Emes Ve-Emunah: Death in the Family

Sunday, August 14, 2022

Death in the Family

I am sorry to inform my readers of the passing earlier today of my brother, Jack Maryles, at age 93. I will be an Onein until after the funeral tomorrow and and will then be in Shiva for the rest of this week. There will be no new posts until after the Shiva.

Update: For those unable to attend and wish to see the Levaya, it will be livestreamed today - beginning at approximately 1:00 PM CDT. Link below.

https://chicagojewishfunerals.com/funeral-detail-page/?case=AC7314CA-3046-4224-8CF0-D0A9C7B824C3

My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.