My wife and I have lived in Hillside/Elizabeth for over 24 years and we owe hakarat hatov to Rav Elazar Mayer Teitz, zt”l. He was an amazing leader, a talmid chacham, and very down to earth. My wife and I are blessed to have raised our children in a community led by Rav Teitz. I can only imagine how many men and women received a Jewish education due to Rav Teitz and JEC.
A few years ago, members of Adath Israel, the primary shul in Hillside, took turns walking Rav Teitz to and from shul. What began as something where I thought I was helping Rav Teitz, in reality was chizuk to me because I learned a tremendous amount from Rav Teitz every time I would walk with him. On these walks, we spoke divrei Torah and about current events. He would tell me stories about Elizabeth, when the one lulav and esrog would be shared by the entire shul, how Hillside used to be a one-lane dirt road, and how he thought exercise was very important for the students at JEC and Bruriah, who had long school days.
One time my son and I were walking with Rav Teitz and he asked about the Torah my son was learning, and then asked my son what his favorite subject was, but added, “Please do not tell me it is recess.”
Rav Teitz was well aware of the 21st-century pressures to raise children and keep them on the derech. I asked Rav Teitz what he thought was the key to keep children on the right path. He told me two things: First, that Torah and chesed come from the mother and father and they must teach by their own actions. Second, that Jewish education does not end after 12th grade but continues through one’s entire life, and parents must encourage their children to continue their growth outside of school.
Thank you Rav Teitz, for all you did for the Elizabeth/Hillside community and for allowing me to learn from you throughout my years in the Hillside/Elizabeth community.
