R' Neuberger's Shloshim

Baltimore Jewish Times :

...The eulogies Thursday evening, Nov. 3, remembered the man and validated that his message and leadership will be carried on at Ner Israel by his son, Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, who also spoke so eloquently.
Rabbi Aharon Feldman, Ner Israel's rosh yeshiva, and the evening's first speaker, talked of how many different people around the world were crying at the loss of "Rav Naftali Neuberger."
He said, "Jewish communities all over the world cried for Naftali. Because without him, many of them wouldn't exist today."
Rabbi Feldman credited the unity between Jewish groups here in Baltimore to Rabbi Neuberger.
The rosh yeshiva was one of seven speakers to eulogize Rabbi Neuberger. Others included Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rabbi Beryl Weisbord, Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbi Eliyahu HaKakian and Rabbi Yissochar Frand.
"It is true that he had access to the halls of power in Washington," said Rabbi Feldman. "But tears would come to Rav Neuberger's eyes when he spoke of the privilege of being in the yeshiva in Baltimore."
Rabbi Feldman wished the Neuberger family success, especially "his son and successor, HaRav Sheftel Neuberger."
This was the first public mention that Rav Sheftel is taking over as yeshiva president.
Rabbi Kamenetsky, the rosh yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva, and a close friend of the late Rabbi Neuberger, said, "The instances that he helped people, it is an endless list. Whomever he could help, he was always available to help."
Rabbi Kamenetsky was followed then to the podium by Rabbi Weisbord, Ner Israel's mashgiach or spiritual director.
Rabbi Weisbord said that there is a Ner Israel today because of "Rav Neuberger's sweat, tears and responsibility. It was very, very far from easy."
He talked of how Rabbi Neuberger saved Jews, be they from the Holocaust or from persecution in Iran.
"He once berated someone for giving him an update about a crisis in the morning," remembered Rabbi Weisbord. "He said, 'Why didn't you wake me up at 3:30 a.m.?'"
Rabbi Weisbord also talked of how one particular talmudic passage describing how a child who is constantly in motion, who thinks there is nothing he cannot do, and who cries for what he really, really wants, was an apt description of Rabbi Neuberger.
"Rav Naftali was very tough when working to correct an injustice, yet as soft as he could be," he said. "He felt the pain of another human being."
Rabbi Frand said that there were several words he associated with Rabbi Neuberger. Among them: "tireless, indefatigable, driven, responsibility, dreamer, father, integrity and telephone."
He said that the late rabbi "played a telephone like a Stradivarius," using it to keep track on the yeshiva and in his efforts to help others.
Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, the oldest of five brothers, talked with strength, warmth and eloquence about his late father. He spoke of his father's devotion to wife and family. And he said that while there are many stories he and others know of the late Rabbi Neuberger, there are probably countless numbers more people that he helped and small, important stories that they don't know.
"Even those who disagreed with him respected him," said Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger. "He had ongoing warm relations with governors, mayors and congressmen. He was consistent, discreet and trustworthy. He was unrelenting in his pursuit of peace. He taught by example of the importance of communal involvement, and we will follow his example.
"Make no mistake," he continued. "Daddy is irreplaceable. Let us pray that the entire family of Ner Israel will preserve this great legacy and will approach and touch the deeds of our father."