MARCEL, z'l: 2011

Marcel's Memorials

Marcel's, z'l, 6th yahrzeit

Today is the first day of Tevet, Rosh Chodesh. In 16 days, it is Marcel's, z'l, 6th yahrzeit.

This week for Chanukah, I sent tzedakah in Marcel's memory. I will do so again on his yahrzeit, and as I do also on yiskors. Chabad has already sent to me in snail mail, the little kosher candle in the can.

Hadassah's annual Yahrzeit reminder from Hebrew University Medical Center at Ein Kerem is on my fridge. "May you be comforted in the memory of your loved one and be blessed for the deed of remembrance." The shul where Torah parshahs are written in Marcel's memory, has also sent their yahrzeit reminder, now on my fridge. Reminders from other shuls are expected. A dear cousin of mine reminds me he says Kaddish. I remind my family.

This week with Aviva and Brett visiting for Chanukah, we went to the cemetery and left our stones and love. May the neshama of Menachem EliMelech ben Shulim v'Tova be blessed. I will call Marcel's 90 year old mother on his yahrzeit, in addition to my weekly Shabbat call.
- Joy Krauthammer

Bronze Memorial IMO Marcel Krauthammer

Chabad of Northridge, CA

This bronze memorial plaque is placed in one of the two synagogues

where Marcel served simultaneously for 18 years as devoted Ba'al Koreh, Torah reader.

For yahrzeit and yiskors, I, Joy, usually davven at Chabad, and touch Marcel's plaque,

which I do every time I enter Chabad. He is not forgotten.

Marcel's family and friends at Chabad always remember him.

Plaque IMO Marcel

Young Israel, Long Beach, Long Island, NY

Krauthammers were active for decades at YILB.

Plaque IMO Marcel

Young Israel, Long Beach, Long Island, NY

Krauthammers were active for decades at YILB for decades.

Family redecorated the synagogue lobby and entrance in memory of Marcel.

To Shomrei Torah Synagogue

As was donated by Krauthammer Family Foundation to be inscribed

IMO Marcel Krauthammer, M.D.

as seen designed at the top:

IMO Marcel Krauthammer

At the time of Marcel's funeral and shiva, Krauthammer family purchased two Parshas being written

in a new Torah at Shomrei Torah Synagogue (STS) in West Hills, California.

Because friends, the Klaristenfelds, were filled with great Chesed during Marcel's many medically challenging years,

we made the donation at their synagogue, STS, IN MEMORY OF MARCEL.

This parsha is also IHO Barbara and Rabbi Ken/Chanan Klaristenfeld, for their dedicated friendship.

For lack of space, the STS lobby wall plaque does not contain all the important information.

Parshat Vayeira containing the Ikeda, written IMO Marcel,

is read on High Holiday, Rosh Hashana 2nd day.

STS considers this to be an honor.

The 2nd Parsha, Parshat BaHa'alotecha, I purchased IMO MARCEL.

This was Marcel's Bar Mitzvah parshah.

Marcel read BaHa'alotecha every year, as well as every parshah, as he was Ba'al Koreh at two shuls.

Marcel's chevruta, Reb Moshe Cohen, z'l, and I, Joy, both shared Parshah BaHa'alotecha as our birth parshahs.

Marcel taught me to chant Parshat BaHa'alotecha while he was literally on a gurney heading for yet another cancer surgery. I had a Chumash with me.

BaHa'alotecha lobby wall plaque was designed as:

IMO Marcel Krauthammer, M.D. Love, Joy & Aviva K.

Temporary holding spaces not yet properly designed:

Detail 3 lines from bottom. Incomplete Dedication.

IMO Marcel Krauthammer

and IHO our friends

Sefer Torah High Holiday Rosh HaShanah Parsha dedication

at Shomrei Torah Synagogue

included our Krauthammer family.

At times I try to davven at STS and be in the presence of the Torah.

IMO Marcel, his yahrzeit annually is also remembered at Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem,

and by family and friends.

