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A Humble Jew
SUSAN TAWIL
Special to the Jewish News
R
abbi Hershel (Chayim. Tzvi) Roth of
Southfield passed away Feb. 1, 2004, at age
78. Originally slated as guest of honor at
Congregation Yagdil Torah's annual dinner, Rabbi Roth
was instead memorialized at the Southfield synagogue's
Feb. 22 event.
At the dinner, Rabbi Eli Yelen of the synagogue
hailed "Reb Hershel" as a precious link with the previ-
ous generation. He especially noted Reb Hershel's sim-
chah (joy) in serving HaShem and his love of learning
Torah and celebrating Shabbos. The fact that Reb
Hershel was a Holocaust survivor made his happy per-
sonality and optimistic lifestyle especially noteworthy.
On behalf of his father, son Yoel Roth accepted the
Ateret Zekaynim award, a plaque commemorating his
father's active involvement and dedication to the shut
A memorial booklet distributed at the dinner con-
tained some of Reb Hershel's own writings about his
harrowing experiences in the concentration camps dur-
ing the Holocaust. He attributed his survival to Divine
Providence as the only logical explanation.
Born to a learned family in Nagykallo, Hungary, in
1926, Reb Hershel was one of nine children. In 1944,
the Nazis invaded his town, sending him to Auschwitz
with his family. There, his mother and six of his sib-
lings were murdered. He was transferred to the
Wolsberg concentration camp, where he endured star-
GERTRUDE BRODSKY, 85, of West
Bloomfield, died Feb. 20, 2004. She
was a bridge player and enjoyed canasta.
Mrs. Brodsky is survived by her
daughters and sons-in-law, Rose
Lieberman of Southfield, Leona and
Rabbi Steven Chester of California,
Deborah Brodsky and
Frederick Smith of
Farmington Hills;
grandchildren, Mark
and Karen Lieberman,
Dayna Pink and
Michael Persh, Adam
Chester and Keng
Sintrakool, Shira
Chester, Nicole
Brodsky, Harrison Smith ; Aaron
Smith; great-grandchildren, Michelle
and Bryan Lieberman, Taylor Persh;
brother and sister-in-law, Samuel and
Dorothy Essick of California.
She was the beloved wife of the late
Abraham Brodsky and dear sister of
the late Irene Blavin.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to
Hospice of Michigan, 400 Mack,
vation and freezing.
community involvement. He constantly attended class-
In 1945, he was sent to the Ebensee concentration
es, learned Torah and served as substitute magid shiur
camp with his father, Yoel Roth. They were able to stay
(teacher) for the dafyomi (daily Talmud page) at
together until his father died from starvation, just one
Congregation Shomrey Emunah in Southfield.
week before the American Army liberated the camp in
Recognized for his scholarship, he was nearing his fifth
May 1945.
completion of Shas, the entire Babylonian Talmud.
After the war, Reb Hershel traveled back to his
"He was extremely learned and had a terrific sense of
hometown to find his house burned to the ground.
humor," said close friend Itzy Weisberg. "He represent-
There, however, he was reunited with
ed true Torah European Jewry. He was
two older sisters and an uncle who had
an exemplary role model for all of us."
also survived the Nazis.
Since his passing, the Roth family has
Reb Hershel then immigrated to
been overwhelmed with an outpouring
America. In 1951, he married Sara
of sympathy from the community. "In
Hindeh "Cindy" Elefant, with whom
following my father's teachings, we are
he raised five children. They lived in
most grateful," said son David.
Carmel, N.J., where Reb Hershel
Reb Hershel Roth is survived by his
served the small Jewish community as
wife, Sara Hindeh Roth, and their
rabbi, shochet (ritual slaughterer),
entire family of Torah-
mohel (circumciser) and chazzan (can-
observant Jews: sons, Yoel
tor) for five years. They moved to
and David Roth of
Augusta, Ga., where again Reb
Southfield; daughters and
Hershel served as the community's pri-
sons-in-law, Maty and
mary Jewish functionary for the next
Itzchak Tatelbaum of Israel,
13 years.
Mirele Roth of Southfield,
In .1969, the Roth family moved to
Debbie and Asher Tzvi
Detroit. Reb Hershel accepted a posi-
Tatelbaum
of Israel; 17
Rabbi Hershel Roth
tion as chazzan and gabbai (sexton) at
grandchildren, six great-grandchildren.
Congregation B'nai David in
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
Southfield, while continuing to practice as a mohel,
Park. Contributions may be made to the Reb Hershel
shochet and teacher. He was known in the community
Roth Memorial Fund at Congregation Shomrey
for his love of learning, his breadth of knowledge, his
Emunah, 25451 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI
wit and his friendly, good nature.
48075. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
After retiring in 1999, Reb Hershel continued his
Chapel. ❑
Detroit, MI 48201 and the National
Kidney Foundation, 1169 Oak Valley
Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
DINA FELDMAN, 80, of Oak Park,
died Feb. 21, 2004.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law, Efim and Elena
Feldman of West Bloomfield, Mikhail
and Yelena Feldman of Oak Park;
grandchildren, David Eugene,
Michael, Dimitry and Rita, Katya.
Mrs. Feldman was the beloved wife
of the late Dovid Feldman.
Interment at Hebrew Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
HELEN GLASER, 95, of Windsor,
died Feb. 21, 2004.
She was extremely active in the
Windsor community. She was a mem-
ber of the board of Shaar
Hashomayim Synagogue, Jewish
National Fund, Pioneer Women,
Windsor JCC and the I.L. Peretz. She
is a past JNF Negev Dinner honoree.
She was a Zionist long before it was
fashionable to be a Zionist.
She was predeceased by husband Eli,
and son Harold. Survived by son,
David (Fraudelle), seven grandchil-
dren, many great-grandchildren and
nieces and nephews.
Interment in Windsor. Contributions
may be made to JNF, Shaar
Hashomayim or a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Rachel Kaplan
Hebrew Memorial Chapel in Windsor.
SIDNEY GOLDSTEIN, MD, 79, of
Sunnyvale, Calif , formerly of Oak
Park, died Dec. 27, 2003.
He was a graduate of Wayne State
Medical School and a captain in the
Medical Corps during the Korean War.
Dr. Goldstein was also a past president
of Beth David Synagogue in Saratoga,
Calif. Prior to retirement, he was a psy-
chiatrist at the Santa Clara County
Mental Health Department and Agnews
State Hospital in San Jose, Calif
He is survived by his beloved wife of
55 years, Ruth Goldstein, daughters
and son-in-laws, Rosalie (Steve)
Stillman of Redondo Beach, Calif,
Susan (Mark) Cutler of Valley Village,
Calif; son, Dr. Lawrence Goldstein of
Santa Fe, N.M.; grandchildren,
Rachael (Joseph) Rifkin, Aaron
Stillman, Joshua and Jeremy Cutler;
sister and brother-in-law, Rae and
Maury Friedman of Flint; nephew,
Sam Friedman.
Interment in California.
BARBARA ANNETTE "BUZZY"
(STROM/IDEN) GOLDBERG, 67,
native Detroiter of San Diego, died
Jan. 25, 2004.
She was born to Samuel and Bessie
Goldberg and had two sisters. She had
a B.A. in anthropology from
University of Michigan and a master's
in library science from Wayne State.
She married Sheldon Iden in 1958
and they had two daughters.
She loved music, art, literature and
travel. She and Sheldon lived in India
for 10 months when he was awarded a
Fulbright Scholarship in art. She and
is
.
2/27
2004
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