I don’t know why these events seem to happen in bunches.
We mourn the loss of one of our greatest political leaders in Governor William Donald Schaefer. Many learned of his passing as they came out of Passover observance Wednesday night.
And then today we learn of the passing of Rabbi Manuel M. Poliakoff, a man with a love for the Jewish people, and a leader, who like Gov. Schaefer, reached back and touched many, many generations of Baltimore’s Jewish community.
It’s difficult to believe that we’re going to go on with Rabbi Poliakoff not here. He was a man who was not afraid to be brave, to speak his mind, but to do so in a respectful manner. He was a Torah leader here in Baltimore before Baltimore became a large center of Torah study.
Certainly we know that his work will carry on through the commitment to the Jewish community of his son Abba David Poliakoff, an Associated Board member, President of Yeshivat Rambam and MIDC chairman. Most of all, Abba is just a great man and a great leader. His wife Laura is also a great leader in the community as well.
They had an example to follow in Rabbi Manuel Poliakoff. It would not surprise me to learn that some how, some way, Rabbi Poliakoff and Gov. Schaefer crossed path many times during their leadership careers.
One week, two leaders. We were blessed to have had them both.