Garden In Memory of Marcel Krauthammer

Garden of Joy, Barlow Respiratory Hospital

Irises planted by Joy Krauthammer & AriellaShira Lewis

Matzeivah / gravestone IMO Marcel

I designed this stone with devoted love and great care to honor my husband, Marcel.

Marcel had helped me design this five years before his death, and I added to the design after.

The Krauthammer family name for the two of us is also on a "pillow block" stone. - Joy

Marcel's matzeivah

Enjoy the lovely single pinstripe around words.

See smaller Hebrew lettering to differentiate generic acronyms.

The Tilda ~ wave, represents LIFE between birth and death. Life is not a straight journey.

Rabbi Yitzchak Adlerstein always said Marcel had Emuna and Bitachon / Faith and Trust.

I added Marcel's mother's name in Hebrew and English after approval from Thea. - Joy

Marcel's Matzeivah Unveiling

It took me a long time to decide that it is OK to include Marcel's Matzeivah Unveiling photos on this site.

I have no funeral photos from the 'standing room only' crowd,

but along with Aviva and my sister Faye and I, my mostly local loyal invited North Valley close community was present for unveiling.

Marcel's closest loyal friends, Brian & wife Karen, Shelly, Dr. Michael L. and Dr. Paul Rosenthal and wife, were present. YION minyan was present, those who said Kaddish with me, Rabbi, Avrum, and Lou Harris. Officiating Rabbi Sheldon Kirsch is not in photo, nor nephew Danny. Cousin Cantor Michael Russ is with wife Merle. Our dear friends present: Barbara, AriellaShira, Sandi and son Mat. - Joy

"There's No Place Like Home"

Marcel loved having our house sukkah that he built each year.

Montage by © Joy Krauthammer

Marcel's Shiva Memorials

Tables at the Klaristenfelds during Shiva filled with items important to Marcel and his family.

On far left is his Montreal HS graduation photo.

On right are many UCLA teaching awards bestowed upon Marcel.

In the middle is Marcel's tallit bag. He is buried, wrapped in his tallit with cut Tsitsit.

Aviva holds up the last Happy Birthday giant card made for Marcel.

Card was destroyed in the house water pipes burst situation that ruined his study room at home, Jan. 2012.

Framed photos of Marcel and family. I gave some framed photos to his mother and Aviva.

If I still had them, I would scan and add here. - Joy

More photo albums of Marcel that I made in his memory and gave to Aviva.

Here are more of Marcel's awards, and favorite hats.

Marcel was buried with his favorite baseball cap, and with Oatmeal, his mascot bear that went everywhere on final medical journey with Marcel, including Heaven. - Joy

created for Marcel by Joy.

From Hadassah, Jerusalem

From Hadassah

From Shomrei Torah Synagogue, West Valley, SFV, CA

Parshah Akeda to be read each Rosh HaShana

and

Also for Parshat BaHa'alotecha for Marcel's Bar Mitzvah parsha.

~ ~ ~

The Hero Within

Joy's Comments
Reprinted from Aish.com

March 1, 2006

The Hero Within, Dr. Melamed-Cohen's story by Sara Yoheved Rigler

Joy Krauthammer wrote: I have new understandings of life.

From Dr. Melamed-Cohen's story by Sara Yoheved Rigler, I have new understandings of life and empathy.

My husband, Dr. Marcel Krauthammer, zt'l, Menachem Elimelech ben Shulim v'Thea, died a month ago, January 17, 2006 after being in a similar situation to Dr. Melamed-Cohen. Marcel was on life-support with respirator, tracheostomy, feeding tube for the prior six months (NG tube only), paralyzed a few years, but with worsening metastatic brain cancer for almost 18 years.

From this story I have a recognition and better understanding that my beloved also had his purpose in life, although possibly not knowing it, giving "encouragement and strength".

