June 2, 2005
BROOKLYN, New York (SyMall.com) - Thousands of community members gathered in and
outside of the Magen David Synagogue on 67th Street at 10:00 this morning in
Brooklyn to mourn the passing of Haham Baruch Ben Haim, a great and beloved
rabbi who was a soldier of growth to our community and its development over the
past 54 years.
The body arrived at the funeral at 10:30,
after being taken past the Magen David
Yeshivah, and Shaare Zion Congregation.
Born November 18th, 1921, Haham Baruch arrived in our community in January,
1950, from Israel. At that time, he was already considered a full fledged and
respected scholar, a shining star amongst his peers, with a tremendous
foundation of Torah and Gemara learning, and was close with Haham Ovadia Yosef.
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A Special Commemoration by Community Magazine. PDF |
In May of 1950, Haham Baruch married his wife Charlotte, who is the daughter of
our late Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Jacob Kassin. Haham Baruch lived a selfless life of
never ending dedication, always looking to the welfare of the community and its
future.
Haham Baruch’s passing marks a tremendous loss to our community. This was a man
whose entire life was sacrifice. His loss touches upon every family and
individual in our community. The Rabbi seemed to be a fixture at every Bris, Bar
Mitzvah, and Wedding, sometimes attending four or more of these celebrations in
one day. This continued even recently, with his condition worsening, and his
legs causing him problems with mobility.
His time was never his own, with a constant schedule of visiting those who were
not well, attending funerals, memorials, and grieving families. The Rabbi was
willing to provide his wisdom to any situation that required him, from settling
business issues, to dealing with family problems, to giving guidance to the
community’s other Rabbis and institutions.
Having officiated at many thousands of weddings and other occasions, everyone in
our community had the honor of enjoying their own special and personal closeness
with the Rabbi. His warmth, caring, and the comfortable way with which he
conducted himself was able to put many brides, grooms, new fathers at their
son’s Bris, and Bar Mitzvah boys and their parents at ease, -adding joy,
happiness, and fond memories to those most special of occasions.
Haham Baruch’s fluidity of knowledge exuded itself so naturally from him that we
came to take it for granted. His ability to quote pages from the Gemara, from
the weekly Parasha, from Tehillim, etc., -all by heart, all with such ease, was
both uncanny and amazing. He always had the answers, whether it was a question
about Torah, our Minhageem, the best course of action for our community, or an
individual who would reach out for his advice.
This irreplaceable resource of information and community service never demanded
honor, yet conducted himself like royalty with absolute consistency. He took
positions, sometimes strong ones, but always in the spirit of community unity,
and this universal appeal was well evidenced by the masses of people who stood
throughout the streets during today’s services. Some very observant, some less
observant, all there in an effort to show thanks and appreciation to a man who
can never be fully repaid for his decades of sacrifice and commitment to the
people of our community, -a job which became more challenging and more difficult
each year, as the community continued to grow.
Prayers will be held at the Rabbi’s home, at 1845 East 5th Street, through next
Wednesday morning, at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 in the mornings, and 7:00, 7:30 and
8:00 each evening.
The Rabbi is survived by his wife Charlotte, and his four sons, Rabbi Eli Ben
Haim (of the Lawrence Avenue Synagogue), Rabbi Yaacov Ben Haim (of Shaare Zion),
Yehuda, and David and their families.
May his legacy of community unity and love of Torah and Mitzvot be with all of
us, in his memory, and in elevating his Neshamah. We pray that Haham Baruch
continues to pray on behalf of our community as he did in his lifetime, and may
Hashem bring the Ultimate Redemption soon in our days.
His legacy would endure for generations to come in the Levantine communities. (HSJE)
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Yeshivat Porat Yosef Class of 1939 |
 TOP
ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT) Rabbi BenSion Abu-Shaul ,
Rabbi Rabbi Sion Levy, Rabbi Yosef Ades , Rabbi Eliyahu Aboud.MIDDLE ROW: (LEFT TO RIGHT) Rabbi Yosef Elnadav, Rabbi Eaphael Ades, Rabbi Abraham Shrem, Rabbi Ezra Ades, Rabbi Yoseph Raful, Rabbi David Sheloush.. FRONT ROW: (LEFT TO RIGHT) Rabbi Chaim Levy, Rabbi Pinhas Vaknin, Rabbi Shabetai Atoon, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, Rabbi Baruch Ben Haim, Rabbi Sadya Lofes, Rabbi Ezra Shayo. |
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