A Soulful Journey

David C. Kogan played an active role in the governance of the Rabbinical School at JTS, often mediating between the needs and wants of students and faculty.  Professor Saul Lieberman, although Rector, generally did not attend faculty meetings. One time when Kogan felt that the agenda of a particular faculty meeting dictated that Lieberman's presence would be essential, he went out of his way to invite Lieberman especially to this faculty meeting (and hoped that there wouldn't be too much time-wasting at this particular meeting). Lieberman did cooperate by attending the meeting.  However, much to Kogan’s chagrin, there was more time-wasting than usual.  D.C.Kogan was in a difficult position, as he was indubitably the one responsible for luring Lieberman to this colossal waste of time. As the meeting adjourned, D.C.K. felt that it made sense to be proactive with Lieberman, unpleasant as that might be.   So, instead of trying to s...

When Grandpa’s father was in his last illness at the hospital, Grandpa was visiting him and thought to cheer him up by asking him to tell a story of Rabbi Israel Salanter.   Israel Lipkin known as Salanter (1810-1883) was both a student of ethics and an exemplar.   He founded a moral movement based on the study of traditional and ethical literature, and when cholera swept Vilna in 1848, he worked in all the most dangerous relief activities.   When the Day of Atonement fell during the epidemic, he ordered the congregation to partake of food, and he set the example by publicly eating. Grandpa’s father told the following story: Once Rabbi Israel Salanter was in the middle of giving a talk when his favorite student, Rav Isaac walked in.   Salanter said, "Rav Iz’l you’re late,” and then continued with his talk. Shortly after, Grandpa’s father died. The following Shabbas, Grandpa was with Prof. Lieberman and Prof. Ginzberg, and, after talking to them for a while, he ...

"In a city populated by Jews and Gentiles, you should collect charity from Jews and Gentiles, feed the poor of the Jews and the Gentiles, visit the sick of the Jews and Gentiles, inter the dead of the Jews and Gentiles, comfort the mourners of the Jews and the Gentiles, protect the property of the Jews and Gentiles.  These are the ways of peace." "The virtue of peace knows no discrimination between race and creed, between Jew and heathen."   -Lieberman, Israel: Its Role in Civilization