Marcel was brave, courageous, defiant, powered by will, hope and faith (Emuna v'Bitachon) in Hashem. Family photos were always facing Marcel. Yes, there was a "rectification, a tikkun", in his and our lives. And Marcel also had his "reasons not to give up." Marcel, too, prayed throughout the day with his siddur until he could no longer hold the book, and then the prayers were in his heart, and he acknowledged to me with a slight nod. I would also pray out loud with Marcel, although he could not talk the last six months.

Marcel never despaired, he NEVER GAVE UP –only his body.

Marcel's dream was fulfilled three weeks before going on life-support; and he rode down the aisle to our daughter Aviva's chuppah to Brett.

As a UCLA Professor of Medicine and ICU Director, Marcel continued to teach from the other side of the bed, all medical staff and visitors during the two dozen hospitalizations and surgeries that he endured. Marcel was awesome, the "Comeback King."

I decided that Marcel was a 'Vessel of Love' because all that he could do in the final months was to receive all the love given to him from family, friends, colleagues, staff and strangers (my spiritual friends whom he had not known), and we knew it through his eyes.

Marcel under earlier conditions, was a stand-up to lying-down comedian. In his ICU bed, he made me laugh when he was able to circle and point his index finger to his head and at me as if I was loco, when I was the ventriloquist for his stuffed bear, Oatmeal, always a mascot by his side from ICU to ICU to ICU, and now in Shamayin/Heaven.

As the month of Adar enters, I send blessings of increased joy to Dr. Melamed-Cohen, and also to author, Sara Rigler, in whose home I had a Shabbat lunch about 15 years ago. From her I met my dearest friend from the Old City, Ruthie Fogelman.

Blessings of joy, shalom and love,
Joy Krauthammer
Northridge, California
~ ~ ~

Marcel's toast video at Wedding of Aviva & Brett
http://brettandaviva.com/images/MovieToast2.mov

Marcel photos mostly by his photographer wife, Joy
http://brettandaviva.com/marcel%20pics/BrettandAviva.com/Marcel%20Krauthammer%20.html

Obituary
Dr. Marcel Krauthammer, UCLA/VA Pulmonologist, Critical Care Specialist and Gifted Teacher
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/Obituary-Dr-Marcel-Krauthammer-6832.aspx?RelNum=6832

Garden of Joy, Barlow Hospital
Page 6, right side
http://www.barlow2000.org/newsletters/barlow_news_spr09.pdf

HOURS, Difficult story

http://the--hours.blogspot.com/

Marcel drummed one time at Remo

photo by Joy Krauthammer ©

HOPE collage for Marcel

HOPE Square IMO Marcel © Joy Krauthammer

HOPE is in memory of my husband, Marcel Krauthammer, z'l. Marcel had faith, trust & HOPE / emunah, bitachon & tikvah, never giving up, for the 18 years he suffered with metastatic brain cancer, paralysis and then life-support, until G*D, Giver of Life, reclaimed his shining soul on 17 Tevet.

We never gave up HOPE.

During Marcel's last years I slowly created HOPE collages from found HOPE words, and gave them to others, and continue to do so.
HOPE is a collage of HOPE words cut out from newspapers and cards, while serving as Caregiver Angel Warrior for my husband, Marcel, of blessed memory.

HOPE collage is for my dear friends and family who hold HOPE, and in memory of loved ones, z'l who have held HOPE.

HOPE collage is in memory of the victims z'l of the Holocaust who did not give up HOPE.

HOPE is what we all need to continue to do our work in our world; to have peace/shalom, love, compassion, connection, healing, wholeness and harmony in Kabbalistic Four Worlds of spirit, mind, heart and body.

- Joy Krauthammer

HOPE quilt square is a photo transfer of my original HOPE colored paper art collage onto an 8”x8" white suede cloth, with added 2D hand embellishments of stickers, gold paint pen and colored markers.

HOPE collage is a quilt square in the Mount Sinai Shoah Quilt (on quilt's
far right).

The large finished quilt in memory of Shoah victims was dedicated on Yom HaShoah 2008 at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, Simi Valley.

