Oh Rabbi Tanzer, How Can I Bless You?

Yishai Abrams

Many things have been going through my mind following Rabbi Avraham Tanzer’s passing. About his legacy, his vision, his ever-gentle composure…I keep coming back to this piece I wrote as Grade 11 student for the 2013 Yeshiva College Yearbook in honour of the Tanzer’s 50 year anniversary since coming to South Africa.

On my wedding day, Rabbi Tanzer phoned me in Israel to wish me mazaltov. Just before he hung up, he reminded me once again of how much he enjoyed this article.

Its message is as relevant as ever….

“And the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth for yourself from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you’.” — Bereishit 12:1

Uprooted from his familiar birthplace, Abraham was thrust into a barren wasteland; devoid of all things pure and spiritual. Entrusted with a momentous task, the patriarch was hesitant to set forth into the land of the unknown. Yet, carrying a subtle message of hope and assurance, the somewhat vague command of G-d ultimately lead our starry-eyed forefather on an odyssey of faith and purpose. Indeed without even knowing it, Abraham was on the verge of a journey that would effectively alter the course of the history of mankind.

Like the legacy of his great namesake, Rabbi Avraham Tanzer and his wife Marcia left the thriving Jewish centre of Brooklyn, New York in an attempt to instil within the fledgeling community of South African Jewry, a sense of their long-forgotten identity. Indeed, like the patriarch before him, Rabbi Tanzer was to be the lonely man of faith, forsaken in a desolate expanse of religious indifference.

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Yet, despite the immense challenges that faced South Africa’s new recruit, Rabbi Tanzer succeeded in transforming a struggling community, with only a handful of devoted congregants, into an empire of tremendous magnitude, noted and respected throughout the Jewish world. Such prosperity brings to mind G-d’s assuring promise to Abraham that “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name, and you shall be a blessing”. It only takes a simple visit to the Yeshiva College Campus to see the words of G-d in actuality. What was once, during its first Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur service, a meagre congregation of roughly 50 people, is now a developed and robust campus with 6 minyanim on a weekly basis. This year’s High Holiday season bore witness to an influx of around 1500 people; all desperate to quench their thirst in the Water’s of Wisdom that our Patriarch has to share.

Besides his role as a communal leader, Rabbi Tanzer embodies sentiments of compassion and concern; heartfelt care; a personal touch that remains with the recipient long after the first encounter. His warm and enduring charisma tinged with a passionate hue of zest is what continually draws people, spanning the vast range of the religious spectrum, to seek his sage advice. Known by his family and friends as “the Encyclopaedia of the Ridiculous” on account of his ability to remember facts and anecdotes that seem almost irrelevant, Rabbi Tanzer possesses not only the ample knowledge but all the experience necessary to deal with any situation. Whether in need of halachik guidance, personal counsel or communal direction, Rabbi Tanzer’s perceiving eye will gaze far beyond the given situation to deliver a message of truth and guidance.

Dancing with Rabbi Tanzer at “The Big Shabbat” 50-year anniversary event — 2013

“Two roads diverged in a wood” noted the great Robert Frost “and I — I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” Indeed, Rabbi Tanzer and his wife could have easily remained in America, shielded and sheltered in a world of comfort and content. Yet the destiny of that inexperienced young man took him on the path less travelled, to the southern tip of Africa, and it has certainly made all the difference. “We make a living by what we get” remarked Winston Churchill “but we make a life with what we give.”

Indeed, the legacy of such greatness is found within the most unassuming places. At a time when my younger brother still innocently played on the Jungle-Gyms’ of the Nursery School, a discussion arose amongst his friends as to “who was the boss of the world”. Naturally such answers as “Hashem is boss!” coupled with “No, my daddy is the boss!” were discussed. Until such time as my brother spoke up to say “No you don’t understand! Rabbi Tanzer is the boss!”

Rabbi Tanzer with children at Yeshiva College Nursery School — 2013

To speak to Rabbi Tanzer is like stepping into a time machine. Despite the Rabbi’s stature, his neat white hair, tidy silver beard and broad shoulders make him look like some wise king of ancient legend. Under great snowy brows, his warm eyes are set like coals that could suddenly burst into fire. One approaches the luminary with admiration and respect.

As I hesitantly draw nearer to the sweet and gentle face of this wise elder, I am at a total loss for words. What can I, a mere youngster of only 17 years, say in the presence of one who has accomplished so much?

I am reminded of a famous piece of Talmud found in Masechet Ta’anit (5a). When he was to depart from an intense study session with his teacher Rabbi Yitzchak, Rabbi Nachman requested a blessing of goodness and prosperity. “I will relay to you a parable” replied Rabbi Yitzchak.

“There was once a man who was journeying in the desert. Hungry, weary and thirsty, he lighted upon a tree, the fruits of which were sweet and its shade ever so pleasant. A glistening stream of water flowed beneath the tree whilst he ate of its fruits, drank of the water, and rested under its shade.

“When he was about to continue his journey, the man proclaimed with a passionate ardour: Tree, O Tree, with what shall I bless thee? Shall I say to thee, ‘May thy fruits be sweet’? They are sweet already; that thy shade be pleasant? It is already pleasant; that a stream of water may flow beneath thee? Lo, a stream of water flows already beneath thee; therefore I say, ‘May it be G-d’s will that all the shoots taken from thee, shall be like unto thee.”

“Indeed” continued Rabbi Yitzchak, “With what shall I bless you? If with Torah knowledge, you already possess such greatness. If with riches, you have riches already. If with children, you already have beautiful children. Hence I say, ‘May it be G-d’s will that your offspring be like unto you’ ”.

Rabbi Tanzer, Rabbi Tanzer, how can we bless you? If with a thriving Jewish centre of growth, you possess it already. If, with a school of 1000 pupils dedicated to their Jewish identity you possess it already. If with the unique attributes that transform the layman into a leader; you possess them already. If with a skilled talent of making snippets of Torah come to life through the art of story-telling, you possess it already. If with a personal touch of care that allows you to connect to each and every individual; you possess it already. And if with a signature trademark of cracking a joke whenever called for, you indeed possess it already.

All we can ask for Rabbi Tanzer, is that those whom you have taught will be instilled with the pure heartedness to continue your legacy of greatness.

As I approach the Patriarch of our time, these reflections passing through my mind, I think back to the Big Shabbat we recently experienced in honour of our distinguished leader. A truly special weekend of festivity, allowed me, a student of Yeshiva College to grasp truly the magnitude of Rabbi Tanzer’s grandeur. I am not merely a Grade 11 pupil. I am a testament to the greatness of Glenhazel’s noble pioneer. Such a tremendous Shabbat saw the fusion of past, present and even future in a celebration that will never be forgotten.

I finally pluck up the courage to ask what has been bothering me for so long.

“Rabbi Tanzer I…”

“Oh, Yishai!” he interrupts with a smile “so nice to see you. How is your grandfather doing? Haven’t seen him in a while. You know, I’ll never forget when I first met him in 1973…”

Not only did you ‘go for yourself’, Rabbi Tanzer, but you came for us as well.

It is true that I may not be able to bless you, but Rabbi Tanzer, that does not mean that I cannot thank you.