This morning we are more than halfway through the ten days of repentance between Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish New
Year and Yom Kippur, the solemn Day of Atonement which begins at sundown on Friday. Our rabbis define this period of time
as an opportunity for introspection, spiritual renewal and repair.
During these ten days we are urged to ask God, the Judge of All, direct us in this important work and to inscribe and
seal us in the book of life and blessing for a good year.
But today, the fragility of life, the uncertainly of what life holds in store for us in the coming year is tested as we
gather here in shock, anger, disbelief and humility to mourn the loss of Dr. Richard Meltzer, a remarkable human being.
As I pondered what verses from our tradition with which to begin this service, I was drawn to the words of the prophet
Jeremiah, who consoled our people in their saddest hours of exile. We read from the book of Lamentations:
Lamentations
For these things do I weep,
My eyes flow with tears,
Far from me is any comforter
Who might revive my spirit:
My children are forlorn,
For the foe has prevailed.... (1:16)
What a terribly sad day this is for all of us, family and friends, gathered here in disbelief, in anger, and in pain.
See O Lord, the distress we are in!
Our hearts are in anguish... (1:20)
Because of this our hearts are sick,
Because of this, our eyes are dimmed.... (5:17)
These verses from the Book of Lamentations take on new meaning within the confines of this room as we wonder why ... why in
God's name must we be here? Why was a man who gave life to so many... who had yet so many more miles to run - rivers to swim
... mountains to climb had to be taken from us so soon ... too soon.
Richard Meltzer
- a dedicated, loving and amazing son
- a proud and loving father
- an adoring husband
- a devoted brother
- a man of skill, passion and love of life
- a wise and compassionate healer
- a devoted friend and colleague
Why has he been taken from this world too soon too soon?
O God, at this hour be with us who gather here with broken hearts and so many unanswered questions. Console us. Be near to
us when light seems distant. Sustain us, O God, and may this hour of memorial and celebration bring us closer to a time of
peace and healing.
(Poem from Hugo - Dick's brother-in-law)
(Michelle and Sara speak)
In this hour of parting, let us listen to the voice of the Psalmist as he brings us the message of God's nearness to
us, in light and in darkness, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death.
Psalm 90
Whither shall I go form Thy spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, Thou are there:
If I make my bed in the netherworld, behold, Thou are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,
even there would Thy hand lead me,
and Thy right hand would hold me.
And if I say: "Surely the darkness shall envelop me,
and the light about me shall be as night,"
even the darkness is not too dark for Thee,
but the night shineth as the day;
the darkness is even as the light.
Search me O God, and know my heart,
try me and know my thoughts;
and see if there be any way in me that is grievous,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
So teach us to number our days, that we may attain a heart of wisdom.
Turn to us O God! Show mercy to your servants!
Satisfy us at daybreak with Your steadfast love; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Let Your deeds be seen by Your servants, and Your glory by our children.
May your favor O God be upon us;
Establish the work of our hands;
May the work of our hands endure for generations to come.
Richard loved living in Las Cruces. He, one of the most skilled readers of echo-cardiograms in the world. His scholarly
papers and textbook chapters in the field of echo-cardiography have been and are used by students around the globe. He could
have practiced or taught anywhere in the world. And yet he and Colette chose to move here because they took joy from the
life style, and the marvels of nature which surround us here. In that spirit we read Psalm 121 as we look to our mountains
for help and comfort as we face tomorrow inspired as he was by our magnificent mountains.
Psalm 121
I lift up mine eyes unto the mountains;
from whence does my help come?
My help comes from Adonai,
The Maker of Heaven and Earth.
God will not suffer my foot to be moved:
He that watches over me will not slumber.
Behold, The Watchman of Israel
doth neither slumber nor sleep.
Adonai is my Watchman,
Adonai is the shade on my right hand.
The sun shall not smite me by day,
nor the moon by night.
Adonai will guard me from all evil;
He will watch over my soul.
Adonai will guard my goings and your comings
From this time forth and forevermore.
Before I call up Richard's colleague and dear friend, Dr. Gerry Weinstein to speak about Richard's role in the Las Cruces
and world medical community, I want to share with you the words of one of Richard's role models, Moses Maimonides, one of
the greatest Jewish teachers and philosophers. He lived in the twelfth century and also was the court physician to the Grand
Vizier and Sultan Saladin in Egypt. Richard was familiar with the writings of Maimonides and was knew well and practiced the
words of this physician's oath attributed to Maimonides.
The Physician's Daily Prayer
(attributed to Maimonides)
Almighty God
You have created the human body with infinite wisdom.
In Your eternal providence,
You have chosen me
to watch over the life and health of Your creatures.
I am now about to apply myself to the duties of my profession.
Support me in these great labors that they may benefit humankind.
For without Your help, not even the least thing will succeed.
Inspire me with love for my art and for Your creatures.
Do not allow thirst for profit, ambition for renown and admiration
to interfere with my profession.
For these are the enemies of truth and can lead me astray
in the great task of attending to the welfare of Your creatures.
Preserve the strength of my body and soul
that they may ever be ready to help
rich and poor, good and bad, enemy as well as friend.
In the sufferer let me see only the human being.
Enlighten my mind that it may recognize what presents itself
and that it may comprehend what is absent or hidden.
