DR. MORRIS ERENBERG

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DR. MORRIS ERENBERG September 25, 1923 - December 21, 2010 From the eyes and hearts of his adoring wife and children: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Morris Erenberg on December 21, 2010 at the age of 87, at the Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with his family by his side. Our father was the beloved husband of 58 years to our mother, Miriam Erenberg, and the loving father of Yale (Ellen), Galla (Allan), David (Ronda), Reuven (Elaine) and Noah (Cheryl). He was the devoted zaida (grandfather) of Tyler, Max, Jona, Daniel, Sarah, Leah, Micah and Brina. He was the cherished brother of Joe (Anne) Erenberg and Musi (Sam) Singer, and the adored uncle to Marlene, Barry, Shari, Bonnie and Gayle. He was predeceased by his father, Max, by his mother, Sarah Leah, and by his daughter, Esther Brina. Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue in Winnipeg, Canada. Pallbearers were Dr. Yale Erenberg, David Erenberg, Reuven Erenberg, Noah Erenberg, Daniel Erenberg, Micah Erenberg and Max Erenberg. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Erenberg, Barry Erenberg, Dr. Allan Horenfeldt and Dr. Aubie Diamond. Dad was born in Mariupol, Ukraine. He immigrated with his family to Winnipeg when he was just 11 months of age, and like the majority of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, home became Winnipeg's north end. He attended St. John's High School, but fulfilled his dream of higher parochial education after graduating high school by attending the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University in New York, NY. Dad not only acquired two Bachelor Degrees within a three year span, but did so with Cum Laude distinction for his Bachelor of Arts, and Magna Cum Laude for his Hebrew Teachers Degree in 1945. He then returned to Winnipeg where he attended Medical School at the University of Manitoba from which he graduated in 1951, subsequently pursuing a speciality in Anesthesia. He was the Chief Anesthetist at the Concordia Hospital in Winnipeg for 21 years. He then went on to become a Family Physician in the Winnipeg suburb of Transcona for 23 years, retiring from the practice of Medicine in 1995 at the age of 72. He treated each patient as if they were his only one of the day, making appointments with specialists for his patients while they were sitting in front of him in the examination room, but still able to keep waiting room times to a minimum. Dad was humbly proud of being able to combine the art of humanities and communication, with the science of Medicine, in order to deliver the best care he felt his patients so rightly deserved. His caring attention to all who were his patients was emblematic early in his profession when he utilized his prowess in several languages to provide medical care to many war camp survivors who were unable to communicate in English. In addition to his successful career in Medicine, Dad had an enduring, lifelong passion for learning, teaching, and counselling, with a particular love for the study and practice of Judaism which manifested itself in his insatiable pursuit of Jewish philosophy and education, serving on numerous charitable boards, in his conducting of the daily synagogue services, and in his renowned talent for Cantorial music. In all facets of his life, Dad practiced what he preached. And what he preached more than anything was the inviolable Judaic tenet that each human life must ascend one rung higher on the ladder of moral perfection than that ascended by his predecessor, and not merely emulate it. Dad would often be heard telling all of us on many occasions that we were his dividends in his pursuit of perpetuating the Judaic concept of Tikun Olam - Making the world a better place. Dad sought with much zeal to sow within his children and grandchildren the importance of learning and literacy, with frequent reminders as to the difference an education can make not only in the lives of his offspring, but the purposeful difference such education would permit us to make in the lives of those we might have the responsibility of influencing. Indeed, his immutable commitment to learning was evident by the scholarly uniqueness of his many authorships and oratory engagements. Dad will always be remembered, and forever be revered, for his compassion for people, his brilliance as a scholar, and his righteous dedication to his family, his culture, and his community. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Morris Erenberg Memorial Fund, c/o Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, 561 Wellington Cres., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3M 0A6, Telephone (204) 452-3711. There is a destiny that makes us brothers No man goes his way alone, All that we send into the lives of others Comes back into our own.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 08, 2011