. He said retirement was boring and useless. I promised him that maybe someday I would work less hard, but that I would never be indolent.
After Rabbi Portal left Williamsport, he continued to be a shepherd to his flock in Williamsport. He stayed in touch with congregants, visited them when they traveled to Israel, and expressed continual concern about the state of everyone’s mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Rabbi Portal developed pancreatic cancer about a year ago. He never complained or whined. He did not argue with God. He accepted his fate and went for treatment. After a course of chemo to reduce the pain, he lost weight, became frail, and ultimately succumbed. Through it all, he would call me and express concern about my daughter, Kaila, who is serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
Rabbi Portal did not know my oldest daughter, Sasha, very well because she was pretty much out of the community when he came here. Nevertheless, he attended her wedding, and when she had some difficulty becoming pregnant he would regularly send her prayers to say.
Sasha, not particularly religious at the time, was caught up in the goodness and sincerity of Rabbi Portal, and she complied with all of his suggestions. Now, as the mother of healthy twins, she will never forget the role Rabbi Portal played in her life.
May God bless and keep Rabbi Portal’s soul.