Thursday, January 20, 2011

Herb Zweibon z"l

I have been informed that Herb Zweibon, head of Americans for a Safe Israel, passed away last night in New York. The funeral will be held tomorrow in upstate NY.



Sincere and heartfelt condolences to his wife, Sheila and his family.

Herb was a stalwart of a vibrant, forceful expression of Israel and Zionism, a champion of the Land of Israel, the Jewish communities throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza and a follower of Shmuel Katz. He promoted the idea of a full realization of the Jewish national identity in deed, in thought and in achievement.

I was prvileged to know him for over three decades and to work with him and for him.

He will be missed so very much.




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Herb in Hevron with Noam Arnon, the community's spokesperson and Bill Mehlman, head AFSI of Israel to Herb's immediate right:




I received this from Cheryl Jacobs Lewin, Chicago co-chair AFSI: -

We all mourn the sudden passing of our beloved President, Herb Zweibon z’’l. His passing is an unsurmountable loss to all of us. May he rest in peace.  His funeral is Friday morning, Jan. 21, in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Further details are pending.

Karma Feinstein Cohen with Herb Zweibon z"l from this past October:



The following eulogy was written by his dear friend, Ruth King:-

Herbert Zweibon, the President and founder of Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI) died last night after a brief illness.

Herb was a perfect person where it counts the most. His only agenda in life was to do the right thing always.

He was a proud Zionist who was never dazzled by momentary hallucinations of peace and recognition from Israel's enemies. He remained unbowed in the face of trendy feel-good pretense and was committed to the fact that only a safe, secure and impregnable Israel within its legitimate and historic borders was the sole guarantor for the safety of Jews in the world.

He was also eternally optimistic. Only on Tuesday he spoke of the need for better leaders in Israel and the hope that dialysis would offer him more life.

He was playful and cheerful. My granddaughters Cece and Lila adored him, sat on his lap and giggled when he told them of the big chocolate house he was building with a room for each of them.

He adored his wife Sheila and his sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Only a few weeks ago he spent a holiday with the entire family and extended family in Jamaica. He was exultant in describing it even as his health deteriorated. His only complaint was that he could not play tennis.

His memory will always be a blessing and an inspiration for me. My husband always said about Herb:

"They just don't make them like him anymore."

They don't.

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Herb called upon me to assist in the collection of the articles of Shmuel (Moekie) Katz so as to establish a site to promote his ideasHere is an extensive interview Ruthie Blum-Leibowitz conducted with him.

And here is an interview broadcast five years ago:



P.S. David Wilder's appreciation.

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The NYT obituary:

ZWEIBON--Herbert, 84, beloved founder and Chairman of Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI, is mourned by all who knew and loved him. Herb lived his life as a proud Zionist who remained constant in his conviction that only a safe, secure, and impregnable Israel, within its legitimate and historic borders, was the sole guarantor of Jews throughout the world. He will be remembered for his kindness, wisdom, dedication, vision, and concern for Israel and the Jewish people. He headed Z&R Management Corp. in NYC. He leaves behind a loving family - his wife, Sheila, of 58 years, his sons, Donald and wife Robin, Mark, and Kenneth and wife Jessica, and grandchildren Zachary, Jesse, Danielle, Michelle, and Shou, and his sister and her husband, Lillian and Carl Rudnick. The funeral will take place on Friday, 11 AM, January 21, at the Greenburgh Hebrew Center, 515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY. Shiva will be observed at the Zweibon home. Memorial donations may be made to AFSI.


The NYSun eulogy.

Helen Freedman's obit.

And this from Philly AFSI.

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