Tribute to Rabbi Gans

I’ve written tribute pieces before. All have been for people I’ve known my entire life. But they say some people you meet for a reason and they come into your life for a short period and make an impact. That person was Rabbi Manfred Gans of Congregation Machane Chodosh. He was called home to Hashem 8/9/20. If you’re interested in learning about the great work he did in the Brooklyn and Forest Hills communities, I suggest you read Sergey Kadinsky’s piece on the Queens Jewish Link’s website.

I became active in the shul just as he retired. During the early stages of his retirement, he was still working hard. I remember coming early for weekday services which started at 6:45 a.m. I would sit and wait for someone to come in to lead the prayer service. Rabbi Gans would walk in a few minutes early with a big smile on his face. He would come right over to me and greet me with a firm handshake. He’d ask how I was feeling. He would greet everyone seated in the sanctuary.

Gingerly he walked up to his seat adjacent to the aron kodesh, the holy ark. The clock would tick.  Starting time arrived. He looked at me and said go up and start. Nervously, I walked up and began the services. At times he and I were the only two in the building. As I read from the siddur people started to come in and take their seats. I read several pages and handed it off to another person.

At the end of the services, Rabbi Gans thanked me and said when the clock shows it is prayer time you begin, whether we have a full house or it is just you. He went on to explain how I am praying to Hashem. And the mitzvah of dedicating this time to his honor. Rabbi Gans’ intelligence and leadership made you want to get up early and honor Hashem.

Eventually, I became the gabai. That’s the person who helps run the services and works to decide who will get various honors such as an aliyah. That’s being called up to the Torah. This job comes with great honor. Like any role that comes with great honors, it comes with high responsibilities. Of course, it comes with stress. Everyone wants an aliyah. Some only want a specific reading from the day’s Parsha. Some only want a specific aliyah number no matter what the portion. Some folks consider getting the fourth Torah reading an insult. Another great rabbi who left us once said, I will take this one. It is an honor being called to the Torah for any portion. Rabbi Gans lived that way.

I had many people try to teach me the gabai role. All week my iPhone would vibrate from people asking for an aliyah or other honor.  And to give advice.

In his retirement, Rabbi Gans was not physically able to come to shul each Saturday morning. Thankfully once he recognized the stress people were bringing upon me. He took me over to the side and explained the importance of this role and how to make the determinations of who to give what reading too. He explained how we can best honor the Sabbath and Hashem. I tried my best to use his teachings.

In 2014 when my dad passed away he sent me a beautifully written letter. I could tell it came straight from his beautiful, kind and warm heart. A few days later he saw and talked to me about the loss and how to properly honor my dad. He made me smile and brought some tears to my eyes.

When it comes to leadership, I spoke to many people who knew him when he was healthy enough to run the shop. It was not uncommon to see him moving chairs, tables, helping to serve food at breakfasts and dinners. He would call people the night before a Yom Tov (holy day) to make sure they had what they needed and were ready. He worked to create a Hebrew School. I have been involved with that program for many years. He made everyone feel welcome. More importantly, he made everyone feel they were helping to build the organization.

After the Torah reading, many rabbis speak. In some venues, they don’t. The services conclude. In the shuls where they speak, sadly that’s the time that most congregants step outside and converse amongst themselves. When Rabbi Gans spoke you stayed, you listened and more importantly, you learned. He was always prepared. He was able to talk about the current Parsha and tie it to today’s world. He made ancient teachings relevant to today’s world. He never spoke about how if heaven forbid you turned a light on or adjusted the A/C during Shabbos what a grave sin you committed. He understood that people are people. We all are at our levels with an eagerness to improve.

He helped us improve. We miss you.