Community Magazine May 2003

s ” xc T he Gemara relates how the students of Rabbe Eliezer came to visit him on his death bed. While there they asked of him “Rabbeinu Lamedenu Archut Chaim VeNizceh Bahen Lechaye Olam Habah” “Teach us Master the paths of life in order that we merit rewards in the next world”. The Noda BeYehuda asks the following question: Doesn’t the request of these students seems quite perplexing, especially consid- ering that their Rebbe was on his death bed? Did our sages not teach us “not to be like servants who work solely to receive rewards?” “How is it that the final wish of these great students is that their Rebbe teaches to them the road to maximum reward in the next world? The Nodah BeYehuda answers that, there are many great people who toil in serving Hashem in this world. They, due to their efforts, merit great reward in the world to come. However there are some people who achieve an even higher level of service to Hashem, which is that they live their whole life in this world on such a high spiritual level, equivalent to that of living in the world to come. (Olam Habah.) Hacham Binyamin Seruya A”H. was an example of such a person. His petirah on the 25th of Adar at the age of 70 brings an end to one of the Community’s first American born leaders. He was born in 1932 to his parents Shlomo and Sarah Seruya A”H. They instilled in their children a great love for Hashem and His Torah. On many occasions when the Rabbi’s derasha was being delivered, tears would be seen coming down Shlomo Seruya’s face as he took the Mussar of our sages to heart. Eventually all of his daughters would go on to marry prominent Rabbis who continue to edu- cate and spread Torah to this very day. After attending Magen David Yeshivah, Hacham Binyamin decided that he wished to live a life devoted to the service of Hashem. He decided to pursue his rabbini- cal studies. At the time this was an almost unheard of step. Many people tried convincing his parents as well as him, himself, even so far as to mock them, not to go through with this decision, and rather pur- sue a business career instead. True to his personality, he withstood all the peer pressure and followed through with his decision, his parents support- ing him all the way. He originally received his Semicha from Yeshiva University. Later on, in 1959, he received an additional Semicha from the head Rabbi’s of the Syrian community including Hacham Yaakob Kassin Z”TL. In the year 1957, he married his wife Estreya Zonana A”H who was his true Eshet Hayil for over 40 years. She was the daughter of Hacham Yoshiahu Zonana, who learned many years together with Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, Shlita. Together with Hashem’s help, they were Zoche to build a family of Torah scholars and commu- nity leaders. When his children were asked how Hacham Binyamin and his wife were able to raise such a special family, they answered that they were raised with responsibility and inde- pendence – without having any demands forced upon them. Besides being a unique and special parent, Hacham Binyamin was also an expert educator, teaching his students the way of our her- itage for over 50 years. Many a student testified how their life was changed as a result of the years they spent under Hacham HACHAM 38 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE D EDICATED BY J ACK A DJMI AND FAMILY May the inspiring legacy of hacham binyamin continue