Rudolf (Yissochor) Meyer, beloved father of Rabbi Yaakov Meyer and frequent visitor to Denver, passed away April 18, 2015 in Lakewood, NJ.
Burial took place April 20 at Segulah Cemetery in Petach Tikvah, Israel.
Mr. Meyer was born Jan. 6, 1926 to Dr. Nathan and Tillie Meyer in Hamburg, Germany. He attended elementary school in Hamburg before coming to the US in 1938 with his mother and sister. His father had come in 1937. The family fled Hamburg because they experienced strong anti-Semitism.
After attending Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, NY, Mr. Meyer served in the US Army, 1943-46, fighting in Germany and England, including the Battle of the Bulge. Due to his knowledge of German, Mr. Meyer served in US intelligence. He was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in battle.
After his military service, Mr. Meyer graduated Brooklyn College and Brooklyn Law School. He worked as an attorney and as a small claims court judge.
On Aug. 17, 1958, he married Miryam Bollag from Montreaux, Switzerland. The couple had three children and resided in uptown Manhattan, Borough Park and later in Lakewood, NJ.
Although he did not have a yeshiva education, Mr. Meyer loved Judaism and Jewish learning. He became an expert baal koreh (Torah reader), shofar blower, read the Megillah, and led High Holiday services. He studied Daf Yomi for more than 25 years.
He loved and knew American history and was an expert on the Civil War. He enjoyed classical music.
Rabbi Meyer says of his father: ”My father was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a passionate Jew, who was grateful for the gift of life. He had a great sense of humor and focused on the positive. People will remember him by his smile, powerful voice (especially when reading from the Torah) and his open displays of his joy in being Jewish.”
Mr. Meyer is survived by his wife Miryam of Lakewood, NJ, children Tamara (Yehuda) Laufer of Chashmonaim, Israel; Rabbi Yaakov (Chaya) Meyer of Greenwood Village, and Yael (Yaakov) Lock of Lakewood, NJ; sister Hanni Klein of Boring, Oregon, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may sent to Aish Denver, 9550 E. Belleview Ave., Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