Let it not fail to see what is visible
but do not permit it to arrogate to itself
the power to see what cannot be seen
for delicate and indefinite are the bounds
of the great art of caring for the lives and health of Your creatures.
May no strange thoughts divert my attention at the bedside of the sick
or disturb my mind in its silent labors.
Grant that my patients may have confidence in me and in my art
and follow my directions and my counsel.
When those who are wiser than I wish to instruct me
let my soul gratefully follow their guidance
for vast is the extent of our art.
Imbue my soul with gentleness and calmness.
Let me be contented in everything
except the great science of my profession.
Never allow the thought to arise in me
that I have attained sufficient knowledge
but vouchsafe to give me the strength and the ambition
to extend my knowledge.
The art is great,
but the mind of a person is ever-expanding.
I now rise to my calling.
(Translation/Adaptation © by Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, CSW, 2000)
(Dr. Weinstein speaks)
As Colette, Sara, Michelle, and I met on Monday evening, we shared memories of Richard.
With the shock and anger and wonder still around us, we sat together around the dining room table to begin to find a way
to make peace with something so unthinkable which was placed before us all - the loss of a parent and a spouse long before
his time.
None of us said very much because our hearts were full and our minds were as one in grief, yet gratitude that our lives
were touched by this soft spoken, mentch, this brilliant teacher, caring physician, loving husband of thirty-six years, devoted
and shamelessly proud father, dedicated son and brother.
When I finally asked if there was anything I could do, Michelle, through her tears looked at me poignantly and said, "Can't
you just bring him back?" We all knew the answer to that question. But we both realized that while there is the loss
of a physical presence, there is yet so much we can keep alive in our memories of this kind, compassionate, soft spoken, loving,
dedicated man. Our tradition is right, the memory of the righteous is a great blessing. And what memories we have, and they
will have to keep us going in the difficult days weeks and months ahead.
Despite its sadness, the book of Lamentations concludes with a message of hope. Following five chapters of despair, the
author knew that it is neither wise nor heathy to live our lives each day in sorrow and depression.
He therefore concludes the book with a verse which we sing in our worship every week at the end of our Torah service.
We sing it many times during the High Holy Days where we try to recognize how we are able to improve ourselves:
Hashiveynu Adonai Eylecha V'nashuva - Chadesh Yameinu K'kedem
Cause us to return to you, O Lord, and we will return
Renew our days as of old! (5:21)
In spite of all our pain, anger and disbelief, God gives us the mandate and opportunity to heal our shattered hearts by
turning - returning to a mentally healthier state through the performance of acts of forgiveness, heartfelt prayer and performing
acts of kindness. In this hour, let us turn to each other, let us recognize how we need each other, and what we can do to
repair the damage in our lives and the lives of those around us. The family needs us and needs each other to move forward
through the difficult days ahead. Colette needs us, Michelle and Sara need us. The truth is, we who care so much about this
gentle, skilled, dedicated human being need each other. Let us embrace each other in this hour and think of how much we can
do to be kinder, more loving, more understanding to ourselves and each other.
So let us return not only to God at whom we are entitled to be angry. Let us make peace with each other and give each
other strength.
The final legacy which Richard leaves to us, is one that we also take note of each week. At the time when his parents
passed away within months of each other, Richard established the Hilda and Ezra Meltzer Memorial Award, presented each year
by the Israel Heart Society together with the Israel Society of Cardiothoractic Surgery to a promising Israeli Cardiologist
who furthers the cause of human life and cardio-research. In this act, Richard is teaching us that we must ensure life for
future generations. In this season in which we focus on the value of life, we can have victory over it.
As you entered this room this morning, you heard the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti who passed away within the month as
well, singing his signature aria, "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's opera "Turandot." Richard loved this
particular aria, I think, because it is filled with beautiful images, flowing music and the attainment of a goal. It's final
word, shows us hope - and with determination, victory to overcome the challenges placed before us. That word, "vincero"
- I will succeed - is Richard's legacy and challenge to us. To be the best we can be in the years ahead. To continue to
face the challenges placed before us..... Dilegua, o notte! Night will depart. Tramontate stelle! Stars will be set! And then
... All' alba vincero! - At dawn, I will succeed! Vincero! I shall succeed! I shall succeed!
Let us vow this day to succeed in our lives as Richard succeeded. To live our lives to the fullest, as he would want us
to live ... with love of life, of family, of friends - with passion and with unswerving dedication!
Through his life, Richard is telling us to fill our cups of life with sweetness.... as he did.... Richard is telling us
to raise our cups in celebration of life with those we cherish... and finally Richard is telling us to say ... L'chaim!!
To life! Vincero! I shall succeed!
Twenty Third Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He guideth me in straight paths for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Reuven Shlomo Ben Ezra V'Hulda
We will not recite Kaddish, as this is to be recited at the time of burial. We will conclude with words attributed to
Ralph Waldo Emerson, and which indeed spak of the wonderful man whose life we celebrate today.
He achieved success and lived courageously,
He laughed often and loved much.
He gained the trust of the pure, the respect of the intelligent and the love of all.
He filled his niche and accomplished his task.
He left the world better than he found it.
He looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.
His life is an inspiration. His memory is a blessing.
Richard, we sing your praise today. We celebrate your life.
Zichroncha livracha! Richard, Your memory is a blessing.
