Dad's speech at Sunday's Aufruf

Dad’s Speech for Daniel’s Aufruf Dec. 13, 2009

I would like to extend our formal greeting to all of you for joining us today in the celebration of this magnificent simcha in honor of Ilana and Daniel’s forthcoming marriage. Rella and I are truly thrilled by the great warmth and enthusiasm shown by you in the celebration.

We are extremely pleased that so many relatives and good friends could join the festivities. Your presence greatly enhances our simcha and provides an added dimension to our happiness.

We express sincere gratitude to Hashem for allowing us to reach this momentous milestone in celebrating your Aufruf today and upcoming marriage to dearest Ilana next week. We feel especially fortunate to be gaining a wonderful daughter in our family, and to be expanding our family with the Kurshans.

Ilana and Daniel, during the past 6 months we have had tremendous pride in witnessing the growth in your relationship together with the combination of love, joy, enthusiasm, scholarship, mutual respect and understanding. The entire family first met you as a couple in a whirlwind visit to Kiawah, South Carolina in August. Then during Succot, we spent time together with the Agus family in Caesaria and in Jerusalem. By late October you had reached the engagement stage and our families had 6 weeks to prepare for the wedding. Ten years ago Mom had a 3 month deadline from Nira and Michael so she was fully prepared for this new challenge, and we are proud of her poise and accomplishments in fulfilling her mission. Thank you to Barbara Esses, our talented, creative friend who helped make this all possible. You are energy redefined.

Daniel, throughout your childhood and adult years, you have observed an outstanding role-model directly in our home. Mom has devoted considerable time and effort in community activities. She combines the unique talents of an organized management ability together with an elegance of style. All her efforts are lovingly appreciated.

Daniel, life proceeds rapidly, and mom and I have vivid memories of you during your early childhood. You always showed strong determination and a serious-minded sense of purpose. When you walked home alone from Baba and Zaidie’s shul in Hillside on Rosh Hashanah at age 5, we knew we had our hands full. You translated your strong determination into a combination of academic excellence and a love of sports with solid allegiance to the Devils and Yankees. But your great passion in your youth was playing and coaching hockey in high school and college. You played field hockey and then ice hockey in New Jersey and at Chelsea Piers in New York.
After your graduation from Columbia, your passionate pursuit was focused on comparative literature at Yale and, in sports, to cycling. You continue to utilize these literary skills in your current educational position at Yad Vashem.
Your determination is currently evident in your mutual scholarship and close bonding with Ilana.

Daniel, you have always been a terrific brother, both to older and younger siblings, as the one right in the middle. You have been an integral part of the family, even while living at a great distance away. In your role as an uncle, you have shown great love and affection and deservedly have been given the title Dodi D.
Daniel, the Jewish calendar has a fixed order, and milestone events often occur by a predestined pattern. Your Aufruf occurs on the second day of Chanukah, “Chag Haorim.” This holiday marks a time of rededication and renewal of the menorah in the Beit Hamikdash in the time of the Hashmonaim. May your Aufruf also serve as a time of renewal and invigorated sustenance in your new relationship with Ilana as Chatan and Kallah.

As you are well aware, Daniel, you are most fortunate in the heritage you have received. Your middle name, Banach, is Baba Sally’s maiden name. Unfortunately, because of the Holocaust, you are the only person from that large family who still bears that name. From the Levenstein and Banach families of Zaidie and Baba Sally’s, Z”L, you have learned important life lessons from the intense suffering and personal loss that they sustained. They taught you the power of the human spirit. They always showed you how to look to the positive side of things, to be compassionate, honest, and to be charitable. They showed no bitterness or despair, only great loving for you and your siblings. Zaidie and Baba Sally provided you with the finest example of Jewish ethics in Tzedakah and Gemilut Hasadim. Their honored reputation in Israel and America should serve as an outstanding role model and legacy for you.

On the Feldman and Yospin side of the family, you have always seen exemplary role models from Grandma and from Grandpa. Grandma continued in her role as a teacher of remedial reading until she was almost 80 years old. Grandpa was a quiet and determined person, always concerned about the welfare of others, especially of his family. He epitomized the ideal of Jewish charity through his many anonymous donations.

Our blessing to you, Ilana and Daniel, is that Hashem should grant you the zechut to share a long and cherished married life together filled with happiness, good health, friendship, devotion and a large family. May all of us have great nachat in celebrating this new partnership of Kurshan-Feldman. We love you. Mazal Tov! Am Yisrael Chai!