The Jewish Press
338 Third Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11215

October 11, 2000

Dear Editor,

It is with profound sorrow and sadness that I write to you today about my personal memories and recollections of a true tzadik gamor, Rabbi Hillel Lieberman, HY'D, ZTK'L who was brutally murdered by Arabs on Shabbos Shuva. I met Hillel when he was about 19 or 20 years old and was a student at Yeshiva University. At the time, I was the national director of the Jewish Defense League and he became a very active and devoted member of the movement. I was struck by his nobility, his deep pride in being a Jew and his devotion to Torah and mitzvos. He was a sweet, gentle and soft spoken soul. A very special neshoma in Klal Yisroel. When he needed to be strong and tough he could be and he fought the battles for his people with courage, faith in Hashem and determination. His Ahavas Yisroel was so real and genuine that it was indeed palpable.

I recall with clarity that one Sunday afternoon in the middle of the winter we had planned a big demonstration on behalf of Soviet Jewry in front of the former Soviet Consulate on Manhattan's upper east side. The demonstration was planned for 1:00 p.m. but it began snowing heavily at about five in the morning and by one in the afternoon we were up to our knees in snow. Many, many people didn't show up for the demonstration, but a devoted handful did and Hillel was one of them. I remember that the police roughed him up that day, but he didn't care. His zealousness for his people was remarkable and I distinctly remember the way he led us in songs of freedom and faith in the police paddy wagon that day after we were all arrested for blocking traffic.

I also remember that Hillel and I were called upon to challenge Christian missionaries in the Brighton Beach area. They were actively prosletyzing Russian Jews at an astonishing rate and Hillel was deeply disturbed by this. We confronted them on a Purim night many years ago and I remember the courage and fearlessness he showed. He never complained, he did what he felt that Hashem commanded him to do for his people with complete willingness and gladness of heart. He served the Almighty with love and he embodied a kind of emunah and bitachon that I haven't seen since.

Hillel's dream was to move to Eretz Yisroel and live in the holy city of Schechem. He wanted to join the bochurim learning at Kever Yosef and finally that day came. I never saw him so filled with such incredible joy and happiness. His angelic face lit up the heavens that day. Over the years, I heard Hillel got married, started a beautiful family, lived in Elon Moreh and in true Hillel style remained totally and completely devoted to learning Torah in Kever Yosef and teaching Torah in the place he loved with all his heart, all his soul and all his might. It didn't surprise me that this past Shabbos when he heard that the Arabs had trashed Kever Yosef that he went there to see if he could salvage the Sifrei Torah and Siddurim. That was Hillel. He feared no man, he only feared Hashem Yisborach.

If our children will ask us about what's going on in this latest round of violence in the Holy Land and what's happening to the Jews there, let's point to a true Jewish hero. Let us tell our children of the great and noble legacy of a true Jewish hero, a prince among men, a devoted and respectful Eved Elokim. Let us tell them of the words and deeds of Rabbi Hillel Liberman, HY'D, ZTK"L. He's with Hashem now in Gan Eden but this is a dark day in Jewish history. We have lost someone very, very great and while history may or may not record his deeds, I will always remember Hillel and tears will fill my eyes and my heart will swell with pride when I think of him and all that he sacrificed for. Goodbye my friend, Hillel. You're in my thoughts always.

B'Ahavas Yisroel,


Fern Rosenblatt
Former National Director of
The Jewish Defense League (1983-1985)