Jerry Wolf, May His Memory be a Blessing to All

 Dear Jerry (and Doris),

I want you to know that you were one of the most inspirational people I ever met.

You touched so many people.  You regaled us with so many moving stories about your life and always impressed me with your appreciation of life and your humility.

How can one put into words the impact that your life has had on so many?

Rudyard Kipling's Poem "iF" really describes you.  (See below) Jerry, you talked with crowds and kept your virtue and walked with Kings and never lost your common touch.  You filled your life with more than 60 seconds of distance run.   And you were a mensch, Jerry.

What I will always remember is your smile and your love of life.  You loved telling stories and always appreciated  the people with whom you interacted. You always were enthusiastic and joyful to have the opportunity to teach the younger generation diligently. I can never forget when you spoke at Matt Hyder's Bar Mitzvah and what an impact you had on him and on all of us.

You fought through illness and life's challenges which I can't even imagine and yet, you were always so positive.  And your loving companion was so supportive and appeared to be there for you always.  Doris, your devotion for what must have been around 75 years is remarkable.  Doris, do you  remember when the congregation congratulated you on your 70th birthday when it was really your 70th anniversary?  I thought you would be upset about the mistake, but you were so happy that folks thought you  were only 70 years old.  Your spirit along with Jerry's will always be young and vibrant.

Jerry, you and Doris were and are among the treasures of Adat Reyim and I am privileged to have served as your rabbi and to consider you both as friends.

To the rest of your family, may good memories inspire you, comfort you, and make you smile.  Hugs to all of you and you were all so attentive in your own special ways.

Jerry, I have a feeling that you are telling G-d stories as I write this.  I know that G-d is smiling as you speak.

We will miss you, but your courage so inspired us, that we will always feel your presence.

Be safe wherever your journey has taken you, my friend and teacher.

With great affection and admiration,

Rabbi Bruce

If you can keep your head when all about you   

    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

    But make allowance for their doubting too;   

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   

    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

    And treat those two impostors just the same;   

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!