HOPE Square IMO Marcel © Joy Krauthammer

in Mount Sinai Shoah Quilt

Garden of Joy, Barlow Hospital

Garden of Joy, Barlow Hospital

Attached is this letter within underlined link which just came from Barlow Respiratory Hospital along with four garden photos, and extra one of me, and my friend, AriellaShira Lewis (married to Michael L), planting bulbs in the earth creating in a few spaces, a garden of joy. I am so pleased to just receive this during the season of Marcel's 2nd yahrzeit.

I feel that my tears can water the garden. In synagogue both tonight and tomorrow, I am holding a special memorial for Marcel.

We remember our loved ones ...and we plant for our children...

And just in time for Tu B'Shvat, Jewish planting holiday.

BlesSings of health and joy,

Joy

click on :

[2] File: January 2 Progress Report.pdf

This formal botanical plaque, standing in the garden filled with hundreds of purple bearded irises (which Joy and her friend AriellaShira planted) at the main front door of Barlow Respiratory Hospital, where Marcel z'l led doctor meetings when he was president of the LA Lung Association, doctor's society, and where patients sit outside, reads:

TO THE STAFF OF

BARLOW RESPIRATORY HOSPITAL

PURPLE BEARDED IRIS

DONATED BY JOY KRAUTHAMMER

IN JOYOUS MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND

MARCEL KRAUTHAMMER

October 2007

Garden of Joy

Dr. Marcel Krauthammer, a pulmonologist and a renowned professor of medicine at UCLA, passed away in January, 2006. His wife, Joy, planted lovely purple bearded irises at the Barlow main hospital in his memory. The bulbs became a wonderful improvement to the hospital grounds, and have since multiplied, and return year after year in spectacular bloom. The Garden of Joy, as it’s been affectionately named by the staff, blooms beautifully, even in the cold of winter. It brings smiles to the staff and warms the heart and brings hope to our patients and their families.

photo collage by Joy Krauthammer

Garden of Joy, Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way, Los Angeles, CA 90026-2696,

www.barlow2000.org 213 250-4200 X 3331

Page 6, right side
http://www.barlow2000.org/newsletters/barlow_news_spr09.pdf

~ ~ ~

DEDICATION from Aviva

Marcel's First Yahrzeit,

with love from Aviva, January 2007

My Dear friends and family,

This coming Sunday, 1/7/07, which corresponds to the Hebrew date of 17^th of Tevet, will mark the first Yahrzeit of my beloved dad, Marcel Krauthammer zt"l. I think about him every single day, but on this anniversary, you can join me in remembering a multifaceted man who achieved great things in his life, and positively affected the lives of so many people.

We have compiled a few photos and videos from my dad's life that we wanted to share with you. At the bottom of this page is a web link, which will bring you to a website with a photo album as well as two short videos (a wedding speech and comedy routine) of my dad.

The photo slideshow highlights many of dad's loves and talents:

Family: Loving Husband, Father, Father-in Law, Son and Brother

Friends: Entertaining, Honest, Loyal

Teacher: A respected and loved medical professor who challenged and embraced his students (*below are stories from a couple of his students I wanted to share).

Coach: Taught me everything I know (and coached CSUN golf students)

Jewish Learner: Studied Torah and Talmud weekly, chanted Torah for 2 synagogues. (And not only was it technically impeccable, but he embellished each word with subtle undulations that transformed the phrases into elegant and enjoyable music.)

Scrabble player (the scrabble dictionary was in tatters from his memorizing allthe 3-letter words + all the words you can make with "Q" w/out using "U").

Poker player: Texas Hold 'em and High low where his games….

Golfer: studied every aspect of the game, and in his last year in the VA league, won the league championship.

Stand-up Comedian: started out on a cruise ship talent show…and never stopped

Through his life, my Dad tried to do his best at anything he tried. This was not an ego thing, it was a personal motivation and will that was unmatched. This drive was manifested in all areas of life…professional and personal. He never pushed anyone like he pushed himself. He would feed his brain, his curiosity and his knowledge with a voracious appetite. My dad pursued so many interests in his life that it's hard to really capture them all. Above all, my dad was a modest guy; self-deprecating and always willing to learn from his failures and from others.

