May we know no more sorrow
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Eugen Gluck ז"ל
The slow approach of the end has been apparent for years, as his strength and health deteriorated, and activities were slowed and curtailed, although his iron will made him continue as much as he could. Most of all, with the passing of his life partner Jean ע"ה, his magnificent life slowly approached closure. But it still seems unfathomable that Eugen Gluck -- that larger than life towering personality -- is no longer בין החיים.
Eugene and Jean built a legendary empire of Chessed, giving, and philanthropy that benefitted Judaism, Torah, the world in general and especially Eretz Yisrael. I have no doubt that the incredible generosity and concern that they showered on so many important causes and institutions the world over will be duly noted. But I want to share the impressions that I had of a man who was my congregant, confidante, and inspiration; of how he modeled beautiful and rare qualities that made him truly unique and singular among the pillars of Torah that I have had the privilege to know.
The trait that I would choose that -- to me -- most exemplified him and which he personified more than any other is ענוה -- Humility.
Humility is a much-misunderstood ethic. It does not mean having low self-esteem, nor feeling lowly or worthless. The most humble person in history, Moshe Rabbeinu, had a tremendous sense of self-worth, as we are reading throughout Sefer Devarim, especially in Parshas Re'eh. Moshe knew full well that Hashem was willing to start the Jewish people anew from him and that he had the privilege of experiencing things that no other mortal ever had or would undergo. But yet – he was the humblest of men. This was possible because he knew that although he had been given tremendous gifts and talents, they were not a reflection of his personal grandeur. Rather, they were a challenge; a reflection of his responsibility to use them for the good of the community. He had no ego, as he knew that all of his many accomplishments and possessions were a gift from Hashem and that he had a special purpose to fulfill that could be done by no one else.
Mr. Gluck was truly humble. Not in any way meek or self-effacing — he was gregarious and passionate and outspoken and confident. His greeting and signature handshake to one and all was strong and self-assured. He was not afraid to be center stage, to be the grand Marshall of the Israel Day parade, sponsor of the huge Hakafot Shniyyot in Jerusalem, or the center of attention at the massive Bet El dinner that he sponsored annually. The names of Jean and Eugene Gluck adorn countless buildings in Bet El, Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim, Young Israel of Forest Hills and Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, Shaarei Zedek hospital and many more that I am unaware of. He was a man of obvious great wealth — the type of wealth that our society associates with celebrities, fame, and fortune.
And yet, he was the simplest and most approachable of men. He would greet everyone — famous and unknown, celebrated and simple, rich and poor, learned and ignorant — with equal friendliness, interest in their well-being, gracious kindliness and concern. Never the slightest whiff of arrogance or haughtiness. Never did he make anyone feel uncomfortable with being with him; he was always searching out for how he could make the people in his life feel better, happier, and more fulfilled. When asked for a favor, or to wield his considerable influence to help someone, he jumped at the opportunity to serve and to help immediately, with as little delay as possible. He saw himself, and all the talents and resources that he had been blessed with, as a servant of Hashem, whose greatest calling was to find ways to properly serve Klal Yisrael.
As a Rabbi, he was the ideal congregant. This was not just because of the incredible financial support that he gave to the shul. It was not only because of his seriousness about davening, and Torah – he was one of the most regular attendees of all at my shiurim and often contributed important insights to the study. It was not only because – as a Holocaust survivor of Mauthausen, (one of the cruelest of the concentration camps if one could say that) he was an inspiration in his love of Hashem. His can-do attitude about building the Torah community so that it would be even stronger than it was before the Nazis יש"ו tried to destroy us was infectious.
Rather, what made him an ideal congregant was the tone he set for decency, humility, and service, that was an example to all.
Without fail, every time that we would have a conversation, he would end the conversation by saying "I hope you don't mind if I give you a ברכת הדיוט; remember that Chazal have said:
אל תהא ברכת הדיוט קלה בעיניך
Let not the blessings of a simple person be unimportant in your eyes".
Lonni and I often said to each other after such an encounter, "He is no הדיוט. He is a Prince — a touch of royalty. He is everything a Jewish lay leader ought to be, as he sets an example for being a true servant of Hashem and the Jewish people.
I miss his sage advice, his friendly questions about the well-being of my family, and the many times that he went out of his way to show not only kovod haTorah but pure menschlichkeit. There were so many examples – the night that he came out in the bitter cold to personally deliver a gift – always with a beautiful, warm, hand-written note – and climbed the stairs to my home when it was already difficult for him, to show his concern and love for my family – was just one of many.
חבל דאבדין ולא משתכחין
Woe to us for those who have been lost, and there is no one who can replace them
May the inadequate words of this הדיוט be in some way expressive of a small amount of the kovod that he deserves, as he goes now to rejoin his beloved Jean, in their well-earned special place near the Holy throne.
תהא נשמתו צרורה בנפשות החיים
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Sam Weisinger ז"ל
During my tenure in Forest Hills, I had the incredible privilege of getting to know quite a few Holocaust survivors, who are among the most special people on Earth. While each of them went through their own unique unspeakable experience, and each of them is heroic in their own way, Mr. Weisinger taught me more than anyone about the power of Emunah and Hishtavus and Love of Hashem and His Torah.
