Malkie and I are very touched by the good wishes extended to our family on the occasion of our son Sholom’s marriage to Etty (nee Sosover). We look forward to reciprocating to each of you on your special occasions.
This week our community mourns the passing of Saul Hakim. Saul was a dear personal friend to me and my family. We had a long relationship going back to the summer of 1992 when I met him and Raquel at their home in Monroe, LA as a traveling Rabbinic intern together with my now brother-in-law, Mendy Schapiro and our friend Perry Lew.
Following that visit they started to visit New Orleans on occasion, especially for Chanukah @ Riverwalk. Following Hurricane Katrina, Chabad of Louisiana arranged for a Rosh Hashanah retreat at the Atrium Hotel in Monroe, which was owned by Saul’s brothers, Eddie and Joseph. Saul and Raquel joined us for all of the services and meals and served the role of hosts. We connected even stronger and they began to come to New Orleans more often, for holidays and the like.
At some point, Saul and I started a weekly Torah class by phone. This developed our friendship even more. When they decided to move to the community, Saul was a regular at the Synagogue and we continued our learning. Saul and Raquel embraced Jewish living with a passion. They loved being part of a community and got deeply involved in the activities of Chabad, both in New Orleans and Metairie.
Once he committed to something there was no looking back. I recall when he decided to start covering his head. From that point on, you would not find him with a bare head again. He enjoyed helping people enhance their Jewish experience. It was the honey for Rosh Hashanah, the new fruit for the New Year dinner, the beeswax candles for Chanukah, the coffee station at the Shul for morning minyan, the annual summer fish fry / Project Talmud, helping improve the beauty of the Shul with new bimas, podiums, and covers, maintaining the trees, planting trees, especially Etrog trees, taking photos of every event, and reveling in the accomplishments of the children. The thread that ran through all of it was a love for Hashem and a love for Hashem’s people.
We spoke very often. He always gave blessings. He would end every conversation with G-d bless you. He would call before every Shabbat and holiday with good wishes for the family. He cared deeply about my wife and children and their wellbeing. He helped us acquire a suitable vehicle for our family.
He was so happy to be building a home that would conform to Jewish living. Alas he would never truly enjoy that home. Raquel became sick just after they moved in and she passed away during last year’s snow storm. Saul would follow her a year later.
After he moved to live with his son Abie and his family, we spoke by phone regularly. He was thrilled when my daughter got married and he came with great effort to attend the wedding. We danced together, he in the wheelchair, while Abie and I held his hands. When my son got engaged, he was too sick to come to the celebration, but he said he would make every effort to attend the wedding. Over the past few weeks, his health took a deep decline. When I arrived in New York for the wedding, Abie called and said that he does not have long left to live. Rabbi and Mrs. Nemes came to visit him, and the night before the wedding I came. He was breathing with oxygen. He was struggling but his Kippah was on his head. I spent some time talking to him and I know he could hear me. I suggested that Abie put on Tefillin with him the next morning and say the Shema. He did so. They said the Shema and a few additional prayers. When removed the Tefillin, Saul’s soul returned to its Maker. Like the greatest sages of the Talmud, his soul departed with the words “Hashem is One.”
Saul died like he lived, filled with love and passion for Hashem and Judaism. May his soul rest in peace and may his memory be for a blessing. May Hashem grant comfort to his family among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin