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Braver Than Brave

SUSAN TAWIL

Special to the Jewish News

f I could custom-make a kid, I'd
make him just like Yaakov," said
Dr. Barry Braver. "He was a phe-
nomenal kid. It was our privilege
to be his parents."
Yaakov Elazar Braver, 15, son of Dr.
Barry and.-Dr. Celia Braver of
Southfield, died`Friday night, Nov. 9, of
acute lyrnphoblastic leukemia.
Diagnosed three years ago, Yaakov
amazed his doctors with his resiliency
and incredible will to live.
"He had tremendous inner steer
his father said. "He helped pioneer new
treatments that may help other chil-
dren."
A' graduate of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
in Southfield, Yaakov was a 10th-grader
at Oak Park's -Yeshiva Gedolah of
Greater Detroit. He was a popular stu-
dent, with many friends. "He vas kind;
always sensitive to other's feelings," said
his mother.
"He would do anything for anyone,"
his sister, Rivka, added.
Throughout his illness, Yaakov
friends continued to visit and call him.

regularly. Rebbes (Torah teachers) and
devoted to his medical care. Celia, a
students came every day to learn Torah
pediatrician, quit her practice when her
with him.
son was first diagnosed with cancer.
"Everyone loved him," said
Barry, whose specialty is
his Ether. "He had a great per-
family medicine, quit his
sonality, a great sense of humor.
hospital prac6-ce when
He was into sports — basket-
Yaakov relapsed in March.
ball, football, baseball. He even
They often stayed around
went golfing with me."
the clock with their son,
But more important}; his
rearranging their schedules
father said, Yaakov had tremen
to accommodate his needs.
dous faith in God.
The Bravers searched the
Dr. Braver tells of his son's
world rdendessly for a cure,
acute illne;s erev Pesach.
taking Yaakov to Seattle,
Suffering with a 105-degree
Boston, Minnesota and
fever brought on by the inten-
other places for experimental
litakov Braver
sive chemotherapy, Yaalcov
treatments.
insisted his father stop applying
Detroit's Orthodox com-
the relieving cold compresses in order to
munity also pulled together to help the
perform the mitzvah of bedikat chametz
Br-avers, reciting tehillim (psalms) and
(pre-Passover search fOr leaven).
prayers, giving charity on YaalcoNis
When he was in seventh grade,
behalf, donating blood and organizing
despite his first round of chemotherapy,
bone marrow drives. More than 1,000
Yaakov continued to study for his
people gave blood, and more than 500
upcoming bar mitzvah. Although
participated in the first bone marrow
remaining hospitalized. until only a few
drive held at Congr eg ation Shomrey
days before his bar mitzvah, Yaalcov suc-
Emunah, where the Bravers are mem-
ceeded in reading his complete pai-shah
bers. Although the odds of a hatch are
(Torah portion) on time.
one in 40,000, four matches were found
Yaakov's parents were completely
for other cancer patients from the

Southfield bone mar
-- row drive, a result
Barry Braver describes as "statistically
amazing" and "a great comfort."
Bone marrow matches were found for
YaakoN., in the national bone marrow
registry, but he was unable to undergo
the transplant because of medical com-
plications.
"Giving up was never an option," his
father said. "Cod just didn't give us
enough time."
Ya.alcov Braver is survived by his par-
ents, Dr. Barry and Dr. Celia Braver;
grandparents, Leo and Marilyn Sroka;
brother, Tzvi Braver; sisters, Rivka
Braver, Shoshana Braver and Tov
Braver.
Yaakov was the loving gra.ridson of
the late Raymond and. Peggy Braver.
Contributions may be made to
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, P.O. Box 2044,
Southfield, MI 48037; P'TACH.
Avrum Shapiro, 15612 Hilton,
Southfield, MI 48075; Chai Lifeline,
151 'W. 30th St., New York, NY 10001.
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
Park Arrang,ements by Hebrew
Niernorial Chapel. D

coo

The Rabbis, Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers of
The Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network
acknowledge with sadness the passing of

Rose Grace Kaufman

Rose was the beloved wife of Ira Kaufman and late Jacob Rogvoy. Dear mother of
Jean and Gerald Sucher, Herbert and Babs Kaufman, Charlotte and Nathan
Feldman, and the late Lois Rogvoy.
Our hearts go out to all that loved her.

g■ Ail I s H

CE

& CHAPLAINCY NETWORK"

Adding the Jewish Component to Hospice Care

May the gifts of God's comfort radiate to her extended family and may they all be
comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

11/16

2001

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