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June 28, 2006
The Rabbi's Rabbi
Karen and I have just returned to Los Angeles. Shiva, the initial seven days of mourning, were profoundly moving. The outpouring of emotion and, until now, some unknown details of Rabbi Pinchas Zvi Singer's ZT'L life, were revealing and gratifying.
So many people told us the same story: that they would call my father-in-law for help in determining the correct halacha, Jewish law, and he always had the answer at his fingertips; there were Rabbis urgently needing inspiration for their Shabbat sermons; and there were those lost souls seeking counsel from a man whose authority and wisdom were well known and universally acknowledged in the Orthodox Jewish world.
Before Karen and I were married, my father, Rabbi Abraham Avrech, met with his Rebbe, The Rav, Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik. After offering his mazal tovs to my father, Rabbi Soloveitchik, the greatest Torah scholar of our time said: "Rabbi Singer stands above the others; he is a Bakee."
Bakee. This word has no easy equivalent in the English language: Master, Scholar. These two words do not do justice. For Bakee implies an erudite scholar who is a virtuoso in calling up his sources effortlessly and immediately. And in Torah scholarship this is no easy matter, and not taken lightly.
To be called a Bakee by The Rav is a compliment, I suspect, only a handful of men have ever earned. It is a breathtaking testament to my father-in-law's genius.
My father in his hesped, also said that our precious Ariel Chaim ZT'L is in Yeshiva shel Ma'alah, the Heavenly Yeshiva, and now he has his Rebbe, his grandfather with him as a study partner.
Here are some quotes I jotted down as the family sat shiva:
"I called Rabbi Singer at least once a week for over twenty-years..."
"He made me feel as if I was the only person in the world..."
"Rabbi Singer never rushed me..."
"Rabbi Singer never took another call when we were talking..."
"Rabbi Singer always had the answer I was looking for..."
"He was so generous with his time..."
"He was so generous with his knowledge of Torah..."
"His Yiddish was the Yiddish of the scholar; impeccable in grammar, not that of the market place..."
"He was a perfectionist..."
"He was unique in blending the best of the Yeshiva world and the modern world..."
"The only time he protested was when the rabbis criticized Israel..."
"He was a phenomena -- blending Chasidic tradition [Rav Singer was a Radziner Chasid] with Litvack Yeshiva scholarship..."
"Was he really born in America, how did he learn Yiddish so well?"
And at least a dozen distinguished Rabbis dubbed my father-in-law: "The Rabbi's Rabbi."
Special thanks to so many Seraphic Friends who paid a shiva visit to Karen, her mother and sisters. It was wonderful meeting you in person -- some for the very first time. We only wish it could have been under happier circumstances.
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Karen's Hesped for her Father: HaRav, HaGaon* Pinchas Tzvi Singer ZT'L
I don’t feel qualified to address you with words of Torah that would pass muster with the standards set for me by my father. I would need weeks of research, some extra help from him -- but of course, he is not here to help me.
I am bereft.
So, instead, I choose to focus on an aspect of my life that correlates with my father’s, and that is his relationship with this edifice. That is his relationship with Congregation B'nai Isaac, the Avenue 'O' Jewish Center.
I have a picture in my home that I treasure. It shows me peeking over a gigantic desk gazing at my father. It was taken in my father’s study in this shul when I was about four years old. It is one of my earliest memories.
You see, my childhood is intertwined with this synagogue.
My father entered this pulpit over a half-century ago, the same year I was born. Yes, I will confess the year: 1950. The images of this building, its scents, shadows, colors, shaped my childhood memories, and now weave the fabric of my dreams.
I have always seen my father as omniscient; my father knew the answer to every question. He was the king. If he was the king, this shul, B'nai Isaac was his castle.
I recall the shul in its glory days. The days when my father held court in the Rabbi’s Study, when the Kiddush on Shabbos was held in the “Crystal Ballroom,” and when its Talmud Torah was overflowing with students. The Junior Congregation leaders took care of my sisters and me each Shabbat morning.
A model Passover Seder was held every year, and we performed as the royal family. I remember The Brotherhood organized a fishing trip every year, and my father actually went along, bringing home a trophy smelling of the sea. I recall The Sisterhood card parties. The Purim masquerades.
I remember the shul filled to capacity, requiring a "auxilliary" minyan in the catering hall on The High Holidays. Crowds of teenagers congregated on the sidewalks. My sisters and I played games amongst the mobs of young people who strutted in their fall finery, socializing in front of the shul and only venturing inside to greet a grandparent or hear the shofar. I remember everything, spreading out before in vivid and lovingly rendered detail.
