“A Toast to Life” is the title of one of Leon Lissek’s cantorial CDs. The title could not be more appropriate as Cantor Lissek battles to stay in shape while working with Renewal to find a kidney donor.

Lissek is the cantor emeritus of Congregation B’nai Amoona in St. Louis.

For 19 years he and his wife have lived in Teaneck. The couple moved to New Jersey when Judge Michal Lissek, the cantor’s wife, accepted a federal administrative law judgeship in Lower Manhattan. Now, the judge holds court in Newark. They are members of Beth Sholom Synagogue. Mrs. Lissek sang in the shul choir and acapella group there.

Cantor Lissek davens there as well as B’nai Yeshurun.

“We love it here,” said the cantor. “We’re active in the community. Teaneck is very Jewish. There’s nothing missing here, and we like that.”

Most days, the 81-year-old Lissek either goes to the gym for a workout with his personal trainer, or walks at a fast pace on his home treadmill.

And every day he awaits the prospects of a kidney transplant through the efforts of his family and those of Renewal, the local agency that has saved many lives through its kidney match program. Renewal said Lissek has given him even more motivation to stay healthy and hit that treadmill. Typically, people his age are not candidates for transplants, but since he is in excellent physical condition, he was accepted as a transplant candidate.

Lissek’s faith in God and Renewal and his family comes honestly. Indeed, he was a hidden child during the Holocaust in France. From the ages of 5 through 10, he lived in a Catholic convent and with Christian families. His “belief system,” as he called it, “was interrupted as a child.” Now it’s that belief system that plugs into Renewal’s mission that keeps him going.

“My kidneys are at 17 percent of function,” he told the Jewish Link. “If you are at less than 20 percent kidney function you are eligible for a transplant. We didn’t know where to turn. But we were given the name of a young man who had received a kidney through Renewal. He spent an hour on the phone telling us how wonderful the organization is. We met with Renewal’s Rabbi (Josh) Sturm. He is an amazing guy. Our children were married in his synagogue. We appreciate everything he does for us.”

Renewal, said Lissek, made posters for the family to distribute, telling of his need for a donor as well as getting the word out in other ways. Renewal has given the family hope and encouragement. And the Lisseks have been getting responses even if the potential donors didn’t qualify due to high blood pressure or other factors.”

“Rabbi Sturm told us that recipients of kidneys should not be the ones worrying about finding a donor,” said Mrs. Lissek. “Recipients should be worrying about their own health, and that family members should be the ones reaching out to find a kidney donor.”

Amazingly, Cantor Lissek is not on dialysis. He said he keeps his kidneys functioning by following a strict diet and exercising daily.

“His trainer couldn’t believe that Leon would show up daily at the gym,” said Mrs. Lissek. “His trainer calls Leon his hero.”

The grandfather of six “is a fighter and determined to make this work,” said his wife.

Leon and Michal, who have been married for almost 50 years, describe themselves as a team. Over the phone during the interview, one could hear their bond and their tenacity and love for one another.

“When I was a youngster I was very active in sports,” he said. “The kidney program woke me up. I lost 86 pounds through my special diet. I bought this giant book that takes every food and tells you the chemical makeup. Food is like medicine.”

Mrs. Lissek added, “He’s a fighter. I prepare special foods for him. We are a team.”

Besides the cardio work, he also trains with weights.

On March 19, the Lisseks will be returning to B’nai Amoona for a Renewal meeting in St. Louis to get the word out to possible donors. Rabbi Sturm will accompany the couple on the trip.

“We are not putting pressure on people,” said the cantor. “You spread the word as widely as possible in hopes that it will touch someone to see if they want to look further into it.”

Both Mrs. Lissek and one of the couple’s sons have been tested, but did not qualify medically as donors.

What else keeps him going besides diet and exercise?

“I have a book from Rabbi Schneerson,” he said. “You read one page a day to tell you how to live your life. And I pray to God. I still have faith and I hope my body will react. We love our community here in Teaneck, and I do have faith, and I do believe in the power of God.”

And Renewal.

To email Renewal concerning Leon Lissek, use the email address [email protected].

By Phil Jacobs