Obituaries
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Yeshiva Beth Yehudah's Beloved Leader
Susan Tawil
Special to the Jewish News
T
his year, Tisha b'Av — the tradi-
tional day of fasting and mourn-
ing the destruction of the Holy
Temple in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years
ago — was a day of intensified grief for
Detroit's Orthodox Jewish community as
they also mourned the passing of Rabbi
Avrohom Yisroel Fishman of Southfield,
principal of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah.
The funeral demonstrated an outpour-
ing of appreciation for Rabbi Fishman, 60,
who served for the past 10 years as head
of Detroit's largest Jewish day school. On
Sunday, Aug. 10, approximately 1,400
crowded the shul, lunchroom and gymna-
sium of the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah (YBH)
building in Southfield for the funeral ser-
vice, held in the school as a sign of honor
to its departed leader.
Eulogies were delivered both locally
and via video hookup by dignitaries in
Cleveland and Chicago. Following the
service at YBY, the hearse was escorted to
the Fishman home in Southfield, where
sons and sons-in-law spoke further
words of tribute. The coffin then trav-
eled to Lakewood, N.J., for an additional
service and was afterward flown to Israel
for burial in Beit Shemesh on Tuesday,
Aug. 12.
Rabbi Fishman was born May 7, 1948,
in Westerly, R.I., the only son of Shaindel
and Chaim Zev Weiss. His father, origi-
nally from Brisk (now in Belarus), ran a
general store, but sold his business and
moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., so that his son
could attend a Jewish day school.
When Rabbi Fishman was 11, his
mother died. At 13, his father sent his son
off to Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland. There
he learned under Rav Muttel Katz, Rav
Boruch Sorotzkin and Rav Mordechai
Gifter. At 22, Rabbi Fishman went to
Israel to learn at the Ponizev Yeshiva in
ISADORE BALAN, 78, of Illinois, for-
merly of Detroit.
He is survived by his beloved wife,
Marilyn (Bigman); children, Cherie
(Jeff Kraus) Balan and Robbie (Alex
Bogdanovitch) Balan; grandchildren, Josh
and Jamie Kraus.
He was the dear brother of the late Rose
Shapiro.
Graveside services were held at
Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington
Heights, Ill. Contributions may be made
to the American Cancer Society, 820
Davis St., Suite 400, Evanston, IL 60201.
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals,
(847) 229-8822, www.cjfinfo.com .
B'nei B'rak, where he studied under Rav
Shmuel Rozovsky and HaRav Elazar
Schach.
He married his life partner, Basya
(Polskin), of Williamsburg, N.Y., upon
his return to America and continued
his Torah study in the kollel of Telshe
Yeshiva. In 1978, with other members of
the Telshe kollel, Rabbi Fishman helped
found Mosdos Ohr HaTorah, a new day
school in Cleveland, assuming the reins of
principal.
Ten years ago, Rabbi Fishman was
recruited to head Detroit's Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah. Said Gary Torgow, yeshivah
president, "Rabbi Fishman and I dis-
cussed ... his new position in Detroit ...
The only factor in his mind was where he
could serve God and the Jewish People
to the best of his abilities. [The rabbi's]
comfort, profit or respect were never part
of any calculation. His desire was to use
every minute in the service of the Holy
One, creating the greatest impact for the
most people.
"The relationships he developed here
in our yeshivah and throughout our com-
munity, the decisions he rendered, the
leadership he provided and the influence
he had, will carry on far beyond his life-
time said Torgow.
According to Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld,
executive director of YBY, "From the
time Rabbi Fishman first arrived at Beth
Yehudah until the very last week of his
life, he infused the staff and student body
with an excitement and enthusiasm for
learning, tefillah [prayer] and constant
growth.
"He firmly believed in the good and
potential of every student — as well as
every person he came in contact with:
parents, teachers, office staff, janito-
rial — and succeeded in instilling that
belief in his staff of teachers until it
became integral to what the yeshivah
was about."
HELEN BENNETT, 70,
of Southfield, died Aug.
4, 2008.
