Dear Beni’s blog readers
Many of you will be aware that the cessation of Beni’s blog a few weeks ago was due to his contracting pneumonia and sadly he did not recover. He was buried at his home cemetery at Ein Harod on Sunday 19 January.
We thought that it would be a fitting tribute to Beni that this last blog should notify you of his passing and to thank you for the support, thanks and encouragement he received from many of you over the years from Israel and all over the world.
Beni’s blogs leave behind an incredible legacy. They were such an important aspect of his life as each week he shared with us his knowledge, insights and perspectives based on many hours researching the subject he had chosen to focus on for that week. Mostly, of course, political events were the dominant subject. And here, Beni would provide references and quotations from a wide range of sources in an effort to give a better understanding of the subject.
Beni’s wonderful analysis and perception in his weekly blogs will be sorely missed. Although they will no longer arrive at the end of each week, maybe then we can take the opportunity to remember Beni by reflecting on what he may have written and what an unforgettable person he was.
His loving children
Here are some of the messages we received from readers of Beni’s Newsletter
ReplyDeleteI am really sorry to hear that sad news and thank you very much for letting me know. Barry was my madrich in Habonim and had a real influence on the way my life developed. He was an outstanding person and a very close friend of Colin, my late husband. His dedication to Israel, his home and family and his excellent weekly blog were a testament to a fine man and a full life.
I send you my deepest sympathy and commiseration .
With best wishes Miriam
Dear children,
I am so sad about Beni’s death.
I loved receiving his weekly blogs and was always so impressed by his erudite thoughtful and balanced presentations. He did so much homework!
I met Beni at Habonim in New Zealand and I now live in Sydney. My two sisters live in Israel and so I have visited Beni over the years. The last time I saw him was in mid 2023, when 2 friends from New Zealand and the Netherlands came with me and Marion and Jon Boock to visit him. My friends were greatly impressed.
I am so sorry for your loss. I feel his absence and will really miss not hearing from him anymore. He shared his wealth of knowledge so generously.
Kind regards,
Dorothy Kral
Dear loving children,
Thank you for sharing this very sad news. We were already trying to adjust to the fact of missing Beni’s weekly blog, and are so sorry to learn that this is now final.
Nothing is ever the same, especially in these terrible times.
We were delighted to have had the opportunity to have met Beni last time we were in Israel and shall cherish the memory of that time.
We send you our condolences and best wishes,
Ruth and Ralph Renard Melbourne, Australia
Messages from readers of Beni's Newsletter:
ReplyDeleteDear members of Beni’s family
My sincere condolences to Beni’s family. Very sorry to hear of his sad passing. I often read his blogs with great interest and appreciation of his knowledge and wisdom. We will miss him.
I wish you all along life.
Kind regards
Cyril Nevezie, Bnai Brith Auckland NZ
We have been deeply fortunate to have had the gift of Beni's insight, research skills and perseverance. Sincere condolences to all Beni's family. Lesley Max
We send our condolences to Beni’s family. May he rest in peace. He was a wonderful man whom Joe knew from Habonim days in NZ and we both met up with him at the kibbutz on our last visit to Israel in 2015.
Our thoughts are with you. Joe & Vita Beder
Than you for your note carrying such sad news.
I had know Beni since we were migrant kids in NZ in the mid-1950s.
My sympathy to all of you on your bereavement.
Shalom Bruce Kaplan (Melbourne, Australia)
Thank you for the note, I actually knew that Beni had passed as I was on the phone with our nephew Niv Porat just as the sad information was shared on Kehilanet. I immediately informed the 4 fellows that I forwarded the blog to each week and the reaction was as I expected, we all felt a hole in our lives from not having Beni's wisdom and perspective each Thursday. I had a special relationship with Beni as he was my boss for the 2 years I worked in the Refet. I enjoyed visiting with him each time I visited the kibbutz where we had so many other family and friends and I was envied by the others I shared his blog with and they always asked me to send they're regards even though they had never met him in person.
I'm sure you know, far better than me, what a lovely, talented man your father was, May his memory be a blessing! 🙏❤️ Peter (Ari) Frank
I was saddened to learn of Beni's passing. I wish you long life. Beni’s blogs became a constant source of information and interest on Israel for me. I forwarded them to others. Sadly missed.
Peter Baruch.
Hello from Sydney
I was very saddened to hear of Beni’s passing. It was such a pleasure and education to receive his regular opinions and assessments from Israel.
May I convey my condolences and wish you and your family long life.
Peter Zelas
We will all miss him and his messages.
Peter Gale
It is a loss to all of us
He was a special man and he will be missed
we wish you long life and all the chatufim should come home
Tammy Koniarski Melbourne Australia
Thank you for your “eulogy” blog on your Dad. My connection with your Dad goes back more than 70 years from Habonim New Zealand days. A giant and an inspiration for the masses even back then. His weekly journal was a light in the darkness and confusion that surrounds us and is perpetuated by the alternate news media. We all loved him and will sorely miss him. We share your loss and sorrow and wish you the family a long and healthy life. His memory will remain as a blessing to us all. … Sonny (Shimon) Chait.
To; The Dear Loving Children of your late beloved Father Beni,
I am deeply saddened by the news of Beni’s passing.
I never had the privilege of meeting him, but his relentless thoughtful, intelligent, beautifully crafted and highly informed writings, gave me a feeling of serious connection to him.
I receive ( as most of us do) many emails, blogs, articles from well informed and authoritative commentators, but whenever I saw Benis name on my email list for the day, I would go to him first.
I truly enjoyed his deep insight, his style and was and continue to be so appreciative that he included me.
Even though I did not meet him, I am affected by his loss; I can only imagine the depth of your grief.
I am also very grateful to you for your thoughtfulness in informing us, his loyal and devoted readers.
If you ever contemplate a trip to Australia, please let me know, I would look forward to meeting you and offering some hospitality.
Wishing you long life,
Peter Strasser