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Dear Abba,
You haven't been here for almost 30 days and I still don't believe it. It feels like just a few hours ago that I visited you with my sweet baby Noam Dov, your last grandchild born in your lifetime. You were so happy to see him. Your face was shining.
You didn't tell me Abba, what was going to happen in the coming hours. You didn't tell me that this is the last kiss that I'm going to give you. We had so many plans, so much to do. I didn't know that these were your last hours with us.
I didn't think that these would be your last words to us. You said "ziskeit" to your grandchild. You told my sister to take care of herself. And you told us to do whatever we can for the Jewish people. You didn't say a word about yourself. You were above worrying about yourself. You only worried about others.
Suddenly you disappeared on me. I didn't have enough time.
There was so much more to say and discuss. I prayed that it should never end. And suddenly you disappeared on me. Suddenly you went away and I'm so lonely and hurt, Abba. I didn't have enough time.
Do you remember when I told you that it was unfair being one of the youngest in the family and how most of my siblings got to spend more years with you? You never allowed us to be jealous of each other, so I hope you forgive me for this one. I'm just really jealous.
When I was born, Abba, you were already the Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah. You were so busy and you were already so important and famous, but to me you were always my father. The best father in the world! I have no idea how you did it. You were SO BUSY! I remember as a little kid seeing how busy you were. Your trips abroad, your leaving the house to the yeshiva early in the morning and coming back late in the evening.
But I never felt anything missing, just the opposite. I remember the Torah you taught me, the wisdom you imparted to me and of course the love you showered me with. You somehow were always able to remember all the small details -- to call every Friday afternoon while you were overseas to wish me "Good Shabbos," to say a devar Torah, and to remind me that God loves me. And you somehow never forgot to bring back all those things we asked you to buy for us when you went overseas.
I also remember all those times you left in the middle of the night for your fundraising trips. You would always wake us up to say goodbye, to give us a kiss before you left. You have no idea how much strength it gave me, and it still gives me strength. Now as a father myself, I can only stand in awe of your ability to be such a perfect father.
I will not forget when you took me one night a few months before my Bar Mitzvah to the person who makes the tefillin and ordered a pair especially for me. And then a month before my Bar Mitzvah you took me to the Kotel to put them on for the very first time. I can still feel your warm hand putting my tefillin on me. You were so happy.
You were by my side when I needed you and you took a step back when I needed some space.
Throughout my life, through my ups and downs, you were always there for me. You were right by my side when I needed you and you took a step back when I needed some space. You never pressured me, but you always had high goals for me . My successes were also your successes and my happiness made you very happy.
It was amazing to be with you on Shabbos. I can still hear your special voice saying Kiddush and singing the songs that you learned in your father's house. I will miss that very much. I thought that you'd at least rest a little after such a long work week, but you always disappointed me. The Shabbos was too holy for you to sleep through it. You made sure to go to shul early and be one of the first 10 people. And there wasn't a minute on Shabbos that wasn't used by you constructively.
One of the most special moments in my life was in the shul. The kohanim would start their blessing, and you, my great father, the respected Rosh Yeshiva, would simply bend down and place your tallis over the two of us, so that we would receive love together, the blessing of our great Creator, Who loves us so much. You taught me to open my hands and to open my heart to receive the Almighty's blessing and love. Those were the moments that I'll never forget.
Care and Inspiration
I will never forget that day we went to the doctor. He looked at your x-ray and he didn't want to say a word. But you were never afraid of anything and wanted to hear everything. You weren't afraid, Abba. You asked, "My Creator, what am I supposed to do?" What am I supposed to do physically, and even more, what am I supposed to do spiritually? "We are going to do whatever is supposed to be done," you said, despite the fact that the doctors didn't give you a chance. As with everything, you wanted to know the plan, you wanted clarity.
"How can we wake up the Jewish people?" That was your constant focus.
The doctors were in the physical world, and you were focused on the "other" world. You said that when a person is sick, he still has to continue to fight for his people and his Creator. You were so sick, Abba. I begged you to rest, I begged you to relax. But you did the opposite. "Go and get me a meeting with all the great rabbis," you asked me. "I have to speak to them about what we are doing for the Jewish people." You begged them to create a committee to save the Jewish people from imminent danger. It hurt you more that a soldier was being kept in captivity by his enemies. Your own pain was secondary. It hurt you more that our brothers and sisters were being bombed in their houses.
You were willing to accept this disease, but you weren't willing to accept that there was a Jew in the world that didn't know that he had a Father in heaven Who loved him more than anything. "How can we wake up the people and how can we wake up the world?" That was your entire focus until your last day.
Abba, it's been almost 30 days now and it hurts so much!
Abba, rest in peace. You deserve to rest. I promise we will do our utmost to fulfill your vision and we will cling to the Torah you taught us. We love you.
