I moved to Baltimore in 1980 and began giving a parsha shiur every Shabbos to a group of women living in the Park Heights area, between Strathmore and Glen avenues. Sandy Katz was one of the regular attendees. When I became a single parent to four children under the age of seven, the Katzes were brave enough to invite my family for a Shabbos meal. And thus began a very long and fruitful and beautiful friendship.
Having two sons, I was always
seeking father (or big brother) figures for gemara tutoring, davening in shul
in the men’s section, bar mitzva lessons, etc. I didn’t need to look too far,
for Larry Katz immediately stepped in and unassumingly offered to help. While
many people had no idea how to be of help to my family, Larry and Sandy were my
heaven-sent angels. We had a home away from home, always. My children learned
how to play ping pong on motza’ei Shabbos. They were taken to
ball games and bike riding paths. Larry even taught one of my daughters how to
drive and allowed her to drive his car to the MVA for her driving test. My sons
always knew that when they walked in to the Agudah, there was a seat waiting
for them next to Larry Katz.
When I needed legal advice, Larry,
who was the dean of the University of Baltimore Law School, did not hesitate to
assist me. Bar mitzvas, chasanas, grandchildren events always included
Larry and Sandy as part of the family. Our photo albums are filled with
pictures of the Katzes attending our simchas. The first Rosh Hashanah meal was
always reserved either at the Katzes or the Krugers. My son’s Shabbos sheva
brachos was in the Katz home. Our very last photo of the Katzes was just a
year-and-a-half ago, when we needed a kohen for my great-grandson’s pidyon
haben. The decision was a no-brainer. The man who taught my sons about
putting on tefillin would be our first choice for this mitzva!
We are all faced with challenges in
life, and we daven for guidance in how to surmount the trials and tribulations.
Hakadosh Baruch Hu steered me to the Katz family, where I received
constant support. And I never had to
ask. Larry and Sandy knew what to do. They had 20-20 vision when it came to
figuring out what I needed and what my children needed. It was so comforting to
us to know that. With all the amazing institutions and organizations, both
locally and nationally, that occupied Larry Katz’s precious time, he always
found time for my family.
The creator of the polio vaccine, Jonas
Salk, said: “The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” I
believe there’s a saying: When you want to get something done, ask a busy
person. Busy was an understatement for Larry Katz. Yet we were high
priority on his list. And for that, I am
so very eternally grateful.
