Rabbi Weill's Blog

February 1st, 2024

Dear Friends,

Rabbi Neil Brief passed away last Shabbat morning. This has been a sad week for Ezra-Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation.

Rabbi Brief began serving this congregation on July 1, 1971. Since then, 2744 weeks have passed. Those numbers (2 + 7 + 4 + 4) equals 17, the date in the month of Shevat on which Rabbi Brief passed away.

More importantly, 17 is the numerical value of the first Hebrew letters of a famous verse from Ecclesiastes – dor holech v’dor ba, meaning “A generation passes and a generation arises” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

Rabbi Brief understood that this is the way of the world and he absolutely appreciated that a new generation of leaders have taken the reins of our congregation.

Let us honor Rabbi Brief’s memory by engaging in the vibrant life of EHNT, by contributing to its success, and by believing in its future.

Zichrono tzaddik livracha. May his righteous memory be for a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Jeffrey Weill

February 1st, 2024

The Funeral of Rabbi Neil Brief