Message from Esther Kritz

I was so very, very sorry to hear the sad news of the loss of your very special dad and wish to send you, and all the family, my most sincere condolences.

I feel compelled to write because I just have to let you know the high regard in which I held your dad. Our parents shared, as you are aware, a lovely friendship, and, following the loss of your dear mother, your dad and mine spent many happy hours

together, hanging out, playing chess ( I think), drinking whisky (I know) and sharing words of Torah. These were truly happy times for my dad and, I hope, for yours too.

I need hardly tell you what a wonderful friend your dad then became to my mum after the loss of my dad. He felt to us almost like extended family and brought much happiness into my mum’s life. She always thoroughly enjoyed their weekly outings

together and said your dad was never, ever short of interesting and thoughtful conversation.

If the quality of a human being is demonstrated by their actions, then you should be aware of how your father went out of his way, week after week, to visit Daniel, a friend of mine who suffered severe physical and mental health challenges. My mum and I

used to visit Daniel and on an occasion when we couldn’t, we asked your dad if he could possibly stand in for us. Having struck up a relationship instantly, your dad continued to meet with Daniel regularly until Daniel’s sad death just before the start of Covid. I know how his visits enhanced the quality of Daniel’s final years. Daniel had an awesome brain and he relished the time spent with your dad whose conversation he always found stimulating. The 35+ year age gap was totally irrelevant. One New

Year’s Eve around three years ago, your dad and my mum attended Daniel’s ‘party’ at midnight to ensure that he felt cared for by his friends. They were two of only a handful who made the effort to be there. Your dad attended Daniel’s levoya despite the

pouring rain.

Your dad was the epitome of good manners, gentle humour and quiet wisdom. He was always good company and his refusal to stop working, driving, travelling, going to the opera until well into his nineties was an example to us all. The world will be a

lesser place without him in it.

Wishing you, your brothers and sister a long life and hoping you will be spared from further suffering for many, many years to come.