Think Again - A Tribute to Harry Jacobs

Harry Jacobs passed away this week. He was 96, the husband of the late Adelle Jacobs who was South Africa’s premiere ballerina post WW11. Harry was not a member of our shule but his son in law Wilfred Lax is our esteemed president which makes Elana Jacobs-Lax our first lady. That alone is enough for us to dedicate in this our esteemed newsletter publication a tribute to a wonderful full life that was Harry’s.

My relationship with Harry was through his shule circle. He was a member of Central Synagogue but would often visit us at Coogee shule when he ate by Elana. He was what I call a shule buddy of mine. It was a pleasure to have Harry as part of the quorum in our sanctuary. He just knew the art of shule when to stand, when to sit, to pray aloud or pray quietly. He sat to my right of the lectern, and how comforting and reassuring it was to have someone to your right, non-judgemental, full of acceptance, with twinkling eyes, a broad smile and quietly nodding as if everything that was being said was 100%. Sometimes I was not sure if he was just not nodding off to sleep. He brought with him the old school shtetl values. His presence made you feel ten feet tall which is some feat for a person of my stature. I mean if Harry was the congregant, then can you imagine who the rabbi must be.

His last few weeks were a constant stream of visitors. Old and New came to his home on Bellevue Rd. All were saddened to witness his struggle to breathe, constricting lungs, and witness the hard fight for life. You could not help but be overcome. Everyone, all, figuratively stood to attention in his presence as a mark of respect. Everyone bar none remarked on how much Harry had meant to them and how much he had done for them. Having his acquaintance was a precious gift. He was a father figure to all of them, a mentor a guide. His sage advise changed many a life. His words were pearls of wisdom and left a profound and deep impression on everyone who he came in contact with. Visiting Harry was like a pilgrimage.

Harry was born in 1929 in Johannesburg. He graduated from Vits University as an architect. Worked all around Africa finally setting up his own practise. He married Adelle in 1957 built their family home in Craighall Park and raised their children, Mark Elana and Donna there, until Harry and Adelle followed their children and emigrated to Australia in 1995. He became a successful industrial and commercial architect. Mostly however he used his business skills to mentor others, in fact this was legendry.

Harry was known as a giver and contributed to both Jewish and Non-Jewish causes.But he was a giver in a different way.He gave so that it would keep on givingHe gave of his knowledge, his expertiseHe gave of his experience and skillsHe gave advise and loads of encouragementHe did not just give but imparted skills so that you could replicate to do it over again. He taught others that they too could be givers.

It was my honour to visit Harry in those last few weeks. I am not sure if he heard me but we recited familiar prayers that he would have known. He spoke a beautiful Yiddish from the Alter heim, his parents had come from Lithuania. He sporadically would waive his hands, I was not sure if he was waving me away “genuk shoin– enough already” or was he conducting me “geshmaak - nicely said”. With Harry around I was transported back to the world of Yiddish, the world of Fiddler on the roof, we always had a lively Yiddish banter. So thank you Harry for the good times. “Mir vellen zich trefen zech in aan andereh tzit – well meet again another time”. They don’t make them like that anymore and we will miss him.

I wish long life to Mark, Sandy, Elana, Wilfred, Donna and Derek. His 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing to us all. May his soul be bound in the bond of eternal life.

It’s the circle of life.

This morning I attended the bris of my cousin’s grandson Heidi and Shlomo Zaslman Goldschmidt of Golds Bookstore fame. Everything went off fine. Mazal Tov to the parents Elozer (named after the same person that I am named after, my grandfather, on my fathers side) and to mum Yocheved Goldschmidt. May Hashem bless the extended Goldschmidt (Gestetner) families with nachas and freid (joy).

As always L’chaim

Praying for a quick victory in the Middle East and for real peace in Israel

See you in shule