Dear Dad,
A dozen years. It seems like a lot and it seems like a few. So many things have changed and some things never seem to change.
What is new: At the offices of your life’s work, The Jewish Press, we have a new Magazine section. It is beautiful and stands on its own. We have features for everyone in it. We also have a brand new website. It took a little while to get it up and running smoothly, but now it is garnering a lot of attention. We will be part of the future in bringing Torah and love of Israel to all in the new computerized age. A year has also passed since your great-grandson Rabbi Raphael Fuchs started his column, A Taste of Lomdus. I have heard tremendous feedback about this Torah column. You would be so proud. And we have lots of other ideas in the planning stage.
We continue to lead the way as a voice for Torah Judaism and for the State of Israel. We are still the place people turn to when they are in trouble, when they need a helping hand, and when they have no one else to turn to. We still hear the voice of the agunah; we still try to help troubled youth who have strayed from the Torah way. Today there are others who also recognize this need, but we were the first to publicize these problems, and you didn’t care about those who ridiculed us.
Under your guidance we were strongly committed to helping those in trouble. These days some problems and troubles have a different face, and when no one else wants to take a stand, we follow the path you set us on and try to help Jewish souls crying out.
Your grandchildren Shandee, Dovid, Meir, Yaacov and Shlomo work for The Jewish Press, just as you always dreamed. I picture you smiling as you see them contribute. And I know that you get nachas from the Torah learning of your grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
It is a beautiful foundation you and Mom constructed for us, and Hindy and I built on it. And so with the help of the Almighty, may it continue with the next generations, and bring elevation to your soul and Mom’s soul in Gan Eden. This year, G-d willing, a few new babies are expected in our families – more descendants of yours.
We move forward, and though we miss guidance from you and Mom in the physical sense, we feel your unseen hand guiding us in all that we do. Whenever I hear my sons or Hindy’s sons giving the exact location of a Gemara quote, I hear your training: “Avu shtayt? – Where is it written?” When we sit at the Shabbos table and divrei Torah are spoken, I know it started with you.
We will continue, with Hashem’s help, to do our best and bring honor to your memory. And we are confident that you will be a meilitz yosher for your whole family and for Klal Yisrael.