I hold these lessons close to my heart.

Love, Aviva

LINK TO PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:

www.brettandaviva.com (click on MARCEL KRAUTHAMMER ZT"L)

Marcel's 10th Yahrzeit

On Marcel's 10th Yahrzeit, Aviva arranged a memorial with friends and family

held at Temple Ramat Zion with Rabbi Ahud Sela officiating for prayers

and Aviva leading reception.

Marcel's 10th Yahrzeit Memorial

10th yahrzeit memorial candle created with love by Joy

I was pleased to see present so many of our long-time friends and family.

We held the memorial in one of the 2 shuls where Marcel for 18 years had read Torah every Shabbat for the traditional Minyan. Marcel read at both Temple Ramat Zion and Chabad of Northridge.

- Joy Krauthammer

~ ~ ~

Yahrzeits

Yahrzeits, other years.

In Memory of Marcel

with love from Joy

For Marcel's 13th yahrzeit that fell during the winter holiday season on 12.25.18, Aviva was away with family.

Aviva made sure while away with friends to have a minyan to say Kaddish.

We both posted photos and memories of Marcel on FaceBook to share with our friends, and say Kaddish.

I've posted Marcel's ancestors' Horowitz family tree, hand calligraphed.

And of course, I have a candle lit and I went to Marcel's grave and left a stone.

Sadly, winds must have blown over dozens of stones that I regathered and placed again on matzeivah.

While I visit cemetery, I call our kids so that they too can say, "Hi". - Joy

Added the following to FaceBook for Marcel's yahrzeit:

For Marcel's z"l, 13th yahrzeit, I share his hand-calligraphed Horowitz rabbinic family tree for 17 generations that ended with his maternal grandfather. Marcel, too was a 'yeshivah bocher', as were his father and brother, Charles, z"l. His mother loves learning. 

For 18 years, Marcel served as Ba'al Koreh (Torah chanter) at two synagogues, every Shabbat; One, a Chabad and another, a traditional minyan. Marcel continued his Talmud studies all his life. Not long before he died, Marcel had a siyyum at a Young Israel following his 14 years of Gemorah study with the rabbi. Marcel used his studies in Jewish medical ethics to teach others in medicine. When Marcel was paralyzed, I asked Marcel about his prayers with the little bible that always was with him, and he said he didn't need it, because the siddur was memorized. I gave the little siddur to our daughter. I had Marcel buried in his tallit with cut-off tzitzit, and his baseball cap, and favorite teddy bear that went everywhere with him– to all hospitals during his 18 years of disease. 'Oatmeal' had disappeared when hospital sheets were changed and sent out, and I had the hospital chase down Oatmeal through the streets of LA until the bear was found...

For countless years in his 23 years as UCLA Professor of Medicine, Marcel was voted by all medical students, housestaff, as #1 Professor. His goal was that he wanted to be as good as his best professors who had taught him. Recently I met a newly ordained rabbi MD who said that Marcel had earlier been his best medical professor. 

- Joy Krauthammer

Marcel's maternal rabbinic Horowitz family tree with 17 generations.

Marcel's 9th Yahrzeit

Marcel's, z"l, 9th Yahrzeit

24 hours later

Today I posted photos on FaceBook of Marcel with his friends and rabbi. Aviva, too, had posted a loving photo.

At Chabad of Northridge to say Kaddish, a friend Michael, who recently lost his wife, gave me a photo that I had given to him a couple dozen years ago. There was Marcel with his beloved Rabbi Menachem Bryski, founding rabbi of Northridge Chabad, and also with congregant, Michael G. I had taken the photo at Young Israel of Northridge, so there must have been a simcha that day for Chabad members to be at YION. Some of us are involved at both orthodox shuls, and others.

