Page 76 - issue
P. 76
Rabbi Siegel
tzadik: “He never said a word of lashon hara or complaint….
He was a sefer chai (a living Torah work).”
With Yente by his side, Totty continued in his Torah
endeavors and wrote his fourth sefer, Nachalas Sadeh, which
was a collection of commentaries on the parsha and on Yom
Tov.
By 2010, it was apparent that something in our father’s
cognitive health was shifting. At first, the changes were sub-
tle: a bit of forgetfulness for names and events. However,
when his grasp of zmanin and schedules seemed to be affect-
ed, we knew that something serious was happening.
Neurological testing confirmed that some form of dementia
was setting in: likely, Alzheimer’s.
Even with the cognitive losses, Totty continued to amaze.
Those who did not know that he was struggling with demen-
tia continued to discourse in learning with him. His prowess
and halachic insights into zmanim analysis remained unpar-
alleled. Nevertheless, planning to move the couple to a more
supported environment began. By then, the Siegel children
had moved to other communities: Azriel to Eretz Yisroel,
Sara to Toronto, Miriam to St. Louis, Fayge to Detroit, and
Chaim to Far Rockaway. Although the children from both the
Siegel and Potash sides visited regularly, Totty was becoming
aware that the shift in his health would place additional
demands on his wife that could only be met by living in prox-
imity to children.
The decision to move to Monsey, closer to children, was
emotionally fraught as Totty’s ties to his beloved Baltimore
were deeply and generationally entrenched. However, in his
inimical way, he accepted the changes without complaint and
with absolute acceptance.
Upon moving to Monsey, Totty immediately recognized the
advantages of living near children and being next door to a
shul. In short order, this consummate Litvak found a home
in the Stoliner shul next door and had become a much-loved
figure, learning regularly with a chavrusa. Even as his health
became frail and his cognitive abilities declined, Totty
remained able to discourse in learning.
Due to Totty’s increased risk of falling as his Alzheimer’s
progressed, the family had no choice but to protect his safe-
ty by finding him a residential placement. We were fortunate
to find Totty a spot in Pine Valley in New Square, which not
only provided excellent medical support for his advancing
Alzheimers but had the added advantage of close ties with
the chasidic community of Skver. Totty was able to attend a
daily minyan, and on Shabbos to attend the Skverer shteible,
which was housed in the Pine Valley building.
Even while confined to a wheelchair at Pine Valley, Totty
continued to delight visitors with his capacity (albeit modi-
fied) to carry on a conversation about Torah topics. While his
recent memories were affected, his long-term recollections
were largely intact. The intense learning of his childhood
stood him in good stead. As recently as three weeks before
72 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
tzadik: “He never said a word of lashon hara or complaint….
He was a sefer chai (a living Torah work).”
With Yente by his side, Totty continued in his Torah
endeavors and wrote his fourth sefer, Nachalas Sadeh, which
was a collection of commentaries on the parsha and on Yom
Tov.
By 2010, it was apparent that something in our father’s
cognitive health was shifting. At first, the changes were sub-
tle: a bit of forgetfulness for names and events. However,
when his grasp of zmanin and schedules seemed to be affect-
ed, we knew that something serious was happening.
Neurological testing confirmed that some form of dementia
was setting in: likely, Alzheimer’s.
Even with the cognitive losses, Totty continued to amaze.
Those who did not know that he was struggling with demen-
tia continued to discourse in learning with him. His prowess
and halachic insights into zmanim analysis remained unpar-
alleled. Nevertheless, planning to move the couple to a more
supported environment began. By then, the Siegel children
had moved to other communities: Azriel to Eretz Yisroel,
Sara to Toronto, Miriam to St. Louis, Fayge to Detroit, and
Chaim to Far Rockaway. Although the children from both the
Siegel and Potash sides visited regularly, Totty was becoming
aware that the shift in his health would place additional
demands on his wife that could only be met by living in prox-
imity to children.
The decision to move to Monsey, closer to children, was
emotionally fraught as Totty’s ties to his beloved Baltimore
were deeply and generationally entrenched. However, in his
inimical way, he accepted the changes without complaint and
with absolute acceptance.
Upon moving to Monsey, Totty immediately recognized the
advantages of living near children and being next door to a
shul. In short order, this consummate Litvak found a home
in the Stoliner shul next door and had become a much-loved
figure, learning regularly with a chavrusa. Even as his health
became frail and his cognitive abilities declined, Totty
remained able to discourse in learning.
Due to Totty’s increased risk of falling as his Alzheimer’s
progressed, the family had no choice but to protect his safe-
ty by finding him a residential placement. We were fortunate
to find Totty a spot in Pine Valley in New Square, which not
only provided excellent medical support for his advancing
Alzheimers but had the added advantage of close ties with
the chasidic community of Skver. Totty was able to attend a
daily minyan, and on Shabbos to attend the Skverer shteible,
which was housed in the Pine Valley building.
Even while confined to a wheelchair at Pine Valley, Totty
continued to delight visitors with his capacity (albeit modi-
fied) to carry on a conversation about Torah topics. While his
recent memories were affected, his long-term recollections
were largely intact. The intense learning of his childhood
stood him in good stead. As recently as three weeks before
72 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