_(english).jpg "Rabbi Weinberg Speaks")
_(english).jpg "Summary of Eulogies in English- text")
(38) Chaim , July 12, 2009
Inspiration
The Rav was a great and extremely humble very modest person I always remember seeing him daven swaying back and forth so fast and holding his hands rubbing them feverishly together crying hot streams of tears for all the not frum people who as the Rav used to say, were unlucky they are not getting a reward in the world to come. i always remember him going to mikvah very carefully put his clothes on in the right order...a real Jew. And i also remeber his snickering at the Chassidim saying that they need a rebbe to reach Hashem when his just has straight connection. May he rest in peace and have a massive reward his devoted student Chaim
(37) Carolyn , March 11, 2009
Rabbi Weinberg of blessed memory
I always scanned Aish for the writing of Rabbi Weinberg, knowing that I would be blessed by his wisdom. I am an unlikely student, a 63 year old Christian Grandmother, but his beautiful spirit reached even me. It was a privilege.
(36) Sandra "Sarah" Calderon , March 8, 2009
Thank You Brother
Dear Yehuda, The Rosh Yeshiva taught me to live, he was like my father. My brother, Thank You for your concern for all of us. Thanks for sharing your feelings with all of us. I never had the honor of meeting your father, but I know that you love the Jewish people as much as he did. Your words of comfort for us, express that. May Hashem comfort your family and all of us who learned to live with the help of our beloved Rav. Weinberg ZT'L. Sunday my shul will have a seuda in honor of the Rosh Yeshiva. I will have you in mind. I will continue praying to Hashem that we may all live with awareness and share the lesson we learned from your father. Sandra
(35) Rob Silverman , March 8, 2009
Rav Noach of Blessed Memory, Todah Rabah
Rav Noach, You never knew me, I pray to merit a level in olam haba so I can thank you personally for through your website, you helped turn a lost Jewish soul back to Hashem and the Torah He gave us at Sinai. I listened repeatedly to the classes you had online, your 48 Ways to Wisdom, all that Aish had to offer. I'm saddened as my wife and I prepare to make aliyah that I won't be able to thank you in person but, I know your nephew Avi spoke to you of me as he was my Partner in Torah teacher. I'm certain with such a family their is hope that we, the Jewish people, will merit the Beit Hamikdash and Moshiach speedily in our days. I'm also certain you will be watching as you busily serve Hashem in whatever He seeks from you. Your sons letter brought a tear to my soul and I will always pray for the happiness and spiritual fulfillment of your descendants. B"H
(34) Gila , March 7, 2009
I feel the same as you!!!
Dear Yuhuda Weinberg, In 1991 my beloved father died suddenly, he was ill but the doctors had no idea what was going on with him!He was well what seemed to be one minute then all of a sudden I looked at him, he looked like my grandfather, a metamorphesis took place! At that moment I knew he was going to die! But the doctors assured me that he was just sick he was strong and would be home in no time! 3 days later he was Gone! It was almost 18 years ago and I still can't believe he is gone, I still hear his voice, I still hear his laughter, I still feel how proud of me and my sister when we achieved goal after goal! Now I have the very disease that killed him! A genetic liver disease with no cure or treatment and now I live with what he went through! Doctors say I have very little time but ultimately it is Hashem who will decide! I was 33 when my beloved father passed I am now 50 and I was not blessed with an easy life nor children to carry on for me but I have a 2 year old niece who I pray everyday that I will be able to be here to watch her grow up! Please, one thing I learned you never forget! You never give up! You just keep your fathers wishes going! He touched your life and he touched too many others as well! My dad's funeral there was not even standing room! He had so much love from so many people he was a good man! A mench! So was your father! My dad and your dad went on business trips and I swear that he is not dead he is just away and I will see him again ! So shall you! Keep up your father's dream! Bring the Jewish people together no matter what it takes! Then the mistiyach will come! Tell all the Jewish people to stop fighting amongst themselves! We are one! Everyone is entitled to their own feelings all Jews must respect that! A house divided falls! The Jews being divided will kill all Judaism as we know it! Please continue in your dad's footsteps he touched me greatly and I am sure he touched others as well because everyone I speak to knows Aish.com! They know Rabbi Weinberg!Please know that he has not left your side and that he is very close to you more than ever before! Now he is able to be next to you all the time! I know because I have seen proof that my dad is still with me! I am not a crazy woman either! Others have witnessed that what I say is true and believe me Yahuda your dad will never leave your side! Please drop me a line if you would like! Instead of being sad, carry on your fathers wishes , make him proud, and when you look up and the sun is shining and a bird flies by that is your dad sending you the joy he wants for you! Iam sorry for your grief and I am sure you will move ahead! Gila