web analytics
May 24, 2013 /15 Sivan, 5773
At a Glance ▼
Sections
Sponsored Post
The Tosfos Yomtov was convinced that the death of 300,000 –600,000 Jews during the Chmielnicki massacres of 1648-49 were because of improper Tefila. Communicated: Tefilla

Chillul Tefila Bifarhesia, as well as halachicly challenged verbiage and dress, are external manifestations of a critical lack of personal yiras shomayim which has lethal consequences.



I Remember Irene

Published: December 1st, 2010
Latest update: May 10th, 2013
tell a friend

            The first time I met Irene Klass, of blessed memory, was in Israel.  I was an olah hadasha (new immigrant) in 1971, and she had come to visit her daughter Naomi, who at that time lived near me in the Jerusalem suburb of Kiryat Moshe.  “What do you do?” she asked me. “Well, I’m a writer, but haven’t found much work in Israel.  In Australia, I was helping my husband in his pharmacy as a Revlon Beauty Consultant.”

 

            “Would you like to write a beauty column for Tthe Jewish Press?” she asked me, “I’m the Editor of the Women’s Page.”   So began my four decades-long association with The Jewish Press, with my dear friend Naomi and this wonderful lady who went out of her way to help Jews, and especially Israeli Jews, at every opportunity.

 

            Irene was a gracious, intelligent, creative and generous lady – and I experienced all of those qualities when I would visit her. Whenever I came to New York for a book tour, I always made a point of visiting her and I always stayed with Naomi who has inherited her mother’s warmth and generosity.

 

            All my memories make me smile, particularly a lovely weekend to which they invited me to join them at the Homowack Hotel in the Catskill Mountains.  Rabbi Klass, Irene’s husband, was the Shabbat speaker.  He was a man of great scholarship.  When Irene entered the dining room, all eyes would turn to her – impeccably dressed, beautifully coiffed and a lady who inspired admiration in everyone.

 

            At another time, Irene invited me to join her and Naomi for lunch.  Although I didn’t remember it, Irene recalled that once I had told her that I loved rice pudding – it reminded me of my late mother who used to make it for me as a treat when I was young.  This wonderful woman had spent the whole morning preparing it as a surprise for me. I can still recall the creamy custard, the perfect soft grains of rice, the aroma of the nutmeg sprinkled on top.  I remember hugging her for this thoughtful gesture.  Irene, I loved and admired you!

 

            Sadly, the latter years of Irene’s life were difficult, but in earlier years she was a devoted wife to Rabbi Klass and an excellent editor.  She was also a writer and poet in her own right – loving mother to Naomi and Hindy, grandmother and great-grandmother a petite lady with a beautiful smile and a great heart.

 

            Irene, I will never forget you!      

tell a friend

About the Author:


You might also be interested in:


no comments

You must log in to post a comment.

SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Current Top Story
Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich
Rep. John Conyers Apologizes for Louis Farrakhan’s Antisemitic Remarks
Latest Sections Stories
V-E-Day-052413-Grandpa
Sections → Magazine → Teens and Twenties

Nearly half a million of them fought in Red Army uniforms, under communist slogans but with a personal vengeance that was solely the result of Jewish experience. More than the “Greatest Generation,” they were the living superheroes hidden in plain sight.

hot-busy-kitchen-10912000
Sections → Jewess Press → Daily Living

It’s all over.

The orchestra is still, the lights are dimmed. Your simcha outfits hang in your closet, silent witnesses to a time you will treasure in your mind and heart forever.

Touro-052413
Sections → Features

Scene One:

After noticing that you can’t log into your computer, your pulse quickens as you are called into your supervisor’s office. S/he has some bad news. You are being laid off. You have 15 minutes to clean out your desk and surrender your cell phone before security escorts you out of the building. Job termination, especially in the corporate world, can be heartless.

Omer Map (website image) by Yitzchok Moully. Courtesy the artist.
Sections → Arts

I have always had a problem with the Omer. Doing the mitzvah of counting the Omer was of course pretty easy. Remembering to start the second evening of Passover and remembering to stop the day before Shavous took a little concentration but somehow I always managed. No, for me the nagging problem was always why was I doing this in the first place, other than the fact it was a biblical (according to the Rambam) commandment.

Sections → Magazine → On Our Own/Cheryl Kupfer

With the semi-mourning period of Sefira behind us, and the festival of Shavuot as well (as evidenced by the tightness of our clothing due to over-indulging in irresistible versions of cheesecake that is an integral component of celebrating our receipt of the Torah), our community can look forward to participating in joyous engagement parties and weddings.

Sections → Family → Marriage and Relationships

Dear Dr. Yael:

Do you really believe that the Internet is the reason why the divorce rate is so high among young couples? This may be so in some cases, but what about the fact that many singles are pressured to get married at a young age despite not having any idea what they are looking for in a mate? And add to that the fact that many are pressured to make a decision about marriage after dating for a very short period of time.