She is survived by
her daughters, Denice
Bennett of Farmington
Hills, Sharon Shaffer of
Beachwood, Ohio, and
Bennett
Ruth Bennett of Orlando,
c. 1955
Fla.; sister and brother-
in-law, Mariette and
Sidney Simon of Farmington Hills; grand-
children, Daniel, Nina and Samantha;
nieces and nephews, Julie (Bradley)
Deering, Lisa (Brian Conley) Simon, Sara
(John) Dhom and Noah Simon; cousin,
For the past year, Rabbi Fishman suf-
fered the scourge of pancreatic cancer.
Throughout, he sanctified the name of
God by serving as a role model of erlich-
keit (refined behavior), accepting his con-
dition with equanimity (mekabel issurim
b'ahavah). He spent his last Shabbat
in Providence Hospital in Southfield,
surrounded by family, celebrating the
holy day together until the evening of
Saturday, Aug. 9, when he surrendered
his soul.
"He lived a full 60 years, making every
day and every moment count:' said son
Chananel Fishman of Lakewood.
Rabbi Avrohom Fishman
Mighty Legacy
Rabbi Fishman left an imprint on hun-
dreds of students, parents, staff and the
Jewish community at large. "He didn't
live for himself' said Rabbi Yehuda Blum
of Cleveland in a eulogy delivered at the
funeral. "He had a tremendous love and
closeness to each and every talmid [stu-
dent]."
Said YBY Assistant Principal Rabbi
Yitzchok Grossbard: "Rabbi Fishman only
wanted to do for others. He was a daily
example for us of a true talmid chacham
[Torah scholar] and an ultimate mentsh.
Those who were privileged to know him
will forever be better people as a result.
His talmidim [students] will miss his love
for them!'
At the funeral, Rav Shmuel Irons, rosh
kollel [head] of the Kollel Institute of
Detroit, compared Rabbi Fishman's traits
to those of Abraham, the Jewish patriarch.
He spoke about the significance of
Rabbi Fishman's name, expounding on
the letters of the name Avrohom: alef, for
emunah (faithful) and ahuv (beloved);
bet, for bitachon (trusting in God); reish,
for rebbe (teacher); hey for Hineini ("Here
I am"; his readiness to serve); and mem
for mechaved habriot (giving honor to
others, ie: humility).
"He felt his tafkid [role] was to help
others and to serve Hashem [God]:' said
son Yeshaya Fishman of Lakewood as he
eulogized his father. "His heart was full of
love for Klal Yisrael [the Jewish People],
he was always with a smile. He just want-
ed to do God's will!'
Mrs. Susan Colbert, YBY general stud-
ies principal, said, "He epitomized what
a good educator should be. He cared
for every child in a way that went well
beyond the school building. I learned a
lot from him, and it was an honor to work
with him!'
"Rabbi Fishman devoted his life to
chinuch habanim, the education of Jewish
children;' said Rabbi Avrohom Chaim
Levine, eulogizing Rabbi Fishman via
video from Chicago. "He fulfilled his mis-
sion in life."
Rabbi Fishman is survived by his wife,
Basya; children, sons- and daughters-in-
law and many grandchildren.
Those wishing to further honor the
memory of Rabbi Avrohom Yisroel
ben Chaim Zev haKohen Fishman
may send donations to Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah, 15751 W. Lincoln, Southfield,
MI 48076.
Arrangements were by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
Bruria (Ben) Barish; former spouse, Dr.
Ronald Bennett.
Mrs. Bennett was the dear mother of
the late Miriam Bennett; sister of the late
Simon Joseph Fruchter; aunt of the late
Carl Simon.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
Michigan Humane Society or to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.
HYMAN CAMEN, 83, of Lancaster, Calif.,
Park, Joseph and Wendy Camen of Las
Vegas, Nev., Edward and Karen Camen
of Maryland; daughter, Rochelle Camen
of Detroit; grandchildren, Sarah Camen,
Linda Camen.
Mr. Camen was the beloved husband of
the late Dorothy Camen.
Contributions may be made to
American Heart Association, Memorial
and Tribute Program, Dept. 77-3968,
Chicago, IL 60678-3968. Interment at
Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
formerly of Detroit, died Aug. 5, 2008.
He is survived by his sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Ira and Karen Camen of Oak
Obituaries on page B40
August 14 a 2008
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