Speech for Zelik
By Ephraim Paltiel
Before I begin let me introduce myself. My name is Ephraim Paltiel, I am Rabbi Paltiel’s oldest, I grew up in this town, and I have been a shliach in Port Washington for 20 years...
Well, I consider myself lucky for the type of relationship I enjoyed with Reb Zelik. He loved small children, and being in shul on almost a daily basis, I had plenty of interaction with him.
Besides he’s daily jokes - which I understood on occasion - he made individual code names for a select group of people: Zelik, Reb Chaim (for those who never met him, well you missed out), me and my brother Berel. It went like this: “Bairel, Shmairl, Tralely, Malely”. That’s right “Bairel, Shmairl, Tralely, Malely”. This was our little secret. Just us.
From time to time he used to question me, to make sure I don’t forget. “Remember Ephraim’l - Berel...” and I used to finish off “...Shmairl, Tralely, Malely”. The truth is I don’t remember anymore what my name was (maybe Shmerel), but in any case - “Bairel, Shmairl, Tralely, Malely”. That much I remember, and I don’t think I will forget that for the rest of my life (with Hashem’s help).
I was thinking about this a couple of days ago, and for the first time in my life I realized that this was extraordinary. Picture this, a man of close to ninety years of age, connecting with a nine-year-old boy, as if they were classmates.
Extraordinary.
This is just a small example of this remarkable person, and I am sure everyone of you have been touched by him, in one way or another.
His passing was something that was very hard for me to deal with. It just didn't make sense. Shul without Zelik?! I told Rabbi Wineberg that Friday night: “The world looks different without Zelik”. The lose was great. My thoughts then wandered to the shabbos morning service, when Reb Zelik used to lead us all in the special prayer “Ana Avda D’kidsha Brich Hu” - I am the servant of the Holy One, Blessed be He. What will happen? Without Zelik it just can’t happen!
Well, the next morning after the Torah’s were taken out, the whole shul was silent. There was something in the air, everyone was thinking about Zelik. At that moment my father called out “Everyone together! Ana Avda...” And slowly everyone joined in, [singing with all that we’ve got, knowing that some way or another Zelik is singing with us. (???)]
My dear friends, let me tell you, that is what Zelik wants to tell us. Zelik, a man of rich character and persistent optimism, likes to see action. Zelik is calling out to every individual in this room - “Everyone Together! Ana Avda D’kidsha Brich Hu”. I want you to continue what I started, teach others what I taught you, and just keep on trucking.
The High Holidays begin this week. Last year on Yom Kippur Reb Zelik remained in Shul the entire day. During the break, he went to the Rabbi’s office to take a nap. During that period we had a long conversation. He told me about the shtetl back then, the Rabbis didn't give speeches more then twice a year. He told me about him and his friends who wanted to play soccer on Shabbos, so they made a minyan early in the morning; it was so nice that the members of the regular minyan started coming to theirs.
But this is what I would like to share with you today. It was after Nazi occupation, Jews were being selected and sent to a unknown location. Zelik was walking down the street, when he noticed a Nazi truck with Jews inside. As he came closer, one of the people called out to him “Zelik! Take revenge, (???)” And as Zelik tells me this story, his voice chokes with emotion, reliving those moments so many years ago. And he continues, “Epharim’l makes sure the world doesn't forget what happened to our people, the young people have to know who they are, where they come from”.
So I am now going to fulfill his wishes, so listen closely. In today's day and age, every day brings with it new advancements in technology. It is amazing, and it’s there for our benefit. That’s all good. But as a wise man said: History is a skyscraper; each generation is built on the one before it. As we move forward in our lives, let us make sure we don’t forget. Let us make sure that we are firmly rooted in the ways of our parents and grand-parents. That is the only way to secure our future. Once we have a strong foundation, can we reach the greatest heights.
To conclude with the words of Zelik “The young people have to know who they are, where they come from”. Let us not forget. I wish each and everyone of you a successfull new year - A Kasiva V’Chasima Tova!