Event Tribute to Mendel Brikman

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shimi Kutner

A standing room only crowd of 600, packed Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Monday night, in honor of the shloshim of beloved community member, R’ Mendel Brikman, a’’h.

Dr. Asher Goldstein, who anchored the evening, serving as MC, opened with a few personal thoughts about his dear brother in-law. Goldstein then introduced Mendel’s eight and half year old son, Chaim, who led the assembled with the recitation of the 20th chapter of Psalms. Chaim also mentioned that every morning before going to school they make sure to give tzedaka, a hachlata the family undertook when Mendel took ill and one they intend to continue for many years to come.

Rabbi Yossi Paltiel followed with a passionate talk about Mendel and his indomitable spirit, despite everything that Hashem put in his way, he refused to be shaken or to give up. Paltiel mentioned Mendel’s tireless commitment to the Empire Shtibel, in every program for young or old, everyone knew Mendel Brikman was behind it.

Rabbi Paltiel shared a story that he witnessed at the levaya of Rochel Leah Schusterman o’h some 30 years ago. After describing the enormity of the tragedy, he went on describe what happened at the Levaya. The late shliach Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik OBM who was at the levaya and feeling the despondence of the Long Beach community, turned to the crowd and in his humble, pure and sincere way, said a few penetrating and poignant words to encourage and strengthen their emunah and bitachon. Similarly, Rabbi Paltiel asked that all those present recognize Hashem’s hand in everything that happens.

Rabbi Moshe Pinson and Rabbi Yossi Deren shared words of comfort and warm personal memories of their childhood friend. Pinson remembered that a few days before he was niftar, Mendel, with great difficulty and between gasping breaths told him a story about a chassid and the value of community service. “I want to wish you continued strength in helping the community,” Mendel told him. This is the type of person he was, always there with an ear to listen and encouraging words of wisdom and advice.

Rabbi Deren recounted a flight to Australia that they shared when they were bochurim. “I told Mendel, I wasn’t feeling well so he got up and offered me both seats. When I woke up, I discovered he had been walking around the plane for six hours concerned for his friend and not wanting to wake me up.”

Chazzan Yaakov Stark, who had a long friendship with Mendel, sang a stirring and heart-rending “v’ehu rachum”, a piece of chazaanus that Mendel would often request. During the singing as well as a number of times throughout the evening, pictures of Mendel arranged in a slide show played on the two large screens.

Zalman Levin, Mendel’s nephew, spoke eloquently, focusing on all of the positive things that he’s thankful for, the pride he has in his uncle and the special times and memories they shared. He thanked his aunt Toby, Mendel’s wife, for being the epitome of devotion and commitment, always being there for Mendel.

Levin was followed by Mendel’s youngest son, eight and half year old Zalmen Brikman, who spoke about what a great father he was lucky to have and thanked his rebbe, Rabbi Karp, and his classmates, for the hachlatos that have been undertaken since his father’s passing.

Dr. Menachem Rubin, Neurologist at Cornell hospital, followed, delivering a stirring address, amidst tears and deeply felt emotion. Dr. Rubin shared how much his life has been affected since Mendel entered it seven year ago. The shmura matzah and shalach manos and the pre yom tov calls that he would receive. The divrei torah that Mendel always wanted to hear and share. The parenting advice that Dr. Rubin benefitted from and Mendel’s understanding of our precious Mesorah. “He was made of steel, no matter what Hashem placed in his path Mendel went through it standing tall and strong even when he had trouble taking every single breath. A towering pillar of courage without ever questioning Hashem’s inscrutable ways.”

Dr. Rubin pointed out that he had never seen a patient that was beloved not just by the doctors and nurses but by the janitors as well. He went on to point out that Mendel wore his Yarmulka and beard proudly, and through his daily interactions of treating everyone with dignity and respect, he was a “walking Kiddush Hashem,” said Rubin. “Can you imagine being a daily Kiddush Hashem? Everyday? 24/7? And when he passed away, in the hospital, surrounded by more than 10 people, he was niftar while being mekadesh sheim shomayim b’rabim!”

Dr. Rubin was followed by Dr. David Berlin, head of the Medical ICU at Cornell. He thanked Mendel for his friendship, for the life lessons he learned from him and for being the shining light and example that he was. He also thanked Toby, Mendel’s wife, for being such a source of strength to Mendel and always being there at his side.

Chaim Marcus, who spent many nights and Shabbosim with Mendel in the hospital, shared a story about Lag B’omer night in the ICU, hours after Mendel had a tracheostomy.

“At about 2am Mendel woke up, still unable to speak, he tried for a couple minutes to mouth a request to the nurse. Finally the nurse figured it out,” Marcus said. “What did he need in middle of the night? ‘Please bring a pillow for my friend,’ Mendel asked.”

Turning to Mendel’s children, Marcus said, “that was your Tatty.”

Speaking to each one of the Brikman children by name, Marcus told them how proud their father was of them and how often he would speak glowingly about each one of them.

“When we were sitting on Shabbos at Cornell or Burke and looking at the picture of his greatest accomplishment, your family, he would kvell,” Marcus said.

“Yossi? Probably the best baal koreh you ever heard… and when I mentioned Isser, your father would sing your praises. When I sent your father a selfie with Ari, I knew there was a phone call coming. ‘What do you say? such a good boy, my Ari.’ Doba? I don’t think Mendel thought there could be a better girl on the planet. Chaim and Zalman, whenever your Tatty talked about you guys he was always smiling or laughing. And of course he spoke about how amazing your mommy is and how lucky he was to have her,” Marcus said.

Marcus also encouraged the assembled to show their appreciation for Mendel by committing to doing something tangible in the way of a “v’hachai yiten el libo” resolution.

“Such a befitting tribute to a true chasid,” commented Avraham Fried, a friend of Mendel’s, “not a word of exaggeration.”

“I remember once seeing him after he got sick and I said ‘Oy Mendel’ and he looked at me and said ‘No Oy’s around here”, recalled Fried.

Picking up on this theme, former IDF soldier, Ami Shachar spoke via video from Israel, on how he quickly recognized in Mendel his deep emunah and commitment to serve Hashem be’simcha despite his enormous challenges. This made such a strong impact on Ami that it brought him back to Yiddishkeit. Ami shared that he will keep his promise to Mendel to continue to put on tefillin every day for the rest of his life.

Chazan Yanky Rosenfeld, before singing another favorite of Mendel’s “leolam yehei adam”, shared his memory of meeting Mendel ten years ago and how Mendel always showed his concern for him.

The final speaker of the evening was Mendel’s oldest son, Yossi, who spoke briefly and beautifully about growing up surrounded by the love and deep special relationship that he witnessed between his parents. He saw an unwavering commitment they had to each other, through the thick and thin. This is evident in all that Toby did for Mendel and the kids daily, juggling between hospital, home and work seamlessly.

Dr. Asher Goldstein, on behalf of Toby Brikman, brought the evening to a close by thanking Dr. Rosen, Hatzoloh, the doctors at Cornell and the many friends and family that came together in an incredible show of love and support of Mendel.

Everyone is encouraged to send memories of R’ Mendel Brikman and your hachlatos to inmemoryofmendel@gmail.com. Thank you.