(Courtesy of HASC) We are all in shock at the unforeseen p’tira of our cherished Rabbi Dr. Chaim Wakslak, z”l. For decades, Dr. Wakslak was the clinical director of HASC, Hebrew Academy for Special Children. Dr. Wakslak was as brilliant as he was dedicated to the HASC mission of providing a wide range of services and programs for the intellectually and developmentally disabled.
There’s an expression in Yiddish, “Tzu Gut un tzu Leit,” which, loosely translated, means, “To God and to people.” This personifies Dr. Wakslak. He was a talmid chochom, a “real” pulpit rabbi, a caring leader in his community, a clinical psychologist who didn’t take himself too seriously.
He understood each individual we at HASC serve, and was encouraging and validating throughout each of their journeys and those of their families. He filled many varied roles in the HASC agency and was instrumental in its growth and success.
However, it is the mentorship and vision that Dr. Wakslak provided to HASC that will be missed most: he provided the moral compass and the guiding light to the agency. Whenever a staff person would meet with him to discuss a challenging situation in one of the programs, while people were getting bogged down in the details, Dr. Wakslak had a clear-sighted and incisive approach to tackle the situation. He would stop everyone, take a step back, and untangle the knot, often in what was an obvious way once he clarified it. Dr. Wakslak had the ability to listen, identify and consider a matter from various angles. And with his wisdom, combined with humor, he was able to deflect many a tense situation.
His understanding of the special needs population, and people in general, was incredible, and his guidance and passion for the work that HASC does will be profoundly missed at HASC.
Dr. Wakslak was a talmid chochom who always had a good vort to share, a sharp line, an insight. As much as he always had a Dvar Torah up his sleeve; he also had a good joke as well. He was a level-headed, respected voice of shikul hada’as, a dignified man who had the respect of his colleagues, staff, and everyone around him. Dr. Wakslak set an example of what it means to steadily elevate one’s situation, to provide for those in need, raising their spirits and raising their prospects and opportunities to thrive in life.
The sheer human bandwidth necessary to handle all of his responsibilities to the klal – at HASC, in his capacity as mara d’asra of Young Israel of Long Beach in Long Beach, New York, community institutions, with individual families and his own beautiful mishpacha– Rabbi Wakslak had seemingly infinite capacity in the service of others. His unassuming and modest, humble and ‘normal’ way with people belied the fact that he was a spiritual giant, a man of incredible kochos haNefesh, a man who provided love, support, and guidance on so many levels.
His petira has left a massive void at HASC, in Long Beach, and the world.
May we be zocheh to emulate his beautiful ways, and do our best to continue his legacy of dedication, professionalism, and avodas Hashem. May R’ Chaim Aharon ben Devorah, z”l, be a meilitz yosher for his wonderful family, his congregation, and the entire HASC family.
