Rabbi Menachem Braun’s legacy of compassion, respect, and firm emunah continues to inspire

Many knew Rabbi Menachem Braun as the champion of at-risk youth, spending endless hours in conversation with children as well as parents, coaxing, guiding, encouraging, and, most of all, embracing, as they shared their pain. In fact, his love for mitzvos, for Torah and for fellow Jews went way beyond most people’s limits. While Reb Menachem’s tragic passing several months ago left all who knew him reeling, his legacy of compassion, respect, and firm emunah continues to inspire. 

I’ll admit that several months ago, when I saw the news report that a beloved member of the Baltimore community named Rabbi Menachem Braun had passed away in a tragic boating accident, I sighed sadly and moved on. Some days later, I received a message from Rabbi Avrohom Neuberger, telling me that this Rabbi Braun was truly a special person and suggesting we run an article featuring his legacy. By then, though, the Yamim Noraim were upon us, leaving little time to begin new projects, and then Succos came, and then the war in Eretz Yisrael. The suggested article slipped my mind.

But enough excuses. I pushed this article off way too long. I apologize, Reb Menachem. I sincerely apologize. Because Rabbi Neuberger was right. Now that I’ve researched, I see what he means. This article should have been written months ago.

Another admission: Reb Menachem Braun isn’t an easy person to write about. Some people are made of stories; a series of acts and episodes string together to paint the picture of a single, comprehensive personality. Those make for easier tributes — once you find the stories, the personality comes to life.

But Reb Menachem was different. He was the story. His heart, his personality, his dedication.

His smile.

The written word can’t convey that. The best we can do is to share the recollections, the stories that were taken for granted because they came so naturally, and hope that the personality — the smile — shines through.

And if we succeed, the world will know of a man who did the job of a hundred men and took no payment as reward.

Reb Menachem, you were taken away at a young age. But forever you will live on — through the hundreds of lives you saved, nurtured, and inspired.