Farewell to the Exceptional Man Who Laughed in the Face of Death

The Goldschmidt family, along with tens of thousands of admirers, mourn the passing of Rabbi Kalman Goldschmidt ztz"l. Four years ago, doctors gave up on his life and suggested he say his goodbyes quickly. Yet, he proved his faith, devotion, and joy every moment. A sketch of the character of Rabbi Kalman Goldschmidt ztz"l.

Forty years ago, Kalman Goldschmidt was a regular theater actor. He spent his days in rehearsals and preparations for the theater and his nights on stage. In between, he rode his motorcycle for fun, explored the old neighborhoods of Haifa, performed stunts with neighborhood friends, and often went to the beach. "The theater was work. The sea and the motorcycle were my life," he said.

A few years later, Goldschmidt had become a bearded Orthodox Jew, with spiraling sidelocks. In a past interview with 'B'Kehila', Kalman discussed his transformation from a theater actor to a devout follower of Breslov chassidut. "My grandfather's name was Kalman. He was a Polish Jew who lived in Lublin. I don't have much information about him," Kalman recounted. "He had seven children, and my father was the youngest. He was born right in the middle of World War I. Very few Jewish children were born in those hard years. Only divine providence knew that he would be the sole survivor of the Holocaust, destined to become a bridge for establishing a glorious family of God-fearing and righteous children."

Watch: (Courtesy of the 'Orot' channel)

"I was also born after a war, in Jerusalem in 1949, at the end of the War of Independence. My late mother was ailing, and I was sent to grow up on a kibbutz as an 'outside child'. Naturally, I became a wild person, out of control. I rode horses and acted wildly."

Kalman continued to share his great distance from religion. "It's not that I denied, heaven forbid, or even disbelieved. I simply didn't know anything about the concept of a Creator, of humility and faith." His disconnect was so complete that when his unit took part in conquering and purifying the Old City of Jerusalem, he was perhaps one of the few in the country who wasn't part of the celebration of the Western Wall's liberation. "I simply didn't know what it was. Only months later did I visit," he said.

Kalman began drawing nearer to Judaism. He never forgot the day he officially embraced Orthodox Judaism. "It was actually Shabbat. The next day was Shavuot. With a pack on my shoulders and grown-out hair, I stumbled into Rabbi Badani's yeshiva. There, by a stroke of fate, I found the exact person I was seeking. That was where I began my path."

Kalman became a true Breslov chassid, connected to God with every fiber of his being. He married, had ten children, and over thirty grandchildren. "I dedicated myself to Hashem," he said in an interview with the outreach site 'Achinu'. "But what did I receive in return? I received ten children and nearly thirty grandchildren. What beauty! What satisfaction! What’s a motorcycle worth compared to a child? What comparison can even be made between a sea bath and ten minutes with your sweet grandchild? I gave him a lot, and I received back twice as much."

Four years ago, Kalman was told he had a terminal tumor in his body. It's hard to put into words how he elevated everyone around him. As a devoted follower of Rabbi Nachman's teachings, he often quoted: "It is a great mitzvah to always be joyful - because all diseases come only from lack of joy."

"When a person is happy and laughs, 40 muscles in his face are operated. These muscles activate the endorphins which strengthen the immune system. Isn’t it worth it?" he asked with a broad smile to anyone worried about his health. "Haven't you heard of the 'bank of smiles and laughter'? If you haven't, you should open one for yourself too. It doesn't cost money at all. Give a smile, a little laugh - and you're rich."

"Every day, you need to enter the facial workout room. Ha ha... ha ha... develop those facial muscles. After a while, it comes easily, naturally. Practice every day. Get used to your face going upwards, not downwards..." And here, R' Kalman, in his well-known acting talent, demonstrates a sad face, gloomy, with drooping features.

When someone called him for advice, Kalman told him: "First of all, please give a tremendous laugh for the bank of smiles and laughter for the healing of Kalman Kalonymus ben Rachel. No, not that kind of laugh," he said after hearing a bashful, hesitant laugh over the phone. "A real laugh," and then Kalman burst into laughter that spread to anyone who heard.

"Hashem has a gun pointed at my temple and says: 'Either you laugh or I shoot!' So I laugh...", said Kalman and laughed.

"The main thing is to be attached to Hashem twenty-four hours," he would often say. "One hour of 'a broken heart', heaven forbid not sadness - that's forbidden! All the rest - just joy!" he repeatedly said.

To one interviewer's question: "Aren't you afraid?" Kalman really couldn’t understand the question. "Of what? The fact that I'm going to die? Wait, do you know of anyone who won't die?" he retorted and chuckled again. "My fear of death is constant, just like it was two months ago, not one bit more. I have a Father, a King who kills and revives. He doesn't work for the doctors, he isn't impressed by them; he has a detailed plan for me, nothing will happen without his decision."

Afraid of death? You made him laugh. "At least three times a day, I see death before my eyes. When I recite the verse 'Hear O Israel, Hashem is our God, Hashem is One', I visualize an ISIS executioner approaching me with a large, rusty knife. He offers me two options: either go against Hashem's will, or he will slowly saw off my head. Happily, I extend my neck and tell him, 'Go ahead and cut.' So why should I be afraid?

Doctors gave up on his life, but Rabbi Kalman kept laughing. "There are seven billion people in the Creator's world. And out of them all, he chose me. He has put his sights on me. He’s personally dealing with me Himself. Oh, what a privilege I have. I thank you, Holy One, blessed be He, for giving me such personal attention."

"The end of a person is death. So perhaps providence decreed that I won't live 150 years. Perhaps I'll only get 120, maybe less. So what? When I consider all the goodness that Hashem has showered upon me from my youth until this very day, I am filled with gratitude and thanks. How many Jews have the merit to raise a family with ten children, all of whom, thank God, are God-fearing? So yes, maybe it's decreed that I 'go out' this week and not get to be at my grandson's circumcision. Should I therefore forget all the kindnesses?"

To the interviewer's question: "Aren't you worried about the children you haven't yet married off?" R' Kalman was shocked: "What are you talking about? Did I 'marry off' children? What are you talking about! Hashem is the one who married off my older children, and He will marry off all my children and grandchildren. I only attended the wedding. And with His help, I will attend the weddings of all the children. And if His wisdom decrees that I participate from heaven, what, am I supposed to break down because I don't get to dance with a 'broom'?...

Last week, on the 10th of Sivan, 5778, the remarkable life story of Rabbi Kalman Goldschmidt ztz"l concluded. Take with you words from his orderly teachings, a mere fraction of which was revealed to us in recent years – may these words elevate the soul of Rabbi Kalman Kalonymus ben Rachel.