Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

Arnold Isaac – Jan 4^th, 2011

People can be more amazing than you might realize. Arni Isaac was a most remarkable man, yet very few people who knew of his personal story and ordeal . . . As the survivors continue to die, it is so important that we preserve their memories. Our Sages say that memory is the key to redemption . . . Many years ago, I came across a wonderful Hassidic teaching. God compares the Israelites to the stars of the heavens (Gen. 22:17). Why specifically to stars? To the naked eye, “a star appears like a tiny spec of light; however, the closer you approach the star in the Heavens, the larger it appears to the human eye. God looks at human beings much the same way. Someone who appears quite “ordinary,” may well seem very great in the eyes of Heaven.”

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Rabbinic folklore teaches us something unusual about the day of death. In some ways, the day on which a great man dies is better than the day on which he was born; because none knows, on the day of his birth, what his deeds will be, but at his death, his good deeds are published unto all, and for this reason is “The day of death better than the day of one’s birth.”

The Midrash records the ancient parable about two ocean-going ships; one leaving the harbor and the other entering. Whilst everybody was rejoicing over the one that was setting out on her voyage, few seemed to hail with pleasure the one arriving. Seeing which, a wise man there reflected: “I see here a paradox; for surely, people should not rejoice at the ship leaving the harbor, since they know not what conditions she may meet, what seas she may encounter, and what wind she may have to face. In truth, everybody really ought to rejoice at the ship that has returned to the harbor for having safely set forth on the ocean and having safely returned.”

When a child is born, all we see is the raw potential God has endowed it; nobody can know what it will someday grow up to me-whether a righteous or wicked person. But death is different, for in death we come to appreciate what the individual actually personified as a human being.

With this thought, we shall pay our tribute and respect to a special man, Arnold Isaac—who was not only a great American who served his country well during WWII, he also personified some the finest characteristics of the Jewish people. Like the man returning home from his long journey, there is much Arni can be proud of; he lived a good and decent life against great adversities and dangers.

Arni was born April 18^th, 1926. Arni came from a family of five brothers; just before Krystallnacht, the parents took the children and forewarned them what was going to happen. One child was chosen to be sent out with 1000 other children to America. Of all the children, his parents felt that young Arni, who was already an older teen, had the best chance to survive. Perhaps his parents recognized the kind of mental toughness and hutzpa that would characterize his life. But I should add that his other siblings also managed to survive the war. The Isaac family was made of tough stuff. Their will power is a testament to the human spirit’s inner strength. You will note, Arnie’s experience resembles the famous biblical story of baby Moses, who was sent out by his parents to escape the fate of the other Israelite baby males.

So, in order to defend his people from the destructive designs of the Nazis, he enlisted in the armed services, where he worked in the Intelligence Department for much of the war. It was only during the war, Arni heard the terrible news about his beloved family: The Nazis sent his father to die in Auschwitz, along with his grandfather and numerous cousins. Arni was responsible for bringing many Nazis to justice; these criminals were arrested after the WWII was over and judged for numerous war crimes against humanity.

Arni’s ethics and concern for other human beings reminds me of a verse from the poet Henry Wadsworth LongFellow, who wrote:

In the world’s broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife

Longfellow’s words describe only partially the kind of man Arni Isaac was to all who knew him. Arni’s respect for integrity and justice exemplified the kind of strong and courageous spirit that animated his values and morals throughout his life.

Decades, the German government invited the Jewish survivors of their community for a special gathering and desire to atone for the evil that had occurred during the Nazi era. Survivors of Arni’s family—from Canada, the United States, and Argentina met in Munich, where the German governor presented each of them with a key to the city. The event demonstrated that although we cannot change the past, noble and high-minded people can make the moral decision to forge a new and positive path for the future. To Germany’s credit, it has come a long way in taking the necessary steps to confront its past and seek forgiveness from its victims.

Wars devastate countries, but there are tragedies in a person’s life that can exert an even greater impact. After the war, Arni married Carol, and together they had a beloved daughter named Robin. Robin was the apple of her parent’s eye, but at the tender age of 21, she died from a heart attack in her father’s loving arms . . .

When Elli told me this tragic story, I could only think of the words of King David, who was shocked to hear about the murder of his beloved son, Absalom:

The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33).

Every parent who has ever lost a child has experienced these raw words.

Five years later, Arni’s beloved Carol died of cancer. For many years Arni’s life felt empty until he met a special woman, Eli.

They were introduced to one another on a blind date. The year was 1998; Arni had lived in Encinitas while Elli lived in Chula Vista. They decided to meet at the Mission Valley Center. Arni asked, “How will I recognize you?” Well, Elli said, “I am 5”8, slender with dark black hair . . . and by the way, if you see a car in the parking lot that says, ‘2Shalom,’ it belongs to me. “ Arni paused in shock. Elli wondered, “Is it possible that Arni doesn’t know what ‘Shalom’ means??” Well, Arni replied, “My license plate says, ‘LaChayim.—it must be beshert . . .” The term, “beshert” loosely means “destined one.” According to the Kabbalah, Soul mates are said to recognize each other early on . . . by 2001, both of them got married.

One year later, Arni’s health issues finally caught up with him and over an eight year period, his health deteriorated.

Yet, throughout it all, Arni never ceased being a nice and loving man, who would go to great extremes to help a fellow human being. For the underdog, Arni acted as his friend and champion; for his people, he believed that “Never Again” is a promise that the world must never allow a second Holocaust to occur again. Despite his illness, Arni took Elli to see Israel . . .

Thank God, Arni was blessed a second time around with a mate who would be there for him through thick and thin. Elli, your loving presence says a lot about the kind of love each of you felt for one another. For Arni, Elli, you were his guardian angel . . .

Just as their hands that receive us when we are born in this temporal world; so too, there are hands that receive us into the world of Eternity, where each of us experiences a radiant and joyous homecoming.

Like the ship of our original story, it finally arrived safely. May each of us be so fortunate to emerge with our souls still intact and whole when we make our final voyage home.