Jay Brodbar

I first met Dick and Sherry when I was a new faculty member at Brandeis in 1982. They introduced me to the Newton Centre Egalitarian Minyan which became an important part of my community in my four years in Boston.

Like others, I have treasured Dick’s whimsical no-nonsense view of things and his disdain for all pretense. I have learned a lot from Dick through his divrei torah,  sharing the Israel table at shabbatot and holidays, and some private conversations. Three pearls stand out.

Like Dick I have one of the elected pates that Hakadosh Baruch Hu did not have to cover up with hair. Dick taught me the trick of soaking a leather kippa in water and then fitting it on my head. As it dries suction is created such that were you to shake me upside down by my feet that kippa would remain fixed on its spot.

At one point I was considering a suggestion to work in the Jewish Community Centre as a Judaic specialist, a position that was just coming into fashion. When I demurred to Dick that I did not feel I had enough of a Jewish education for such a position, Dick opined “Jay, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed are kings.”

My favorite “Dickism” occurred while I was already in Toronto. Dick was famous for looking down his nose at kosher wine (something he has done in print). I saw an article about an upcoming competition to name the world’s best kosher wine. I clipped the article and mailed it to Dick. He was unimpressed. His response, which I have used in many many contexts was a classic: “Big deal. Winning that competition is like winning the world’s tallest midget contest.”

Jay Brodbar