Page 40 - issue
P. 40
Rabbi Siegel
Shmuel Dovid HaLevi. journey. His steady chavrusas (study met once or twice, and corresponded
In today’s world, we take for granted partners) in the wee hours of the morn- by letters.” Rav Posen continues. “He
ing were his composition notebooks and was very much in the sugya, and we
the ease with which we can find any his blue Bic pens, which were sold in compared notes. Even today I wouldn’t
zman we need for any locale in the bulk at Morris Siegel and Co. have minded if we could have some
world with a simple push of a button. Throughout the world, only a few discussion, but that’s the way the world
However, before the internet age, our talmidei chachaim shared Totty’s pas- goes. It is remarkable that someone
father would calculate calendars by sion for the subject and his dedication who worked for a living had time to do
hand and provide advice for interna- to servicing communities by providing all that. He still lives on today.
tional travelers, who faced considerable precise zmanim tables. One of those Everyone who learns his sefarim gives
halachic challenges while traveling to scholars was Rabbi Meir Posen, shlita, of him life in the eternal world.”
the South Pacific, Hawaii, and Alaska. London and Israel, who became a regu-
There were no shortcuts for the task of lar correspondent with our father via Rabbi Heber notes that our father is
computing zmanim. According to old-fashioned aerograms. After years of widely quoted by other scholars because
Rabbi Heber, “R’ Shmuel Dovid went corresponding, they met for the first time of his meticulous working through of
through the sugya with an envelope when Rav Posen and his wife Ruth came the Rishonim (early Talmudic commen-
and stamps.” He refers to our father as to Baltimore to visit their cousins, the taries) and other sources: “I was working
one of the “mid-Pacific poskim,” with Eisemanns on Yeshiva Lane. We remem- on bein hashmashos (twilight) and was
respect to his position on the location ber vividly the excitement in our home stuck on one issue. I called your father,
of the International Dateline. “I coined as our parents prepared to meet our and he just shook the answer out of his
the term ‘mid-Pacific poskim’ [for your father’s international counterpart and sleeve.” In recent years, as our father was
father and others]. But none of these their delight afterwards as they regaled declining cognitively due to his illness,
poskim ever went to the Pacific, I’m us with anecdotes from their visit. his presence on the zmanim scene was
sure. He lived the world on his desk.” sorely missed, as his facility in the sub-
In a phone call to the Siegel chil- ject had been exceptional.◆
In those early years, our father was a dren, Rav Posen, shlita, reminisced: “We To be continued.
lone and lonely traveler on his zmanim
A warm & friendly Level 3 Residence providing long-term & respite care.
A homey family atmosphere • Delicious kosher meals freshly prepared • Lively and stimulating activities
Caring staff around the clock • Assistance with all activites of daily living • Alzheimer’s/dementia care
Registered nurse on site daily • Discount for couples • Owners on site
Evelyn Shnier, R.N. • Menachem Taragin, LCSW-C
(410) 318-8999 | 7015 Park Heights Avenue | www.sterlingassistedliving.com
36 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
Shmuel Dovid HaLevi. journey. His steady chavrusas (study met once or twice, and corresponded
In today’s world, we take for granted partners) in the wee hours of the morn- by letters.” Rav Posen continues. “He
ing were his composition notebooks and was very much in the sugya, and we
the ease with which we can find any his blue Bic pens, which were sold in compared notes. Even today I wouldn’t
zman we need for any locale in the bulk at Morris Siegel and Co. have minded if we could have some
world with a simple push of a button. Throughout the world, only a few discussion, but that’s the way the world
However, before the internet age, our talmidei chachaim shared Totty’s pas- goes. It is remarkable that someone
father would calculate calendars by sion for the subject and his dedication who worked for a living had time to do
hand and provide advice for interna- to servicing communities by providing all that. He still lives on today.
tional travelers, who faced considerable precise zmanim tables. One of those Everyone who learns his sefarim gives
halachic challenges while traveling to scholars was Rabbi Meir Posen, shlita, of him life in the eternal world.”
the South Pacific, Hawaii, and Alaska. London and Israel, who became a regu-
There were no shortcuts for the task of lar correspondent with our father via Rabbi Heber notes that our father is
computing zmanim. According to old-fashioned aerograms. After years of widely quoted by other scholars because
Rabbi Heber, “R’ Shmuel Dovid went corresponding, they met for the first time of his meticulous working through of
through the sugya with an envelope when Rav Posen and his wife Ruth came the Rishonim (early Talmudic commen-
and stamps.” He refers to our father as to Baltimore to visit their cousins, the taries) and other sources: “I was working
one of the “mid-Pacific poskim,” with Eisemanns on Yeshiva Lane. We remem- on bein hashmashos (twilight) and was
respect to his position on the location ber vividly the excitement in our home stuck on one issue. I called your father,
of the International Dateline. “I coined as our parents prepared to meet our and he just shook the answer out of his
the term ‘mid-Pacific poskim’ [for your father’s international counterpart and sleeve.” In recent years, as our father was
father and others]. But none of these their delight afterwards as they regaled declining cognitively due to his illness,
poskim ever went to the Pacific, I’m us with anecdotes from their visit. his presence on the zmanim scene was
sure. He lived the world on his desk.” sorely missed, as his facility in the sub-
In a phone call to the Siegel chil- ject had been exceptional.◆
In those early years, our father was a dren, Rav Posen, shlita, reminisced: “We To be continued.
lone and lonely traveler on his zmanim
A warm & friendly Level 3 Residence providing long-term & respite care.
A homey family atmosphere • Delicious kosher meals freshly prepared • Lively and stimulating activities
Caring staff around the clock • Assistance with all activites of daily living • Alzheimer’s/dementia care
Registered nurse on site daily • Discount for couples • Owners on site
Evelyn Shnier, R.N. • Menachem Taragin, LCSW-C
(410) 318-8999 | 7015 Park Heights Avenue | www.sterlingassistedliving.com
36 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
