A few people have asked that I post this. The following is the speech I gave last night in memory of Rabbi Ezra Labaton. May we continue to be impacted by his Ideas, Ideals, and Values. ----------------------- How does one fill a void that can not be filled? What words can be used, when no words suffice? Just like everybody else, I had a special, unique relationship with Rabbi Labaton. He was my Rabbi, my Teacher, my Mentor, and my Friend. And he redefined each one of these roles in his own unique way. I would like to speak today, about the impact the Rabbi had on me, and how that has led me to spending the past year poring through his library, and endless boxes of his classes and notes. I am awed by the stories and memories that have been shared. How can one person maintain such meaningful and personal relationships with so many people? The adjectives we use to describe him are not hyperbole or overstatement. Incredible. Amazing. Last year, as we mourned the Rabbis passing, these incredible stories that continued to be told, highlighted the void he had left behind. I remember going to pay respects; I told Emily I had so many things I wanted to share with the Labaton family. Write a letter, she asked. I went home that night, and every night for the following month, and tried to write something but couldnt. I recalled his role & impact on so many different parts of my life, but could not find the right words. One of Torahs ideas the Rabbi spoke about most, and exemplified daily, was Mans Creation BSelem Elokim, in the image of God. He often said that he once saw a T-Shirt he wished he had bought. It said I know Im special, because God dont make no junk. How pure his character was, always finding value and beauty in every person. It was this quality that enabled him to form the relationships he did. He never gave his thoughts or opinions without carefully considering his audience. What is this person really asking? Where is the window in which to capture the mind, or other cases, the heart? He taught us that IQ encompasses more than just the intellect. One must also posses a strong Moral IQ and Emotional IQ. What struck me most about his ability as a teacher was his enormous range. Be it a room of academics or a classroom of children, the Rabbi taught via his Model for Impacting the World through Torah Study. His goal was to creatively open spiritual doors and dimensions. That as individuals, and collectively as families, we should share a vision of what Judaism is all about. He taught that Torah would ultimately lead us to achieve a vision of our place in the World. Growing up, the Rabbi and Emily formed a bond with my parents that brought Torah values into our home, and showed me what it meant to find yourself a Rabbi. From my Bar Mitzvah, to my Wedding, to the births of my Children, the Rabbi was there. When I moved to Brooklyn, I saw the Rabbi less, but always kept in touch. I went to his classes when possible, and called him in between. His perseverance and endless devotion to his students were awe-inspiring. When I had a question; about Judaism, or just about life, I called the Rabbi. He always had the appropriate message at the right time. We spoke about religion, family, history, and philosophy. The philosophy conversations in particular, excited him the most. When he spoke about working on his thesis, he expressed an intellectual love; instead of reading or studying, he used terms like Getting to know the Rambam, and spending time with the Rambams son. When I asked him about Spinoza, the excitement almost jumped through the phone. Spinoza? Hes a good friend of mine! His passion defined everything he did. With each question I asked, he responded not with an answer, but with a question of his own, always challenging me to think critically. With each phone call, he gave me a list of books to read, and asked that I please call him again soon. Between calls, I listened to some of the Rabbis classes that were around online. Rabbi Hidary had a few dozen online, as did David Betesh. We continued our intermittent phone calls, and I did my best to read what I could. Last October, at his suggestion, I began reading Principles of the Jewish Faith, by Louis Jacobs. The Rabbi had misplaced his old, out-of-print copy. He was so excited when I found two used copies online, and he couldnt wait to re-read and discuss it. Despite his condition worsening, he urged me to continue calling him. I had grown used to seeing the Rabbi preserver time after time. I was spoiled by his strength. I was not prepared for the end. For so many years, we looked to him to guide us through difficult times, both personally, and as a community. Here we were, without our leader. Feeling this void, I gave up on writing the letter for a while, and went back to reading the book we had begun. With each chapter, I was left with questions and talking points I wish I could address. I thought back to the earlier conversations we had, and I imagined his response to each new thing I had to say. I imagined the challenges he would issue, and I felt the pressure to make sure I was thinking critically. I thought about the Reading List I keep on my phone, which by this point had a few dozen books I hoped to one day read. This was