Sections → Family → Marriage and Relationships

From the moment they stand under the chuppah, newlyweds have two years to enjoy the special bliss that new love brings. This new finding, reported by the New York Times, is based on a study undertaken by American and European researchers. 1,761 people who got married and stayed married over 15 years were followed. The research shows that after two years the couples moved into a more companionable state in their relationships.

Sections → Family → Parenting Our Children

Shel Silverstein’s 1974 poem “Where The Sidewalk Ends” is intended to paint a magical picture of a world of peace and serenity far away from the “black and dark streets.” At the time, perhaps the end of the sidewalk was a place that was “measured and slow.” Today, however, for many parents, where the sidewalk ends can feel like a scary place.

Sections → Community → South Florida

Florida is famous for sparkling water. We have the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico surrounding our coast. We have bays, lakes, canals and, of course, an incredible abundance of swimming pools in homes, resorts, apartment complexes and city parks.

Sections → Community → South Florida

The buzz is back as Camp Gan Israel Florida Overnight gears up for another fantastic summer, CGI Florida style. What makes CGI Florida so different from all the other overnight camps? It’s all in the details.

Sections → Magazine → Teens and Twenties

Leah Katz, a TeenZone camper at Oorah’s TheZone summer camp and an 11th grader at Midwood High School, read her winning essay about how TheZone changed her views on Judaism at the Jewish Heritage Awards Ceremony held at Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes’s office in April. The purpose of the Jewish Heritage Essay Contest is to acquaint public school students with Jewish history and customs and to help foster a deeper understanding of Jewish culture. The contest is open to students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. Leah’s essay is reproduced in full below.

Sections → Jewess Press → Impact Of Women On Jewish History/Prof. L. Jackson

Moshe Sharett, the head of the Jewish Agency’s Political Department, visited Egypt in 1945. In Cairo he met a most remarkable young woman, a beautiful journalist who was the darling of Egyptian high society – from high-ranking military brass, to culture icons and Muslim sheikhs, to the court of King Faruk.

Sections → Family → Marriage and Relationships

The two proceeded to talk about everyday things and surprisingly her mother-in-law did not find anything else to criticize. This occurred a few more times, with my client changing the topic every time by complimenting her mother-in-law or mentioning something positive about her.

More Articles from Dvora Waysman
Waysman-050313
InDepth → Op-Eds

Jerusalem was never real to me. It was a name I came across in books of Bible stories as a child. If I’d ever tried to imagine it, it would have been like places in my books of fairy stories. I knew it was a city with crenellated walls, with domes and towers and minarets. In my mind, I saw it peopled with old men with long beards and flowing robes, and women with clay jugs precariously balanced on their heads.

Waysman-042712-Flag
Sections → Magazine → Devora Waysman

Jews all over the world celebrate Israel’s Independence Day – even those who have no intention of ever coming on aliyah, and many of whom have never even visited Israel. “It’s a kind of insurance policy” one overseas friend told me. “By supporting Israel financially and emotionally, I know that its sanctuary is available to me or my children or grandchildren should the need ever arise.”

In Print → From the Paper

As we get older, nostalgia takes over many areas of our life and we often yearn for things from the past.

Sections → Magazine → Devora Waysman

One of the most popular of our chaggim is Simchat Torah, which falls on the last day of Sukkot. As its name suggests, Simchat Torah celebrates the joy of the Torah. There is no record of this holiday before the 11th century, and its origin may have been in Spain.

Sections → Magazine → Archives → Tributes To Irene Klass

The first time I met Irene Klass, of blessed memory, was in Israel. I was an olah hadasha (new immigrant) in 1971, and she had come to visit her daughter Naomi, who at that time lived near me in the Jerusalem suburb of Kiryat Moshe. “What do you do?” she asked me. “Well, I’m a writer, but haven’t found much work in Israel. In Australia, I was helping my husband in his pharmacy as a Revlon Beauty Consultant.”

Sections → Books

Noah’s Ark. Do we believe it really happened or was it a kind of Biblical legend, allegory or parable? The author, an anthropologist as well as a barrister and criminologist, has done an amazing amount of research into ecology, and come up with a fascinating theory and a gripping children’s story of how it really might have been.

Sections → Magazine → Devora Waysman

Every year, on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, we celebrate a strange holiday – Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees. The name is a short form of 15th Shevat – tet = 9 and vav = 6. This year, Tu b’Shevat falls on 3rd February, one month before Purim. It also has other names – Chag Hailanot – the Festival of the Trees; and Chag Haperot – the Festival of the Fruit.

InDepth → Op-Eds

The air over Jerusalem is saturated with prayers and dreams
Like the air over industrial cities
It is hard to breathe….

    Latest Poll

    If you could only choose one of the following scenarios regarding Chareidi IDF service, which would you choose?





    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...

Printed from: http://www.jewishpress.com/sections/magazine/archives/tribute-irene-klass/i-remember-irene-2/2010/12/01/

Scan this QR code to visit this page online:

Related posts:

  1. Chronicles Of Crises In Our Communities
  2. Two Different Relationships
  3. Say What?
Close