Mr. Shafier’s humility defined his whole existence. His son, Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier, recalled that when he would call his father erev Yom Kippur to ask mechilla, he could never get more than a few words in before his father would gently stop him, saying, “It’s enough already.” The idea that he should be offended by someone else was foreign to him, as he genuinely felt, “Who am I to hold highly of myself?”
Another of Mr. Shafier’s hallmarks was his recognition for the Tzelem Elokim for all of Hashem’s creations. Even the simplest of people and situations were given a sense of dignity by his gentle manner. Not speaking lashon hara, for him was not an exercise in frumkeit, but a natural result of his own humility and appreciation for others’ dignity, always thinking, “Who am I to judge another person?”
Humility and sophistication are a rare combination of traits; however, Edwin Shafier epitomized these qualities, and exhibited them to an incredible degree. He lent dignity to every situation, and yet his greatness lay in his humble simplicity. Fusing absolute honesty with Torah u’mitzvos, he stood for what is right and true, and withstood the social pressures of a superficial world. He is survived by his wife, Pearl Shafier, and sons Larry and Ben-Tzion, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
May his memory serve as an inspiration to us all, as he personified what it means to be a true mentsch and humble eved Hashem.
Yehi zichro baruch.