After saying kaddish (always on weekdays the only woman on my side), I donated tzadakah for the rabbi to plant pretty flowers at shul in lieu of the calla tubers which are not in bloom in the winter. Mine were blooming only a few weeks ago. The shuls' callas are orange and mine are yellow with red. Rabbi said I could have some tubers.

Friends were in shul at 7am, and greeted me from the other side of the mechitzah. Larry Block always says good words about Marcel. Today he didn't tell the 'Marcel story' about "judgement" that he shares every year. Maybe next year... Each yarhzeit and yiskor I go the the memorial board at shul, and I give a kiss to Marcel's plague that I had created for him. I don't think we had discussed it ahead of time, as we did the grave monument.

After shul, at home, I called my mother-in-law. We each acknowledged the day by saying we were in shul. Aviva had gone with Thea last evening. A couple weeks ago, Aviva and family, and friend, Brian, went to the grave, and we left stones. The candle is now almost flickered out. I talked to Marcel, and to G*d.

With memories, Joy

Marcel's 8th Yahrzeit

Dec. 20, 2013, 17 Tevet 5774

Secular Yahrzeit is Jan. 17th, but very early this year, by winter's solstice.

Marcel's, z'l, 8th yahrzeit today

by Joy Krauthammer ©

Spoke to mother-in-law, and children, sharing love. Went to one of shuls, Chabad, where Marcel served as Ba'al Koreh, Torah chanter. Touched his shul lit memorial plaque, (accessible also from women's section). Appreciative of memories shared in shul by friend Larry Block; annual ritual that warms my heart. Shared Dirvrei Shulim, the book of Torah's from Marcel's saved 10 years of letters by his father from when he studied with Rav Yosef Soloveichik. Gave tzedakah. More mitzvot in Marcel's name. Made photo memorial collage for Aviva and sent it (and include here). Thanked cousin Bruce Mossman for saying Kaddish at his Chabad, as my family did last night on East coast. Studied Torah. Viewed left over golf ball still sitting under rose bush in my garden since at least a decade ago from before Marcel was paralyzed. (Every morning I stand next to that little white golf ball at edge of my property, as it lies where I shoot the sunrise.)

I'm grateful our friend Brian Reff went to cemetery with me, as he does every year, and cleaned flat granite gravestone, rubbing off salt remains from water. Since marker is flat, it is ruined by the elements. We left stones. I feel the years.

Flickering memorial candle was color of sunrise. Made more memorial art, and share this with you below.

BlesSings, JOY

'Out of focus' memories come more into view with yahrzeit candle lit against the rising sun.

(A few photographic 'Bokeh balls'.)

COLLAGE

I shot the flickering candle in the cold wind with 6am sunrise in background, watched flame blow out, and lighted again, and again, and then photographed from inside for stillness.

In shul, I shot Marcel's lit memorial plaque.

In a shul's parking lot, Temple Ramat Zion, also where Marcel had served as Ba'al Koreh, I saw this personalized vanity auto license plate, and photographed ABA / Dad ♥ YOU.

Aha, perfect for today. Made the collage and sent to Aviva!

Friend Brian and I drove to Mt. Sinai for our annual ritual together.

One month ago at Chanukah, I visited also with Aviva, Brett and Maya, which we do each time they come to LA.

Our friend Brian, caringly cleans Marcel's Matzeivah at grave 118.

~ ~ ~

One last photo I shot today.

HUGS

During this year of Marcel's 8th yahrzeit, it would have been our 40th wedding anniversary.

Today would have been my 40th wedding anniversary. We had a Chabad wedding. I bought my dream wedding gown in Tijuana for $25. Woven white cotton, fringed and sniut / modest. Made my veil, added Lilies of the Valley, and held three sweet white gardenias in purple ribbon. Made the boutonnieres for the honored men. My hubby, z"l, was a computer maven and I didn't need to know anything! So I'm spending the day today at Apple store. I've been learning... - Joy

Something I never do is ascend, when the Lev Eisha women are called to the bima to celebrate their anniversaries with an aliyah to the Torah. This year I did and announced that it would have been my 40th, an auspicioius time. 2014