He pretended to be my disciple. He was among the most regular attendees of my shiurim and was always full of compliments and gratitude for what I had taught him and for the insights that we shared. Long after I had forgotten some point that I had made years before, he would remind me of how much he had enjoyed a particular Dvar Torah or speech that he had heard from me. However, the truth was the other way around. He was my teacher, and I, his unworthy disciple.
He taught me about Love of Torah. He often had incisive comments to make about the Gemara that we learned together. He remembered sugyos that he had learned as a youngster in Cheder so many years before – the famous machlokes between Tanna Dvei Chezkiya and Rav Yochanan was one of his favorites.
Interestingly, it concerned the question of whether one who escaped death was still liable for less consequential payments – ironically relevant to a survivor who escaped death, and whether we would consider them to be absolved of any further debts.
Very often, when we discussed a topic in the Mishna Berura shiur, he would launch into a discussion of how they dealt with that issue in his hometown in Europe, and what the different minhagim were that affected the matter. The Torah that he lived and learned in his youth was deeply part of him, and it showed in his learning, and in the beautiful way that he would often lead the Tzibbur as a Baal Tefilah, especially on the Yamim Noraim.
He taught me about Love of Hashem. He was always full of gratitude for the wonderful life he had lived, for his home and community, and for his wonderful family. He lived the possuk in this week’s Parsha:
וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־ה אֱלֹקיךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל
Remember always that is Hashem who gives you the strength to establish your wealth
He never attributed any success that he had to anything but Hashem’s benevolence and love. Which brings me to the way he taught me
Hishtavus – Equanimity – acceptance of G-d’s will, whether we experience it as pleasant or painful, as the judgment of a Loving G-d. He said it often – and I was astounded every time – “I saw miracles all around me in the concentration camp, I am so fortunate that Hashem looked out for me and protected me.” No one can criticize any survivor who had a less generous view – he often said that one who was not there could not possibly understand what it was like — in their wildest dreams. However, his attitude, of choosing to remember and focus on the good that he saw and on Hashem’s protection of him, was an amazing Mussar lesson in acceptance or hishtavus.
And of course, this was an amazing lesson in Emunah – a rock-solid, unshakeable basic belief in the goodness of the Almighty, despite enduring many difficult issues in life. A determination to always be pleasant and generous of spirit, to treat others with kindness and compassion, and to be an example of quiet enduring faith in Hashem.
I have no doubt that there is a huge welcome reception awaiting Mr. Weisinger in Gan Eden, as he finally comes to his richly deserved reward. May he enjoy that reward, taking some time out now and again to put in a good word for his family, friends, students, and Klal Yisrael, all of whom will miss him greatly.
תהא נשמתו צרורה בצרור החיים
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Ruth Summers ע"ה
Lonni and I were very saddened to hear of the passing of a truly great lady, who brought much joy and goodness into our lives and that of countless others. Ruth was one of the very great ladies of Forest Hills, whom we have thought of and missed quite often.
There are so many fine qualities that one could speak about in thinking of Ruth, but the one that come to mind most is her ever-present joie de vivre -- simple joy of life and appreciation for everything and everyone whom she encountered. She was always full of good wishes, compliments, blessings, and expressions of gratitude for even the smallest kindness that anyone would do for her. Conversations with her would always very quickly turn from inquiring about her well-being to her inquiries about yourself, your children, and your thoughts. She was a wonderful example of a person of chessed who was truly and selflessly concerned for others.
She was a very loyal member of the shul. While she had many difficulties, and suffered many medical challenges, she would try her best to come to shul whenever she could, and missed the davening greatly when she could not. She enjoyed going to her children’s home and being with her family, but always expressed an almost guilty conscience for being away and not being there with us on Shabbos. As she grew weaker and could not come to shul even on Rosh HaShanah, she was most concerned to daven at the time that the shul did and thus participate. I would go to several people’s home on Rosh HaShanah afternoon to blow shofar for them, but it was a special privilege to come to Mrs. Summers. She was so very happy and appreciative, and really made my day with her blessings and good wishes.
As fellow Yekkes, she would enjoy telling me of her childhood memories in Germany and of the customs and practice of the shuls she was raised in. Her adventures before and during the war were amazing, and she saw herself as the beneficiary of special Hashgocha Pratis in surviving and starting a wonderful life, first in South America and then in the USA, doing her best to build her family and her community, even during her long years alone after the passing of her husband.
I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to her family – I recall meeting them only once in a hospital room, but remember how proud she was to introduce them to me. I extend condolences as well to Ellen Kaufman, to whom she was like a second mother, and am grateful to her for all the love and warmth that she brought into her life for so many years.
In this week’s Parsha you will read of the passing of Miriam and Aharon, who were both of very advanced age when they passed, but mourned and deeply and missed greatly. So it is with righteous people – when they leave us it is truly חבל דאבדין ולא משתכחין “Alas, woe to us for those who are no more, and who leave none behind that are like them”.
May her Neshamah have an Aliyah, and may we know no more sorrow
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