Remembering My Great-Grandfather, Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin
by Ilan Zakai
Wise School student Ilan Zakai prepared the following remarks for our Founders’ Day celebration. Even though school is currently closed and our students are participating in online learning, we wanted to share this with you in honor of the day!
Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin, my great-grandfather, was the visionary behind this community.
This past week we celebrated Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat of remembering. I remember that my great grandfather laughed a lot, made a lot of jokes, and liked to play chess. I remember riding in his golf cart with him just because I liked it. I remember that he ate a lot of broccoli even though he didn’t really like it just because it’s super healthy.
Remembering my great grandfather makes me feel sad. But looking at all of you today makes me sad AND happy, because he would have been happy to see you all here. He believed that three of the best things in the world were
- קהילה Kehillah (community)
- לימודים Limmudim (learning), and
- ברוקולי Broccoli (eating broccoli because it’s good for you).
This month is Adar, and we say “mi shenichnas Adar marbin b’simcha” which means we should increase our happiness when the month of Adar comes rolling through. In honor of my great-grandfather, the visionary behind Wise School, you can increase happiness this Adar by doing the three things that my great-grandfather thought were so important:
- Be part of the community, remembering that כולנו כאחד, (kulanu k’echad) all of us are one.
- Study hard because רב שלום בנייך, students of Torah are builders of peace
- And always remember to eat your broccoli. It is healthy and will make you strong.
Thank you!