This issue of the FJMC Unraveller, a weekly commentary explaining the aspects of Jewish history, ideas and thought, is being sent to you by the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. We hope you enjoy it and find it intellectually challenging. Dear FJMC family,
This past Shabbat, we lost one of our
brothers, Steve Krodman a”h, and I am dedicating this edition of The Unraveller to his blessed memory. Before I explain how the commentary below relates to one of his greatest character strengths, I want to share some of his leadership history with the FJMC so that folks who didn’t know - or perhaps only met him more recently, like me – can appreciate how much he exemplifies the kind of leader that the FJMC seeks to cultivate.
Among his many prominent roles, Steve served as president of Etz Chaim Men’s Club in Marietta, Georgia; as Regional President for Anshei Darom; as Chair of the World Wide Wrap in 2011; and finally as Co-Chair of our 2019 Convention, at which we will honor his memory and provide a fuller account of the
myriad ways he contributed to the FJMC at the local, regional and international levels.
I spoke at Steve’s funeral about how he demonstrated tremendous positivity through much of the seven months between getting his ALS diagnosis and succumbing to the highly-aggressive form of this disease that he contracted. Notwithstanding the physical challenges that worsened each week, Steve did his best to maintain good cheer and to express gratitude for the love and care he received from friends and family. Always known for his quick wit, Steve was as funny and playful as ever in his last phone conversation with our international president, Stan Greenspan, and me.
While it’s inaccurate to say that Steve’s terminal illness made him
a more optimistic person, he definitely gave voice to little pessimism about his condition, no matter how frequently demoralizing it could be. The midrash cited in my commentary below (published in 2012 by the Jewish Theological Seminary) imagines the opposite kind of character in Pharaoh, who exemplifies the negativity of a complete misanthrope in the mind of our Ancient Sages. His advisers serve as a foil, describing how his disregard for the literal and figurative wealth of the Israelites ultimately made him regret not valuing them until they had departed Egypt. Let us follow Steve’s example instead, cherishing the gift of each other’s presence and the acts of lovingkindness that represent riches we neither earn nor truly
repay.
May we learn from the life of Steve Krodman, Simcha Barukh ben Eliyahu, and make his memory a blessing.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Andy Shugerman, Executive Director |