And so it is only fitting that this memorial service is taking place in this building. It is here that our family lived its fullest years. I thank you for the wonderful memories. On behalf of my father I say farewell and thank you. And now it here that I must say farewell to my father, my Rav, my everything: Shalom Aleichem.
* Great Torah Scholar
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at June 28, 2006 07:46 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Robert,
Thank you for sharing Karen's hesped with us. It is fitting that her father's shul was truly a home away from home...for both he and his family...and many of its congregants.
Here is a link for your readers of an essay I discovered this morning, written in the Jewish Press by your father-in-law nearly two years ago. The piece is about mourning and offering comfort... seemingly apt in this time frame.
I hope that rereading it might offer Karen some form of nechama.
Posted by: Pearl at June 28, 2006 09:26 AM
Oops, the link is:
Posted by: Pearl at June 28, 2006 09:26 AM
Pearl:
B'nai Isaac was a huge shul back in the day. I must have attended a dozen weddings and Bar Mitzvah's there in my youth. It was the shul in Bensonhurst. Time and a radical shift in demographics have rendered this beloved shul almost a ghost.
My father-in-law's d'var Torah is a powerful piece and I thank you for the link. Shame on me for neglecting to print it immediately.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 28, 2006 10:01 AM
Robert,
Thank you for sharing Karen's moving words about her father.
The Jewish world.....or I should say the world...has lost a shining light.
I hope in future posts you can share more about this wonderful man.
Posted by: Lance at June 28, 2006 12:51 PM
Lance:
You are very welcome. I plan on writing about some of my own memories of my father-in-law.
We're also thinking of putting up some of his Torah lectures on Seraphic Secret. Most are in Yiddish, but maybe we can find some in English. We'll let you know.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 28, 2006 02:00 PM
Karen's hesped was very moving. I look forward to seing some of Rabbi Singer's OBM shiurim on this site.
Posted by: Ari Z. Miller at June 28, 2006 03:43 PM
Ari:
It will take us a while to get the shiurim collected and posted, but we're determined to bring Rav Singer's Torah to as many people as possible.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 28, 2006 04:06 PM
Dear Karen, ...
A lovely tribute by and from a loving daughter to her dad! May The ONE Above comfort you together with all the mourners of Artzeinu Kedosha v' Yerushalayim!
I am,
Very Sincerely yours,
Alan D.Busch
Posted by: alan at June 28, 2006 08:30 PM
How lucky you all were to live in the presence of such a wonderful man. The comments Robert posted from those who knew Rabbi Singer touched me deeply.
Karen, your words to honor your father were so beautiful. Again, my deepest condolences to your entire family on your loss.
Posted by: Stacey at June 28, 2006 09:06 PM
Dear Robert and Karen,
I am a congregant of Congregation B'nai Isaac and my history with the Rabbi Z'TL goes back 25 years since my brothers Bar Mitzva in 1981.
I must say that it is almost impossible to imagine a world without the Rabbi. He was an institution. I have not met a better speaker (and having learned in Baltimore, I have been exposed to many). I believe that it is the Rabbi's personal charisma and integrity that have managed to keep B'nai Isaac alive, albeit in a much smaller version, when the other shuls in the neighborhood have closed their door permanently sending their remaining members to B'nai Isaac.
Why am I writing all of this? Well it just so happens that I have the unenviable task of giving the speech on Shabbos in Shul before Mussaf. I feel that I have very very large shoes to fill but I also know that every little bit that keeps the shul alive will also keep the memory of the Rabbi alive in our hearts.
May you be consoled among the Mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Dovid Toback
Posted by: David Toback at June 28, 2006 10:41 PM
The more I read about Rabbi Singer z"tzl, the more obvious is the loss... Karen, family, and all.
About putting up the Rabbi's lectures on Seraphic Press, perhaps you can have someone translate it into English? I could be the first to offer to try... I speak/read/write yiddish fluently, and although I've never done "translation" professionally, I do have some experience with editing etc. Feel free to email me about this any time.
Posted by: Sara (lurker :) at June 29, 2006 07:01 AM
Alan, Stacey:
Thanks so much for your words of nechama.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 29, 2006 08:15 AM
Dear David:
It makes us very happy to hear from you, one of Rav Singer's congregants. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write and to say such such nice things about my father-in-law.
We know that you will do a wonderful job speaking from Rav Singer's pulpit this Shabbos.
