THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, August 19, 1983 11
In Memoriam
SOL EISENBERG 191.1983
Wnen a wise man dies, how can he be replaced?
There is a source for silver, and a place where
gold is refined. Iron is taken out of the earth,
and copper is smelted from the ore.
But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
When a wise man dies, how can he be replaced?
THE BOOK OF JOB
Where can we begin? What shall we say? How can we paint an accurate portrait, or set down the
score that will capture the symphony of Sol Eisenberg's life?
Sol was more than an industrialist and civic leader. He was a true friend to literally hundreds of
people. Who is there here today whose life has not been touched and enriched in some way by this
remarkable man?
What sustained my father through his lengthy illness? His only wish has been to continue — to
continue to work, to continue to love his family, the Jewish community, Israel, humanity, music,
achievement — with a responsibility which gave him great joy. He respected intellect. He respected
integrity. He lived with a tenacity and an intensity that left us shaking our heads in wonder and
amazement.
Rabbi Zvi, the son of Baal Shem, who founded Modern Hasidism, told the following story:
"Some time after my father's death, I saw him in the shape of a fiery mountain which burst into
countless sparks. I asked him, 'Why do you appear in a shape such as this?' He answered, 'In this
shape I served God.' "
Surely, Sol Eisenberg assumes such a shape — a fiery mountain giving off sparks of light and
love. Responding to God's challenge to all of us, Sol chose life all of his days. He was a man who
engaged living with all the vitality and intensity for which a person could hope. What interested my
father most about living was the profound pathos of being human. Sol was deeply in touch with the
joys, the sorrows and the ambiguities of life.
The many sparks from this life are implanted deeply within our hearts. Strengthened by the
light and the power of these sparks — and strengthened by the memory of the love we had for him
and he for us — we look toward a future in which the memory of Sol Eisenberg will always be a
blessing.
How painful it was for all whom he loved and all who loved him, to witness the tragic,
progressive, debilitating trek of his affliction. But what inspiration all of us drew at witnessing his
courage. He never complained. He never gave in. He never ceased to live . . . his way.
The Bible tells how Jacob wrestled all night with an angel. As the dawn began to break, the angel
said to Jacob, "Let me go because the dawn is breaking." And Jacob said, "I will not let you go until
you have blessed me."
As a new dawn breaks upon a far distant horizon for our beloved Sol, we say to him we let you
go because you have blessed us. You have blessed us as our father and friend. You have blessed us as
a teacher by your own precepts and examples of loving your fellow man.
We thank God for the years he gave you to us and we say go in peace, and may God receive you
with his blessing of "Come in peace."
ANN EISENBERG
FRANCES EISENBERG
SUE ELLEN EISENBERG
KENNETH EISENBERG WALTER EISENBERG
STEPHEN, BRIAN & ANTHONY
LEONARD MAZER