In 1999, when my friend and study partner Howard Eisenberg gave his now famous speech “What’s a Nice Jewish Boy Like Me Doing in a Place Like This?” he may not have realized that this would be one of the constant references in the eulogies and tributes written about him after his sudden passing.
Howard explained eloquently what he was doing as dean of the law school at Catholic and Jesuit-run Marquette University and shared his views on what he believed were some of the important ethics and essential messages that were pertinent to people of all faiths.
I would like to open a window into another facet of Howard’s multi-faceted life and share what he did in other places, namely the Milwaukee Kollel Center for Jewish Studies and Ohr HaTorah Jewish Heritage Center.
Soon after Howard’s arrival in Milwaukee, he took up the opportunity to explore the treasures of Torah study, joining me at a weekly learning encounter at the kollel.
It is clear to me that Howard’s interest in Torah did not stem simply from a quest to enhance his vistas of knowledge. Rather, he had a deeper longing to understand the source of the unique mission of the Jew as revealed by the Almighty in His Torah.
There is a famous adage frequently used in reference to Torah study, “a person should always study what his heart desires.” On a simple level since Torah should be an integral part of Jewish life, one would want this activity to be a joyous part the Jewish experience. If you study what you are interested in you will enjoy it.
Perhaps in a deeper sense “what ones heart desires” are the unique challenges, character traits and philosophical beliefs that the unique soul of each individual is striving to achieve.
What Howard and I studied over the years truly characterizes what his heart desired, or, more deeply, the kind of person Howard was.
Our quest began with selections of the Talmud dealing with ethics and honesty and ended during the last years with a volume dealing with the sanctity and obligations of a Jewish husband to his wife.
Clearly this was on Howard’s agenda — his impeccable integrity in all that he personally pursued and the desire to teach to others to pursue honest values.
As a husband, Howard together with his wonderful wife Phyllis raised three beautiful children who will certainly be a living legacy to the values of their father and, G-d willing, will build homes sanctified in the traditions of Judaism.
But the subject Howard was most drawn to was the Torah’s system of permissible and prohibited speech, known more commonly as the Laws of Loshan Hora. These laws guide us to the sensitivity that we need to have in speaking, listening and forming opinions about others.
Howard’s interest in this subject speaks to the great respect he had for people. If he was able to extend himself in the selfless way he did for others, it is only a result of the great feeling he had for the image of G-d in every person.
Howard knew that the ultimate truths of life could be found in the Torah and this motivated him to devote himself to pursue the study of our precious traditions.
And he wanted to make this opportunity for study available for even more people, so he assisted us in the founding of Ohr HaTorah Jewish Heritage Center, of which he was our founding president.
We pray that Hashem should give comfort and strength to Phyllis and his children and to Howard’s wonderful parents, may they live and be well. May his memory be a blessing for all.
Rabbi Akiva Freilich is director of Ohr HaTorah-Jewish Heritage Center.
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