We thank you for your words of nechama and wish you a lovely and meaningful Shabbos.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 29, 2006 08:21 AM
Sara:
Thanks so much for De-lurking and offering to help in translating Rav Singer's Yiddish shiurim. We might very well take you up on that offer. Thanks so much. Please write me a private e-mail.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 29, 2006 08:25 AM
Dear Karen:
I just got back from a 12 day business trip where I had almost no access to the internet so I am first reading about your father, ztl's, petira.
It is inspiring to read so many amazing things about a man who was so obviously very special. You have been blessed to have had such a father.
May Hashem comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Yeruashalayim.
Azriel
Posted by: Azriel at June 29, 2006 09:45 AM
Azriel:
Welcome back. Yes, Rav Singer was a special man. Not only were we blessed to have such a father, but klal Yisroel was blessed to have such a Gaon in its midst for over eighty years.
Thank you for your words of nechama.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 29, 2006 09:59 AM
I'd volunteer to translate one essay from Yiddish to English. At least one. Both out of honor of the memory of a Talmid Chochom, and in thanks to you and Karen for sharing your beautiful thoughts with me.
Posted by: hmmm at July 2, 2006 08:01 PM
Hmmm:
You are too kind. Let's see what happens and we'll be in touch.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at July 3, 2006 10:00 AM
May you find comfort...
Karen's words brought tears tomy eyes. It was a great tribute to a man and a world. The line about fabric of dreams was spot on. I dream all the time about the shul I grew up in. To have your father as the rabbi of that central place - I can only imagine - adds layers upon layers.
Posted by: rabbifleischmann at July 5, 2006 12:51 PM
Rabbi Fleischmann:
Thanks so much for your gentle and comforting words.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at July 5, 2006 12:57 PM
Hi Robert:
During my many years as a Rav in the New York region I looked forward to the "sermonic workshops" hosted by the RCA before the "chagim". A frequent presenter was Rav Singer, z"l. He was my favorite from all the qualified presenters - and, I suspect, for many of the other Rabbis who came to hear "chomer l'drush" (sermonic material).
Once, he was the final feaured speaker and he started after the semonic conference should have ended already. The Rabbis in attendance where fidgeting, but when he rose to speak no one left. He gave a few brilliant gems in a matter of minutes. He then teasingly asked, "Would you like more?" Never have I heard so many Rabbis agree on any issue. I think we would have barred him from the door if he tried to stop before giving us a few more presious Torah thoughts.
I am unapologetic in admitting that in the three decades that I served as Rav I felt priviliged to use (with proper credit) many of the ideas that he was generous in sharing with his "chaverim" so that my congregagtion too could benefit from his masterful display of erudition and creative use of rabbiinc texts.
"Tiye zichro baruch."
Yehoshua Berkowitz (Eli's uncle)
Posted by: Yehoshua Berkowitz at July 6, 2006 01:33 PM
Rav Berkowitz:
Thank you so much for this detailed and absolutely heartwarming portrait of Rav Singer's ZT'L Rabbinic charisma and warmth. He was a great Rav, a fine father and husband, and for me a supportive and generous father-in-law.
I thank you for contributing to Rav Singer's legacy here at Seraphic Secret.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at July 6, 2006 01:39 PM
I just found this blog on the web and wanted to add something, albeit late. My parents and I only learned of Rabbi Singer's death last week. My Grandmother Bella Wieder (nee' Lerer) was the sister of Abe Lerer, who was married to Molly, Rabbi Pinchas Singer's sister. Rabbi Singer married my parents, Nathan and Selma Kaufman in June, 1947. I believe he was my sandak in 1948. He was was a revered man in my family. When I was very young, in the early 1950's, my Grandfather, Isaac Wieder, and I walked several times from 18th Ave. & 76th St. to Rabbi Singer's shul and home on Shabbat. Rena may remember me from those times. I also saw him at other various simchot and times of grief. Even as a child, I was deeply impressed by him as a Rabbi and on a personal level. Although I do not speak Yiddish, as a young man I tried to catch his talks on WEVD. I believe they were broadcast on Saturday nights after Shabbat. Although my comprehension was minimal, I picked up on the eloquence, the charisma, the high level of his Yiddish. When I heard him, I knew I was listening to a scholar. I last saw him and his family when they were sitting shiva for Aunt Molly. I will always remember him. May his memory be a for a blessing. B'chavod rav, Jerry Kaufman
Posted by: Jerry Kaufman at September 4, 2006 07:23 PM
Mr. Kaufman:
Thanks so much for your kind words. The family deeply appreciates that you have chosen to share your memories and emotions with us.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 5, 2006 10:10 AM