Soccer Dad

Milton Himmelfarb

I guess because he was a conservative intellectual, the New York Times did not see fit to eulogize Milton Himmelfarb in its obituary section last week. However Powerline did and included some touching words from his son Edward:

Dad really loved gematria, as I've mentioned. So I think it's fitting here to finish with some gematria. This is in honor of my father. Dad lived to be 87 years old, andthe number 87 is gematria for the Hebrew phrase ze lichvod avi, which means "this is in honor of my father." Dad, we're really going to miss you.

(The link to the eulogy does not work.)
The complete eulogy can be read here.

Milton Himmelfarb hadn't written for Commentary much recently. The article of his that made the biggest impression on me was "No Hitler; No Holocaust" in which he argued that Hitler was a necessary (and possibly sufficient) catalyst to bring the Holocaust about. He also identified what was unique about Hitler's hate that made the Holocaust possible. (I hope that's a fair synopsis.)

But the features that he was responsible for were his two "What do (American) Jews Believe" surveys in 1966 and again in 1996. Many of the essays were revealing and illustrative. (From the latter one, I particularly liked David Gerlertner's.)

UPDATE: First Things has a recollection by Joseph Bottum with some of Mr. Himmelfarb's choice (and clever) aphorisms. AJHistory is looking for more information on Mr. Himmelfarb.
UPDATE 2: via Powerline, Bill Kristol's appreciation of his uncle from the Weekly Standard.

Posted by SoccerDad at January 10, 2006 2:51 AM