The passing of a soul friend

Editor: "What strengths had to be called upon to describe the loss of his beloved father and sister before his eyes? – Would it not be simpler to carry such secrets to one's own grave? A man such as Leon would not do so. He knows only too well that his tragedy is not his alone, it is ours." Dr. Robert Krell in the preface of No Time to Mourn: A True Story of a Jewish Partisan Fighter by Leon Kahn (1978). Leon Kahn's passing away is our tragedy and great loss too.

Leon was a noble man, a caring and loving man, a generous man. Everything a people would be proud to call "one of us." All those who received his close caring attention know the feeling of humility and dignity that he brought to all relationships.

When I joined Israel Bonds, I learned he was our past chairman twice (1972 and 1981/'82). I was told to expect a tough man. Within minutes of our first meeting I was at ease. By the end of the meeting, we were standing by the photocopying machine, kibbitzing, as Leon copied an article by Yaffah Eliach (author, survivor of his shtetl Eishyshok, a lifelong friend). I knew I wanted to see more of the man – for many reasons.

In a world that now not only has the printed version of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion but a TV version, too, Leon Kahn, a survivor and partisan, instilled a sense of security; a sense of strength and of belonging to a solid tradition. There was this magic pull, a wish to be by his side – a leadership connection. Some might see it as a community and its rabbi, or I might say it was love towards him.

Leon was the kindest of men, always acutely, purposely aware of others. Here's a small example: At a community dinner, Rozanne and I arrived at our table to realize our seats were taken by someone else. As we stood looking around, the emcee at the podium opened the evening program. We slipped to the closest wall. By the time we turned around, Leon had walked over to stand there with us, so we wouldn't feel alone. He managed to turn an awkward moment into a lovely memory.

He had this insight into what it is to be human; you really wanted to be your best with him. He brought out the best in everyone. At Leon's shivah, Joseph Segal spoke of his partnership with Leon – they never had a signed agreement – and added that in his many years in our community he has rarely seen someone so well respected.

Someone mentioned that one of Leon's favorite books was Tuesdays with Morrie and if my memory serves me correctly, we are instructed there to ask ourselves daily, "Are you being as human as you possibly can?" Leon was as close as one can ever be.

Leon attended the June 3 Townhall meeting. Stockwell Day spoke on Canada's history regarding the St. Louis. Day spoke about his recent visit to Israel, telling us about his visit to Gush Etzion (near Jerusalem), how its defenders, many of them Holocaust survivors, had to surrender in 1948 as they ran out of ammunition and supplies. They were promised safe capture but were killed in cold blood. Day said, "Imagine it, Holocaust survivors being killed like that in Israel after all they went through." As he said that, I looked at Leon who sat about halfway down the aisle in the Wosk Auditorium. He sat there in a dark blue shirt, his coat neatly folded over his lap listening intently. I was pleased he heard a Canadian politician speak clearly and loudly like that. I called him at the office on erev Shavuot. I wanted to hear his opinion about the meeting. I was told he had already gone for the day. I said to myself, I will call on Monday. That Monday will never come.

When Leon dedicated his book, he wrote "To my friend Geoffrey." I was proud then, as I am now, to have been regarded a friend. I, like all I have spoken to, feel his loss personally.

In Hebrew we would say he was a yedid nefesh (a soul friend). What more can one ask for in a lifetime? How do we explain the power of that leadership? Maybe it is our 3,000-year tradition of leadership, and he was our role model. I dare to guess that he must have come from a very special family, making his loss even more painful.

I do believe the world is a better place because Leon Kahn z"l lived among us. I do believe Leon Kahn will continue to live on, inside us, as we were taught by the greatest of examples how to be a mentsh.

Yehi zecher baruch (Blessed be the memory of) Leib Arieh (Leon) Kahn ben Shael and Miriam Kaganowicz, Hacohen.

Geoffrey Druker
Vancouver