obituaries >>
Joseph's Tomb
Is Repaired
'A Heart Of Pure Gold'
Ronelle Grier I Contributing Writer
Born in Brussels, Belgium, Jennifer
was a delightful child who loved to
and teacher whose kindness
dance and sing, a good student who
extended to her family, her students
avoided trouble and brought endless
and her many friends. After a brief but joy to her parents. She was thrilled
courageous fight with cancer,
when her younger brother,
Jennifer passed away on Oct.
David, was born, and the
29, 2015, surrounded by her
two had a close and loving
loved ones.
relationship that lasted
Jennifer earned a Bachelor
throughout Jennifer's too-
short life.
of Arts degree in French and
Hebrew cultural studies from
Speaking at the funeral
the University of Michigan,
service, David described
where she graduated with
his sister as his "rock," a
honors and received the
compassionate role model
and friend to her family
LeRoy T. Waterman Prize
Jenny La nxner
for Excellence in Hebrew
members, friends and stu-
and Jewish Studies in 1997.
dents. He recalled happy
memories of summers
After graduating from the
spent in Israel and family road trips
University of Detroit Mercy School of
Law, Jennifer realized her true calling
to Florida, singing songs and laughing
was teaching.
in the car. Her strength and positive
Fluent in English, French and
attitude throughout her illness and her
unflagging determination to fight it
Hebrew, with a good understand-
ing of Arabic, she tutored students
head-on were sources of inspiration to
in Hebrew and French and taught
everyone around her.
Hebrew at Hillel Day School, Temple
She gained strength from her three
Shir Shalom and Congregation
sons, Gabriel, Eli and Joey, who were
Shaarey Zedek before joining the fac-
the center of her world. Despite her
ulty at Frankel Jewish Academy, where career and other obligations, she
she was a beloved Hebrew teacher for
put their needs first, guiding them
the past six years.
through problems large and small
"Jennifer, known for the depth of
and taking tremendous pride in their
her kindness, her endless patience and achievements. She took time to help
her complete dedication to students
them with homework, arrange car-
and colleagues, can easily be described pools, attend their sporting events and
as a genuine tzadeiket, a righteous
cook their favorite foods, even after
individual," wrote Rabbi Azaryah
she became ill.
Cohen, head of school at FJA, in an
"She was the most beautiful person
email to students, parents and alumni. on the inside and out; not only was
"In her six years of teaching at
she my greatest advocate and fan, she
Frankel Jewish Academy, Jennifer
was my best friend," said Joey, 14, who
inspired countless students and col-
spoke at the funeral service.
Jennifer loved Israeli and French
leagues," he wrote.
"She was sweet, kind, selfless and
music, the television series Mad Men,
soulful," said Rabbi Joseph Krakoff,
and her dog, Precious. She was a
who officiated the funeral service with spiritual soul who loved Judaism and
Rabbi Yisrael Pinson, a colleague at
followed its teachings, treating others
FJA and part of the Jewish Hospice
with kindness and giving tzedakah
and Chaplaincy team that worked with (charity) quietly and often. She had a
Jennifer's family.
deep connection with Israel, serving as
"She never ran out of love," said
a volunteer for the Michigan Friends
Rabbi Krakoff. "Her heart was pure
of the Israel Defense Forces.
gold."
She found her partner in her fiance,
As a teacher, Jennifer made every-
Dr. Ross Feinman, who was instantly
one feel important and valued, stu-
smitten by her striking beauty, kind
dents and colleagues alike. She made
heart and infectious smile. He was
learning Hebrew fun and gave gener-
impressed by her engaging personal-
ously of her time, staying after school
ity and the positive effect she had on
for students who needed extra help.
people wherever they went.
j
ennifer "Jenny" Lanxner, 40,
was a beloved mother, daughter
Times of Israel
I
sraeli authorities repaired the Joseph's
Tomb shrine on the outskirts of the
West Bank city of Nablus overnight
Monday.
The shrine, which is revered by Jews
as the burial site of the biblical patriarch
Joseph, was torched by Palestinian rioters
two weeks ago in an incident condemned
by Israeli leaders and Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas.
Some 50 workers, including painters,
metalworkers, electricians, gardeners and
stoneworkers, were accompanied by a detail
of IDF soldiers to the site late Monday and
worked through the night to repair the
damage. In just five hours, the site was
cleaned and painted, and the marble cover-
ing of the tomb was replaced.
Army Radio reported Tuesday that
Palestinian officials had already carried out
partial repairs at the site, under orders of
Nablus' Palestinian Authority governor.
The overnight repairs were initiated
by settlement leaders and the Samaria
Regional Council.
Council chair Yossi Dagan called the
operation "a moving, historic moment:'
He blamed the Palestinian Authority for
the attack on the shrine.
Dagan welcomed the repair effort, but
criticized the IDF's decision to carry it out
overnight. The "national disgrace" of the
burning of the holy site was coupled, he
said, with "our coming here in the dead of
night, like thieves, to a place that is unques-
tionably ours. It's a difficult feeling:'
The IDF's regional commander Col. Shai
Kleper and Samaria Chief Rabbi Elyakim
Levanon were present during the repairs.
The regional council said the site would
be reopened to Jewish worshipers in the
coming weeks. *
Rabbi Krakoff compared Jennifer's
life to Schubert's Unfinished
Symphony, a masterpiece despite being
incomplete.
"She exemplified beauty ... she was
a true angel on Earth:' said the rabbi.
"She intrinsically understood the true
essence of kindness, the true essence
of love."
Jennifer Lanxner is survived by her
beloved sons, Joseph "Joey" Lanxner
Gordon, Eli Lanxner Gordon and
Gabriel Lanxner Gordon; her parents,
Sara Cassin Lanxner and Cantor Ben-
Zion Lanxner (Susan Sinai Lanxner);
brother, David (Ashley) Lanxner;
loving fiance, Dr. Ross B. Feinman;
nephews and niece, Ari, Levi and
Nava Lanxner; uncles and aunts,
Albert Cassin, Miriam Cassin, Yakov
Moshe (Lydia) Lanxner, and Rosy
(Benno) Prager. She is also survived
by her dearest friends, Shari and Alon
Kaufman, her adoring students and a
world of friends.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces,
the Jennifer Lanxner Impact student
scholarship fund, Michigan Chapter,
P.O. Box 999, Walled Lake, MI 48390,
www.fidforg/Page.aspx?pid=317;
Frankel Jewish Academy, 6600 W.
Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI,
48322, www.frankelja.org ; or Hillel
Day School, 32200 Middlebelt Road,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334, www.
hillelday.org. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. *
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November 5 • 2015
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