In Gratitude to Arthur Kramer

In the book of Kings, Jonathan knowing that David will soon depart, says to him, “Your chair will be empty. You will be missed.”

We now say the same to Arthur Kramer – for his seat at our professional table, his smile, and his sense of humor will be sorely missed. While we have faith that his promises are sincere and that he will remain a part of our community and congregation, we nonetheless know that we will miss his daily presence in our lives.

As news has quickly spread of Arthur’s choice to move forward from Temple Beth El to other ventures, many of us have reflected on his central role in this synagogue.

People have made analogies identifying Arthur as the conductor of our congregational symphony, the patriarch of our Beth El family, the shammas, who with love watches over his shteebel. He has been described as the force that makes the holiness happen, the mensch who makes us feel comfortable, the critical player, the familiar voice.

Albert Einstein once wrote, “Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are here for the sake of others; above all, for those on whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends…. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of others.”

Over the last decade, so much of our inner and outer life as a Temple and as a community has been built upon the labors of Arthur Kramer. Arthur has made it his mission to ensure the survival of our physical sanctuary, while also helping to support us spiritually.

What he has created will not be lost but will be continued. One of Arthur’s favorite Jewish songs written by Doug Cotler states, “I’m standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me.”

While as a community, we will deeply miss Arthur, we will always stand taller, because we will be standing not only on the shoulders of the builders of Beth El and of the generations who came before us, but because we will be standing on the shoulders of Arthur Kramer.

As later this summer and fall, he progressively makes the move from professional to lay leader of Temple Beth El, may he continue always to build and sustain Jewish life and may he, Amy, Suzie and Jessie be blessed with long lives filled with happiness and with health.
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Judy Schindler
Rabbi