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It’s been almost four decades when Hal said, "Well...
It’s time to meet Rabbi Weissberg at Temple Beth-el."

Marlys Beider

AN ODE TO RABBI VICTOR WEISSBERG

It’s been almost four decades when Hal said, "Well...
It’s time to meet Rabbi Weissberg at Temple Beth-el."

Before we stepped into YOUR study on Touhy Avenue
I was very determined to become a good Jew!
I expected to meet an old gray-haired scholar
Whose stern eyes and deep voice would make me feel smaller.
But a young, handsome man with warm eyes and a beard
Was exactly the opposite of what I had feared.

Fresh out of Germany, I was a young bride-to-be,
Ready for new things to learn and to see.
I studied what YOU taught for almost one year
Preparing me patiently for my conversion frontier.
And even though Hebrew was not my forté
I recited the "Shma" and praised "Yaweh."

Roses were still reddish and violets still blueish
But you changed my life when I proudly became Jewish

In the years that followed our families grew tighter
With yummy dinners at Weissbergs and parties chez Beider.
We shared jokes, laughed a lot and enjoyed carefree days
Feasting on Tzimmes, Kugel, Brisket and even Parfait.
Danny still dreams of revenge, shouting "Ban-zai!"
While pushing Ariel’s face in a big whipped cream pie.

YOU officiated at all Beider mitzvahs with loving care
And whenever we were down, YOU always were there!

As the years went by they brought along sadness
There were family tragedies and some worldwide madness.
YOUR knowledge, YOUR wisdom, YOUR encouraging talk
Smoothed our paths so, again, we could walk.
YOU helped me through many difficult times
And lifted my spirit with YOUR awesome sublimes.

And then there were trips that took me quite far
As I traveled the world with YOU and Tamar.

The Galapagos Islands and Ecuador’s sights
Are burnt in my mind as pure delights.
We watched blue-footed boobies and the birth of a seal,
Marched through rainforests and nature that seemed surreal.
The penguins, the turtles, the birds were neat
But being with YOU and YOUR "Tosca" was the absolute treat.

One year you sent a note inviting all from Temple Beth-el
To accompany YOU and YOURS on a trip to Israel.

So Olivia and I joined the Weissbergs and many others
On a journey to rejoice with our Israeli brothers.
In three weeks we saw plenty, we listened and learned.
We ate, sang, walked miles and got very sunburned.
It was humbling to touch artifacts from our Jewish history
But YOUR incredible sageness remains true mystery.

I could go on about YOU that’s so very sublime
But I have to admit, I’m having trouble to rhyme!

But before I give up I need YOU to know
That I look forward to many more years in a row
For our families to remain healthy and happy and tight,
Enjoying many more Mitzvahs and days that are bright.
And remember: I don’t want to be called the "Passover-Shnorer."
After YOUR Seder I’ll pay my dues with the "Vacuum Horah!"