the Rabbis way of attacking a subject. To be a Fearless Reader. To read the widest spectrum of books he can find on any given topic. To pursue Truth, without boundaries. I began listening to more of his classes online. If we couldnt have our conversations anymore, at least Id listen to some old classes I had missed out on, and absorb whatever of his wisdom was available to me. I listened to him reenforce his famous Ideas, Ideals, and Values. Every part of Torah fell under this umbrella. He pursued his mission of Tikun Olam, through Hesed, Tzedakka, uMishpat. He sought to build a model with which to impact the world. He had no idea the reach of his model. Around this time, Bobby Dweck and his son Victor, created the first draft of rabbilabaton , where they began posting tributes that were being sent in. I offered to help. I had no idea at time the treasure that would await. Together with Bobby and his brother Richie, we collected as many audios as we could. Richie went through hundreds of them, listening to each, categorizing, and posting on the website and iTunes. To date, these classes have been downloaded nearly 10,000 times, in over 30 countries. Indeed, the impact of the Rabbis Ideas, Ideals, and Values continue to spread in concentric circles. While listening to the classes, whenever he recommended a book, I added it to my list. A little while later, I posted this list to the website, calling it The Rabbis Bookshelf, and the response was fitting. Dozens of people wrote in, with more titles to add. As the list grew, I eventually asked Emily if I could help archive the Rabbis entire library. I had not been in the Rabbis office since the Shul was renovated. There is only one thought I could imagine someone having when walking in. Wow. For those unfamiliar, the best way to describe it is to say; there are books everywhere. From floor to ceiling, wall to wall. No windows; just a door to get in, and bookshelves everywhere else. When he couldnt fit anymore on the shelves, he made stacks on the floor. If I had to take a guess, theres at least two thousand books there; each organized by topic, with his favorite topics in the bookcases closest to his desk. Even now, The only thing I can think, is Wow. This word, this feeling, of Wow was a favorite concept of the Rabbis. Wow meant you were stricken emotionally, and that you understood the impact of the moment. He taught me that if you dont say Wow, you are missing what its all about. The impact of the room was so overwhelming, that before touching anything, I had it photographed. The panorama pictures, which are on the website, are mesmerizing. Papers overflow each shelf. Articles accumulated over the years, clipped together with relevant books. Each books binding is worn from multiple readings, and many have their margins filled with four-and-a-half decades of notes. His desk, the scattered, variable mess is a mark of genius. As I begun to sort through his archives, my Wows became even greater; Every article, newsletter, and notice from various Rabbinical Councils was covered with his notes. He underlined key points, left comments where he disagreed, and graded them as he would his students. The very best articles were marked excellent at the top. And there were thousands of articles; dating back to 1970s. Oh remarked Emily, almost casually, He didnt like to throw things out. And that was just the articles. Then she showed me his file cabinets, filled with his speeches. Every single one for thirty years. She was right. He never threw anything out. Most people who speak publicly for a living, would say that after 30 years, they could write a speech in their sleep. Not Rabbi Labaton. Always seeking to excel and to perfect his craft; He labored over every speech. He cherished each opportunity to challenge us, to engage us, and to guide us. His form was consistent. Always hand written on 11x14 legal paper, with the date in the top left corner, and the Parasha and and topic in Hebrew at the top. Always two pages. No more, no less. Each unique in content, but uniform in sincerity and wisdom. He also kept the notes from every Shiur. Not only those he gave, but those he attended as a student himself. I remember going through them this summer, seeing the smile on Emilys face when she found the Rabbis notes from a class given in 1978 by Rav Soloveitchik. This was a great class, she recalled with a smile. But unlike someone who stockpiles things for the sake of accumulation, the Rabbis library and archives represent a discourse of brilliance; a testimony to his unwavering commitment and his unshakable standards of intellectual honesty. Having the privilege to work on such a project has shifted my perspective; I now focus less on the void. For everything the Rabbi gave us, is nothing short of a Treasure. As for the words I seek; I once again look to my Teacher; Rabbi Labaton had an array of adjectives to describe amazement. Extraordinary. Outstanding. Fascinating. Incredible. Awesome. But when I reflect on his impact, even these words do not suffice. For they disrupt the beautiful silence that echoes, when all I can think is Wow.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 04:04:52 +0000
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