In this week’s parshah, Yosef revealed himself to his brothers after not seeing them for 22 years. The pasuk states: “VaYomer Yosef el echav: ‘Ani Yosef. Ha’od avi chai?’ V’lo yachlu echav laanos oso ki nivhalu mi’panav–And Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him because they were left disconcerted before him” (B’reishis 45:3).
When the news of the p’tirah of our beloved longtime mara d’asra, Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld zt”l, was announced in shul, I could hear people saying, “I’ll never forget the time our Rabbi did...” Having worked and learned with our Rabbi for over 40 years, I would like to share with you my own recollections of HaRav Mordechai Shraga Feivel ben Shmuel Shabsai HaLevi zt”l.
For as long as I can remember (which admittedly isn’t a large portion of Grandpa’s life, but it is what I have), Grandpa would ask for the kavod of g’lilah and not Levi. I will soon share the reasoning for this, which I’ve heard Grandpa explain many times, as I’m sure others have, as well. But it wasn’t about anavah, at least not in the superficial sense. It was about who Grandpa was.
Growing up we are taught that if one is good, two is even better. A double portion of dessert, two-for-one ticket prices, two scoops of ice cream - you get the message. But what happens when that double portion is an extra chromosome? The answer is simple but very complicated at the same time: It’s called Down’s Syndrome.
Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld zt”l took KGH’s potato fields and helped turn them into the flourishing Jewish community we live in today
The loss of Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld zt”l on Sunday at the age of 96 was felt immediately throughout Queens and reverberated in every corner of the Jewish world. But for those who call Kew Gardens Hills home, his impact will slowly become even more apparent.