IN MEMORIAM

JOSEPH A. BIERMAN Shortly before Rosh Hashanah, Joe Bierman passed away suddenly and so tragically, long before his due time. He was buried in the Land of Israel which he loved so, by his dear wife Riva and his beloved children, Sarah and Josh.

Everybody loved Joe and, in turn, was loved by Joe. He was so loving to Riva – even though he kibbitzed her throughout their married life – and to his children, to his son-in-law, Daniel, and he was wild about his little granddaughter, Ayala. He was incredibly devoted to his disabled twin, Phillip, serving as a model for loyalty to family and chesed. He was a great friend who took such an interest in all his friends and, particularly, in their children.

He never claimed to be a tzadik – although he called Riva, admiringly, his tzadekes – and yet, at so many s’machot, he would insist on providing the benchers, creatively decorated and designed for each particular occasion.

What a loss to his family and to our community. Yet, just as he was the life of any party, we should try to bring happiness to them and to ourselves and know that his soul will be gratified in that joy.

NORMA NUSSBAUM BRUCKNER Norma was larger than life. Beautiful and brilliant, articulate and sophisticated, she carried herself with grace and class. She had incredible inner strength; as her family put it, “one would never bet against Norma.” Norma was devoted to her family and community. A beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Norma maintained a unique connection with each member of her family. Raised in a family that was devoted to rabbis and Torah institutions, Norma faithfully continued her family’s legacy. Most remarkable was Norma’s compassion. One time, she was in a shoe store and overheard a young boy who was dejected because the pair of shoes he desired were too expensive for his parents. Norma discreetly approached the owner and said that she would pay for the shoes. And this was Norma’s habit; she always noticed those in need and sprang into action. May her chesed illuminate our community’s path forward as we emulate her example.

DAVID S. GOTTESMAN Sandy, as he was known to family, friends and associates alike, passed away shortly before Yom Kippur. His funeral was held before a packed congregation in our Main Synagogue, a fitting tribute to a man whose family was associated with KJ for one-hundred years. A brilliant financial manager and investor, Sandy was passionate about doing the right thing in the right way. As one close associate put it, Sandy had an impeccable moral conscience.

He was extraordinarily generous to people and to noble causes, but genuinely humble about himself. He named things for his parents, Esther and Benjamin Gottesman, of blessed memory, like the Ramaz Middle School building on the south side of East 85th Street, and for his brother, Milton, of blessed memory, but, until recently, never for himself.

Here at KJ/Ramaz, he gave the founding gift for our Middle School and for the restoration of the Main Synagogue after the fire in 2011, among many other acts of generosity. He also established an endowment for the benefit of eleven Day Schools in the New York area which has enabled hundreds of students to attend those schools even though their families cannot afford the full tuition.

Among his many acts of communal beneficence, he was most proud of the magnificent, new building for the National Library of Israel which is nearing completion and expected to open next March. This was a continuation of a dedication to libraries that began with his enhancement and modernization of the Mendel Gottesman (his grandfather) Library at Yeshiva University. This was just one of many generous acts on behalf of YU. His loving wife, Ruth, was his partner in all of these endeavors, supporting and encouraging him to serve the Jewish and general community. He was also lovingly proud of, and devoted to, his children, Bob, Alice and Bill, and his grandchildren, who follow in his footsteps in their commitment to the Jewish people and, particularly, to Jewish education.

For the last number of years, we were able to honor Sandy Gottesman with the Kohain Aliyah on Yom Kippur. He just missed it this year, but he remains in our minds and our hearts, lovingly, as our Kohain Gadol.

ARMAND LINDENBAUM It is important that we remember Armand for the man that he was, inasmuch as his last nine years were painfully diminishing to him and to his family. His dear wife, Jean, whom he loved so passionately, was his heroic partner throughout their marriage and, particularly, in her incredible devotion to him during these last difficult years which were made comfortable and happy through her efforts.

Armand was very proud of his children, Amiel, Felice, and Ariel all of whom were educated at Ramaz, and his grandchildren, all of whom received either a Ramaz or some other Day School education. He was exceptionally devoted to KJ and Ramaz and to his community at the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, which he served as a

President. Our ArtScroll Shabbat and Yom Tov Siddurim were donated to the congregation and dedicated by Armand and Jean.

