When Heroes Die

Wednesday, 19 September 2007 19:00

They were known as RL 17 and RL 51.

Sadly, the Five Towns/Far Rockaway community has endured a most profound loss, that of two of its finest sons: Mr. Ira Feigenbaum, z'l, and Mr. Mark Davidman, z'l, two men-no, two heroes-who were givers in every sense of the word.

There is a Midrash (Sh'mos Rabbah 35:4) where Moshe asks Hashem what shall guarantee the future of the Jewish people in case they deserve to be destroyed.

Hashem answers, "I will then take one of their righteous men." Dayan Weiss, zt'l, (Minchas Yitzchak 9:135) connects this Midrash to the verse in Tehillim (116:15), "Yakar b'einei Hashem hamavsah la'chasidav-Precious in the eyes of Hashem is the death of His righteous ones."1

It is with this thought in mind that we discuss the recent passing of Ira Feigenbaum, z'l, and Mark Davidman, z'l. These were two men who wholeheartedly devoted themselves so that others may live. Both of them were dedicated members of Hatzalah who literally and figuratively brought life to others. There can be no greater act of righteousness.

Ira Feigenbaum was one of the founding members of Hatzalah here in our neighborhood. He was an extremely active member. He was not only involved in getting Hatzalah off the ground, but he supported the day-to-day nitty-gritty activities, as well. His involvement was all-encompassing. He made sure that the radios were always in proper working order, that the batteries were always charged and in top shape. He was in charge of the communications, too. Oh yes-and he also saved lives. Hundreds of them. He did so quietly and without fanfare. Indeed, until the day he took ill, he was an active member. On the last call he made, he resuscitated someone suffering from a heart attack. "Ira was the personification of Hatzalah," said Mordechai Vogel. "He was willing to give his all for anyone in need."

"What sums up Mark Davidman, z'l, was his willingness to do everything needed. Whether it was in the job description or outside of it, Mark Davidman did what was needed," said one Hatzalah director. Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz described Mark Davidman in glowing terms. "He was kulo chesed-really. He would go out of his way for anyone, anywhere, and at any time of night."

Rabbi Gamliel Rabinowitz, a renowned mekubal from Yeshiva Shaar HaShamayim in Israel, said of Mark, "He was my rebbi in chesed."

But it was not just in matters of Hatzalah in which these two men shined.

Rabbi Moshe Weitman, shlita, the dean of Torah Academy for Girls, worked closely with both Ira Feigenbaum and his father in regard to the school. "He was a leiv tov and had a wealth of knowledge and experience which he shared freely. He gave TAG an extraordinary amount of advice that saved us money in our construction. He donated generously to the school, too. He was a geshmake person to spend time with."

Mark Davidman had an extraordinary chashivus for rabbanim. When a local rav was sick with cancer, he personally flew him to Israel, accompanying him, caring for him. He even rented a car in Israel so that he could take the rav to vasikin every morning. He did this for others, too. Imagine for one moment this remarkable act of chesed. He took time off work, out of his busy schedule, to enable a person who otherwise could not make the trip to Eretz Yisrael to do so.

Rabbi Lefkowitz further elaborated: "Mark Davidman had two other passions. He had a profound love for Eretz Yisrael. He loved it from the bottom of his heart. His other passion was davening. He loved the opportunity to daven and would often daven at the amud. He was a very warm individual. He would just love to come to a kumzitz and sing. Mark was an extraordinary yarei Shamayim."

"Mark Davidman also was involved in doing chevrah kadishah work," said Mark Gross, a fellow Hatzalah volunteer. "He considered this a true chesed shel emes. Chesed was a part of who he was."

Rabbi Herschel Billet said, "Mark's chesed was all-encompassing. He always took the Hatzalah dispatching shifts that were the most difficult for others to do-the all-nighters on Shabbos. He went regularly to Russia to do b'risos on Jews. He started the vasikin minyan in our shul. He printed the monthly schedule for the shul. When his wife's grandfather was alive, he took care of him like he was his own grandfather-even better."

Professionally, Mark was the director of operations at Ohel Children's Home and Family Services. This opportunity opened up to him about a year ago. It was a perfect position for him, wherein he could continue giving even in his day-to-day work.

Ira Feigenbaum was also a remarkable ba'al tzedakah. His father, z'l, was a pioneer and supported many of our Torah institutions when they were yet fledgling mosdos in need of constant support. Ira Feigenbaum followed in his father's footsteps, and did so quietly, without bringing attention to himself. He helped the Sulitzer Shul in many ways. His swimming pool was open on a hot day for anyone who needed to cool off.

Nussie Singer, a close friend, said, "Ira was an incredible individual who treated others with respect no matter what their age. He was one of the main reasons I was moving to Oak Drive. He never shied away from anything. Anything anyone every needed, Ira was there."

"Even in the very painful period of his illness, he made a siyum on Tractate Berachos. He invited others to a barbecue siyum. His entire approach to his illness was not to be a burden on others, but rather to help remove burdens from others even in the midst of illness," said Mordechai Vogel.

Nussie Singer added, "Teenagers and kids who knew Ira Feigenbaum are taking his loss with great difficulty. When most adults pass away, other unrelated children usually are not visibly affected. Here it is different. That speaks volumes about the man."

From a philosophical perspective, what do we make of the loss of these two extraordinary individuals? We can only refer to the abovementioned Midrash. These ba'alei chesed, who gave heart and soul of themselves so that we, the nation of Israel can continue, were taken before Yom Kippur for the very same reason-so that we can endure. We must examine ourselves, our own conduct, and look to make changes-significant ones.

It is not just the Feigenbaums and the Davidmans who have lost someone. The entire community has lost two very special people.

Ira is survived by his wife Esther, his daughter Gila, his sons, Shmuel, Moshe and Asher, and three grandchildren. His kevurah was in Wellwood Cemetery. Mark is survived by his wife Debbie and their four sons, Michael, Benjy, Josh, and Sammy. His kevurah was in Eretz Yisroel.

May they both be a meilitz yosher for us all.

The author can be reached at vze37jka@verizon.net.

NOTES:

1. The first part of the Midrash asks a question about the Mishkan, the holy Tabernacle of Hashem. The boards used to build it were part and parcel of the Mishkan; in fact, most of its essence lay in them. If so, why does the pasuk (Sh'mos 26:15) say, "Ve'asisa es hakerashim laMishkan..."-"And you shall make boards "laMishkan," for the Mishkan..."? It should rather say, "And you shall make boards into a Mishkan..."! The Midrash answers that if the Jews ever become worthy of destruction, Heaven forbid, the Mishkan will be as a mashkon, a token of collateral guaranteeing Israel's existence, something to be taken in their stead. Moshe then asks Hashem what is to happen in the future when there is no Mishkan and there is no Beis HaMikdash. Hashem responds that he will take the tzadikim as a mashkon, as a collateral pledge instead. The explanation of the extra lamed is to show that the word should read "as a pledge."