Teaneck, NJ – Recollections Of Rabbi Yossi Stern, Z’l

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    Rabbi Yossi Stern, the founder and executive director of Project EzrahTeaneck, NJ – Days after his death, a Teaneck man who devoted his life to helping those experiencing difficult times is being remembered for his dedication to the Torah and his fellow man.

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    Rabbi Yossi Stern, the founder and executive director of Project Ezrah, passed away Friday afternoon, following complications from heart surgery at age 64.

    Rabbi Stern, the son of Holocaust survivors, grew up in Flatbush but had been living in Teaneck for many years. A member of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, Rabbi Stern served as the principal of Torah Academy of Bergen County before going into the jewelry business. It was during his time working on 47th Street that Rabbi Stern became aware of a local resident who had fallen on hard times.

    “R’ Stern was at Bnai Yeshurun on Rosh Hashana and during services he started wondering how this individual could enter the year with kavana, knowing that he didn’t have health insurance,” Susan Alpert, director of fundraising and development at Project Ezrah told VIN News.

    Rabbi Stern approached Bnai Yeshurun’s rabbi, Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, to discuss the issue that was weighing so heavily on his mind, and Project Ezrah was born in the fall of 2001.

    “We made the arrangements for this individual together but we realized that there was a greater need,” said Rabbi Pruzanky. “We may have created a framework and a protocol for Project Ezrah together, but it was his heart and his soul.”

    Rabbi Stern eventually left the jewelry business, devoting himself full time to helping those who had fallen on hard times.

    “Calls would come in through the night, from across the state, from people who needed assistance,” recalled Rabbi Pruzansky. “There were terrible stories of privation and poverty, illness, psychological and physical issues that had to be dealt with in order to salvage families. The work was non-stop.”

    What began as the loss of a job often mushroomed into much greater issues, according to Rabbi Pruzansky.

    “People can often weather sudden unemployment for a few months but then they start suffering,” said Rabbi Pruzansky. “Mortgages, tuitions and the loss of health insurance, those three things alone place a tremendous burden on a family. While some can withstand those pressures, other marriage begin to crumble as a result of the added stress.”

    Rabbi Stern had a special gift for helping others.

    “He would reach out to people in a very unique way and find out exactly what they needed in order to heal some of the tensions in their marriage,” explained Rabbi Pruzansky. “He had a technique of talking to people, making them realize that the job that they had had for years wasn’t coming back and they had to look elsewhere, particularly in the IT field. He had people retrain and I know families who were down and out and because of retraining are back on the road to financial health again.”

    Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, senior rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue in Florida, recalled Rabbi Stern as a “tremendous individual.”

    “He was a large towering man, both physically and in stature,” said Rabbi Goldberg. “He taught the Daf, was machsiv Torah, taught Torah and learned Torah. I remain good friends with his son, Shai, and in my formative years he was a tremendous role model, as a balabus who valued both the learning and teaching of Torah. He taught his children and the children of Teaneck how to be machshiv Torah.”

    Rabbi Stern’s personality was an integral component of Project Ezrah, according to Rabbi Stern.

    “He had a love for every Jew, but it was a tough love. He brought out the best in people by demanding the most from them.”

    Mrs. Alpert reported that Project Ezrah has helped thousands since its inception, offering a job board as well as employment, financial and lifestyle services to its many clients. In addition to having lawyers, financial analysts and accountants available to help clients at no cost, Project Ezrah also has a network of doctors, dentists and mental health professionals who can serve their clients either at reduced rates or on a pro bono basis.

    Despite the tremendous stresses of running an organization like Project Ezrah, Rabbi Stern was always available to his employees.

    “No matter what was on his plate, if we walked in with a personal issue, he would close the door and take the time for us,” said Mrs. Alpert. “That was what he did with anyone who walked in. He took the time, listened, thought and responded.”

    Rabbi Stern’s positive attitude was well known throughout the office.

    “There is a cup sitting on his desk that says, ‘It’s all good,’” said Mrs. Alpert. “That was one of his mottos. Rabbi Stern had a gift of seeing through things and untangling situations, no matter how complex.”

    Over 1000 people attended the levaya for Rabbi Stern which took place on Motzei Shabbos at Bnai Yeshurun, with hespedim given by Rabbi Pruzansky, Bnai Yeshurun’s assistant rabbi, Rabbi Ari Zahtz, Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman and the niftar’s older son, Shai Stern.

    “It wasn’t standing room only. People were standing in the hallways,” observed Mrs. Alpert.

    Rabbi Stern, who is survived by his wife Rivka, two sons and two daughters, was buried on Sunday in Israel on Har Hamenuchos.

    “He was a balabus of mine for 20 years,” said Rabbi Pruzansky. “I miss him dearly as a friend, a colleague, a congregant and even as a mentor.”


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    7 Comments
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    Stickpick
    Stickpick
    10 years ago

    Yehi zichro boruch

    Liepa
    Liepa
    10 years ago

    BD”E, Yehai Zichroi Boruch!

    Sociologist
    Sociologist
    10 years ago

    It was all about Yossi Stern z”tl. He was a malach. An example of hesed and humility. He did the heavy lifting to get Project Ezrah up and running. Both my wife and I have benefited from this man’s vision and hard work. We now b”h are contributors to this amazing organization.

    10 years ago

    A gem or rather a Diamond is how to Describe Rabbi Yossi Stern Z”TL His Maasim Tovim throughout his life polished his character from day to day. One can only imagine his portion in Olam Ha-emes Olam Haboh as he is with the Elyonim. Sometimes Hakadosh Baruchu sends us a Tzadik of such caliber and takes him from us at an early age to show those in Shamayim what mere mortals can accomplish on in this world. YEHI ZICHRO BARUCH!

    elireb
    elireb
    10 years ago

    Rav Yossie was a gavra rabah.. Chaval al dávdin.

    mutti
    mutti
    10 years ago

    a mentch in the truest sense of the word.

    10 years ago

    Just curious -what was his connection to Rabbi Wachsman?