Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Zaidy Popack & Chabad Jewish Center of Toms River, NJ

From the weekly email addressed to the Chabad Jewish Community of Toms River, NJ
By: Rabbi Moshe Gourarie

"Why are there no Jews in Jail?" I asked him, "Nu," he said curiously. I responded, "Cause they eat Lox"! A smile lit up his face. This was the last joke we shared just a few days before his passing.

As Chanie's maternal grandfather we weren't biologically related, nevertheless in more ways than one, he was my Zeidy.

Ever since Chanie and I married in 2001, he treated me like one of his own many grandchildren KA"H.

He was the patriarch of a great and large family, the head of a very large business, spent countless hours a day learning Torah, and yet always found time for each and every one of his children and grandchildren. Always inquiring, advising, caring and helping.

He would tell us that he was once asked, what does he attribute his success? He would answer, 95 percent good luck (G-d’s blessings), and 5 percent his personal expertise. He would then add, “If I had the choice, I would trade in the 5 percent of expertise, for 5 more percent of good luck.”

He had a great sense of humor, always telling jokes and enjoying a new one which he hadn't heard. (He once shared the secret to a good marriage, "she [my wife] always laughs at my jokes, even the ones she heard ten times,"). He always infused every situation, as grim as they sometimes seemed, with his good and happy spirit.

Before we established Chabad in Toms River, he was the one we could go to for advice and support. (He counseled me as he looked over my employment contract, "A contract is not worth any more than the person who signs it"). Over the last seven years, he continued his unending support for our activities.

In honor of his ninetieth birthday, his children gave him the very special gift of commissioning the writing of a Torah in his, and Bubby's, honor. Of all places, he chose to have the Torah installed in the Chabad House of Toms River.

We held the event at the former Jewish Center of Toms River (at the time Temple Beth Shalom), which we had hoped to purchase as the Chabad Center. When he saw the "For sale" sign, he asked me to write down the number so he can call the realtor and give an offer.

He remained very involved in the negotiations for the next few months, using all of his experience to try and pull a deal together. When we found the current location, he and his family contributed very generously and significantly. We would not have been able to purchase this property without their help. He did this because he was a firm believer in our mission of bringing Jews closer to G-d and to Judaism.

In our last conversation, I had told him about certain individuals who had recently begun to observe Shabbos, and he beamed with pride.

The Torah was completed with great pomp and fanfare here in Toms River, giving many their first opportunity to partake in such a unique celebration. It united the community with this wonderful and momentous occasion. (See photo gallery).

Shortly after we moved, he made the trip from Brooklyn.  He wanted to see the property personally and up close and he was very pleased.

At a Bris ceremony, we say, “may this small one [grow up and] become big…”  He said of our Chabad House, “May this big one become [too] small…”

Whenever we would meet, he would ask about the Minyan, activities and the community members. Some members he had met would lovingly refer to him as "reb Zeidy."

This was his Nachas. This was my Zeidy.

The new bookcase in our Shul has been dedicated in his memory, as "Reb Zeidy's Library." We will be expanding this library of Jewish learning and reading books. You can join in by clicking here. An inscription will be placed in the book and the family will be notified of each addition.