My brother-in-law, Michael Kranzler, z”l married into a family of Kohanim. He may have lacked the priestly title. Yet, as everyone in the family has long known, and has been talking about especially since he passed away last month, Moish was the most regal among us. We all asked for advice from him, and his wisdom, kindness and willingness to be there for everyone without any ego made his sagacious guidance so easy to accept.
In our family, Moish was the high priest. In the parshiot we are reading, we learn about the Kohanim, including the details of their clothing and accessories. The Kohen Gadol wore the golden tzitz on his forehead as a reminder to use his intellect to deal with the challenges of the moment, to analyze the issues through the prism of Torah values. This is exactly what Moish did. Moish was well-read in so many areas including literature, politics and general knowledge, while simultaneously well-ensconced in Torah knowledge and values that helped bring clarity to all sorts of issues.
We all talked to Moish about important topics. Throughout the shiva we realized it wasn’t just us. One person after another had their own unique special Moish Kranzler experience. How he was there for them or a member of their family.
Whenever we had a simcha, whether a shalom zachor, bar mitzvah or engagement, it was Moish who coached me on what drinks I needed to have in our home, virtually walking me through the liquor stores in Boca, New York and Jerusalem. He had a similar impact on others in the family, including my daughter, Tehilla. When dropping her off for honors day at Stern College, he talked with her about where she should consider learning for a year in Israel.
Even before he was officially a part of our family, he was central to our family, and his wisdom was apparent for issues big and small. When he was dating my sister, Faigi, he would come over to our apartment on the Upper West Side on Saturday nights after they had gone out. He would eat the leftover cholent my wife and I had saved especially for him. When I jokingly gently reminded him that he had just had dinner with my sister, he would say, “Kenny, there is what I can eat in front of your sister and what I can eat.”
Moish also, like the Kohen Gadol, wore the choshan on his heart. He was always there for his family, especially his wife, Faigi, their children and grandchildren, for his father, z”l and להבחל”ח his mother, his siblings, his nieces and nephews, and for my parents and family. Like the choshan, decorated with stones of every color representing the uniqueness of each tribe, Moish knew how to relate to everyone. He knew their temperament and their breaking points. He knew how to be there for every family member, student, parent and every community, knowing how to navigate all of their personalities and needs.
He knew the beauty of Faigi and her strengths, as well as the distinct beauty of each of his children: Aliza and Shlomie, Yoni and Devon, Eli and, of course, David. He embraced his grandchildren with so much love that sometimes they called him Abba.
The ability to relate to everyone according to their unique and specific strengths, combined with his keen intellect and big heart allowed him as dean of admissions to advocate for students. He enabled thousands of students to study at YU and as dean of YU undergraduate admissions made the year of study in Israel ever more attractive and transformational.
It is not an overstatement to say that Moish changed world Jewry and certainly our family. We all miss him greatly, but are blessed to carry on with his guidance, his values and wisdom and the reminder through caring for the other we can indeed transform the world. תנצב”ה
Rabbi Dr. Katriel (Kenny) Brander is president and rosh hayeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone.