He was exceptionally proud of the tradition from which he came, starting with his grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Avigdor Amiel, the late Chief Rabbi, first of Antwerp and then of Tel Aviv, and the author of several important volumes of Biblical exegesis and Drush. Armand claimed that he didn’t understand his grandfather’s writings, but he lived those writings as a moral, ethical, committed Jew who did things the right way, who carried himself with dignity and who was loyal to his family roots and to the Jewish people.

NAOMI MILLER One of the longest held jewels of our congregation was lost to us in the passing of Professor Naomi Miller at the age of 97. She was the loving wife of the late Samuel Miller, the adoring mother of Dr. Peter Miller (Ramaz ’82, married to Deborah Krohn) and a beloved grandmother of three.

Naomi, as she was known to all of us, was the daughter of the late Dr. Pincus Churgin, a beloved and renowned Professor of Bible and Jewish History at Yeshiva University and the Founding President of Bar Ilan University. His brilliant daughter was Chair of the History Department at Hunter College for seventeen years as part of a forty-two-year tenure there. She rendered an invaluable service to our congregation in reviewing and restoring the KJ archives, together with Rae Gurewitsch and Yvonne Koppel, as part of the Congregation’s 125th Anniversary. Naomi was appreciated everywhere for serving as a model of menschlichkeit: kind, soft-spoken, humble, and self-effacing.

GABRIELLE PROPP Gaby passed away after a long illness which was unknown to all except those who were closest to her. She was a beloved member of our congregation who had an everpresent smile on her face in general, but, in particular, when she was in shul. She loved to daven and to listen to sermons (believe it or not!). Above all, she loved this community, and she demonstrated quiet but exceptional generosity to the congregation and to all of its activities, even supporting people without anyone’s knowledge, including the recipients themselves. Gaby was very loyal to her roots. The daughter of Rabbi Simcha Bunim and Mrs. Hilda Riback, both of whom were learned and scholarly, Gaby loved learning Torah. She hosted classes of Nishmat in her home and she actively sought opportunities to learn Torah. She modeled that tradition for her son, Amory, who is also deeply rooted in religious practice and in learning Torah. He was exceptionally devoted to his mother in every way, and she absolutely adored him. She was a loving wife to her late husband, Seymour Propp, caring for him in life and, extraordinarily, as his strength diminished. That was only natural to her: a loving, caring, generous and loyal Jewish woman. She will be missed.

BARBARA NADLER A descendant of the Alpert family, Barbara and her husband, Ira, were among the most active members of KJ in their early years and in our earlier years. They were in the Young Marrieds, the Sisterhood and Men’s Club and they were very involved in Ramaz where they educated their three children: Sherry (Lebwhol), Lee, and Gayle. Barbara was known best for her very cheerful countenance. No matter what was going on in her life, she always had a brilliant smile on her face and twinkles in her eyes. She greeted you with enthusiasm and, in turn, she was beloved by everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for all of this and also for her extremely impressive kibbud eim, her loving care for her late mother, Nettie Alpert.

MOSES STEIN He was privileged to live into his ninety-fourth year. Moe, as everyone knew him – family, friends and business associates – was a real people person. He loved to laugh and joke with family and friends even though he could be stubborn and unyielding when his will was challenged. He was the owner and Chief Operating Officer of Frank’s Sport Shop, founded by his father one hundred years ago. He was so devoted to that shop that when he was released from the hospital, shortly before his passing, he pleaded to be taken to the store for a few minutes to see if everything was in order. His life was ebbing away, but the store was on his mind.

His family and his dear wife, Gerry, knew that he had four priorities in his life, in this order: his father, his mother, the store, and Gerry, who took such wonderful care of him, but who always knew she was number four. Of course, he adored his children and grandchildren with whom he was blessed, particularly David, our cherished member, who was so devoted to him and who is saying Kaddish for him.

Moe was devoted to KJ and expressed that devotion generously. He was also a founder and Officer of the Midchester Jewish Center, the Lincoln Park Jewish Center and, recently, the Chabad of Yonkers. In a way, he was Moshe Ish HaE-lohim: Moses, the Man of God. He may not have heard a word of the sermons or the davening (he was quite hard of hearing), but he loved being in shul and he was beloved by all of us who knew and respected him.

CEMETERY PLOTS IN KJ GROUNDS To purchase burial plots for a loved one (or yourself after 120) at Beth El cemetery in Paramus, NJ, visit ckj.org/ burialplots or contact KJ Comptroller Sy Yanofsky in the Synagogue Office at 212-774-5620 or sy@ckj.org.