The Jewish Community of Hebron, the Hebron Fund, friends and family
mourn the loss of Rabbi Yitzchak (Irwin) Pechman, who founded the Hebron Fund
almost 40 years ago. He is survived by his wife Ruth Pechman, brother Burton
Pechman, four children, many grandchildren and a great-grandson.
mourn the loss of Rabbi Yitzchak (Irwin) Pechman, who founded the Hebron Fund
almost 40 years ago. He is survived by his wife Ruth Pechman, brother Burton
Pechman, four children, many grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Rabbi Pechman lived in both New York and Jerusalem and was a passionate
advocate for the Torah, people and land of Israel.
The funeral was held on Sunday April 10, 2016, in Jerusalem where his son-in-law
David M. Weinberg said the following:
* * *
advocate for the Torah, people and land of Israel.
The funeral was held on Sunday April 10, 2016, in Jerusalem where his son-in-law
David M. Weinberg said the following:
* * *
Tradition instructs us not to eulogize in full fashion during the month
of Nissan. I think it nevertheless necessary, at minimum, to provide a basic recounting
of my father-in-law’s awe-inspiring life. I will try to do so without emotional
embellishment, in keeping with halachic guidelines. For now, I put aside the many
kindnesses he showered upon me and the entire family, and will refrain from recounting
the many lessons and legacies he left us. We’ll make do with a few short
biographical notes.
My father in law, Harav Yitzchak (Irwin) ben Dov Pechman, was born in 1933 in New York
to Ben and Lily Pechman of Crown Heights where he attended the Crown Heights Yeshiva,
and studied in the Rav’s shiur at Yeshiva University, from which he received rabbinic
ordination.
For close to fifty years, he worked in the family firm, Willmark Bakery Products, based
in Williamsburg. He knew every challah baker in greater New York, and they knew him.
Every Shabbat eve, we were expected to guess from which bakery he had brought home
challot.
of Nissan. I think it nevertheless necessary, at minimum, to provide a basic recounting
of my father-in-law’s awe-inspiring life. I will try to do so without emotional
embellishment, in keeping with halachic guidelines. For now, I put aside the many
kindnesses he showered upon me and the entire family, and will refrain from recounting
the many lessons and legacies he left us. We’ll make do with a few short
biographical notes.
My father in law, Harav Yitzchak (Irwin) ben Dov Pechman, was born in 1933 in New York
to Ben and Lily Pechman of Crown Heights where he attended the Crown Heights Yeshiva,
and studied in the Rav’s shiur at Yeshiva University, from which he received rabbinic
ordination.
For close to fifty years, he worked in the family firm, Willmark Bakery Products, based
in Williamsburg. He knew every challah baker in greater New York, and they knew him.
Every Shabbat eve, we were expected to guess from which bakery he had brought home
challot.
For close to forty years, he was on the board of Congregation Ohab Zedek in
Belle Harbor, NY. He was an early and frequent visitor to Israel, beginning in his first
trip, in 1953 – by boat. He then traveled to Israel again, together with my
mother-in-law, on their honeymoon in 1963.
He followed that up by frequent annual visits to Israel. In fact, he was wont to say
that he lived in Israel, but visited America for 50 weeks a year. Four years ago, he was
proud to make aliyah to Jerusalem.
His love for the land, people and State of Israel was unbounded, as was his deep
connection to Torah learning, Torah institutions, and Torah leaders. It is no surprise
that he was proud to see all his children and grandchildren grow to settle in the
Land of Israel.
For forty years, my father-in-law devoted himself to the rebuilding of the Jewish
community of Hebron. I’m sure his passion for the City of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs
and for its brave residents will yet be marked and recorded at future occasions.
Few people I have ever known were as familiar as he was with the politics and statecraft
of this country. He devoured every news item and policy study there was to read in
Hebrew, Yiddish and English, and could discuss and debate every angle of our collective
challenges for hours. He kept copies of the Israeli news journal, Panim el Panim,
beginning in 1951, for decades.
Few people I have ever known were as familiar as he was with the Torah commentator
Rashi. Every grandchild of his knows exactly what my father-in-law’s favorite Rashi
quotations were, since he would come back to them, and expand upon them, year after
year.
I apologize for this dry, dispassionate, bare-bones recounting of Abba/Sabba/Harav
Yitzchak’s life, but that is all we can do today. I do want to add, on behalf of
his sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, a note of deep appreciation for the loving and
completely natural way in which he and Savta (grandmother) embraced us into the Pechman
family, and supported us every step of the way.
I want to wish Ima/Savta long life and good health, and continued pride from all her
children.
And finally, a word of deep thanks to my father-in-law’s assistant, David Lixenberg, who
has cared for Abba over the past two years with tremendous professionalism, strength and
love, including full-time duty in the hospital over the past five weeks. Hashem yivarech
otcha. Thank you all for coming this morning out of respect for Harav Yitzchak ben Dov
z”l.
Belle Harbor, NY. He was an early and frequent visitor to Israel, beginning in his first
trip, in 1953 – by boat. He then traveled to Israel again, together with my
mother-in-law, on their honeymoon in 1963.
He followed that up by frequent annual visits to Israel. In fact, he was wont to say
that he lived in Israel, but visited America for 50 weeks a year. Four years ago, he was
proud to make aliyah to Jerusalem.
His love for the land, people and State of Israel was unbounded, as was his deep
connection to Torah learning, Torah institutions, and Torah leaders. It is no surprise
that he was proud to see all his children and grandchildren grow to settle in the
Land of Israel.
For forty years, my father-in-law devoted himself to the rebuilding of the Jewish
community of Hebron. I’m sure his passion for the City of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs
and for its brave residents will yet be marked and recorded at future occasions.
Few people I have ever known were as familiar as he was with the politics and statecraft
of this country. He devoured every news item and policy study there was to read in
Hebrew, Yiddish and English, and could discuss and debate every angle of our collective
challenges for hours. He kept copies of the Israeli news journal, Panim el Panim,
beginning in 1951, for decades.
Few people I have ever known were as familiar as he was with the Torah commentator
Rashi. Every grandchild of his knows exactly what my father-in-law’s favorite Rashi
quotations were, since he would come back to them, and expand upon them, year after
year.
I apologize for this dry, dispassionate, bare-bones recounting of Abba/Sabba/Harav
Yitzchak’s life, but that is all we can do today. I do want to add, on behalf of
his sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, a note of deep appreciation for the loving and
completely natural way in which he and Savta (grandmother) embraced us into the Pechman
family, and supported us every step of the way.
I want to wish Ima/Savta long life and good health, and continued pride from all her
children.
And finally, a word of deep thanks to my father-in-law’s assistant, David Lixenberg, who
has cared for Abba over the past two years with tremendous professionalism, strength and
love, including full-time duty in the hospital over the past five weeks. Hashem yivarech
otcha. Thank you all for coming this morning out of respect for Harav Yitzchak ben Dov
z”l.
* * *
For information on making a shiva call contact:
http://www.hebronfund.org
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
