ELIZABETH APPI.EBAUM
AppleTree Editor
T
helping jewish families grow
Kids. --
Kick'
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AMottlft,
2/15
2002
58
he phone has not stopped ringing at Rabbi
Elimelech Goldberg's office. His mother, his
wi fe Ruthie, his daughter Rochel Leah, his
mother again, friends, his wife again, his son
Nfeir Menachem, more friends. The rabbi's grandchild,
a little girl, has just been born in Israel. Her name is
Necharna Aide'.
It's nice to hear the phone ringing all the time like
this, with good news. Sometimes, that very sound is
what makes Rabbi Goldberg pause in fear.
"I still hold my breath" when a call comes in, he says.
That's because often it's the saddest of news: a child he
knows, a child he has cared for, is dying.
In addition to his position as spiritual leader of Young
Israel of Southfield for the past 18 years, Rabbi
Goldberg has been involved in a number of projects
That help critically ill children. One of these is Camp
Simcha, a summer getaway in New -York state where he
has served, for the past 10 years, as director. Another is
Kids Kicking Cancer, a local organization Rabbi
Goldberg established. KKC encourages children to use
their spirits, hearts and minds to assist themselves
through medical treatment.
When he was a boy, Elimelech Goldberg wanted to
be a rabbi'. For all of his adult life, he has done just
that. Now Rabbi Goldberg is set to leave full-time work