Rabbi Sandman came to our little shul in Wildwood-
to 'audition' for the role of Rabbi.  
His spirit and intelligence and wisdom captivated us all.
He bat-mitzvahed our daughter.
A wonderful man.  His memory is a blessing.

When Rabbi Sandman "auditions" to assume the pulpit at our  Wildwood synagogue,  a small group of congregants has assembled in the sanctuary.  A classic center aisle turn of the last century room, with far more pews than our small membership ever needs.  
As is the custom, the congregants crowd the rear, or as my dad used to say: you must come early to shul to get a seat in the back. I recall the buzz as Rabbi Sandman climbed up to the pulpit, he is older than expected, a bit portly, old fashioned.  Rabbi looks down the half empty room.  He lifts the lectern and carries it down the steps and down the aisle, setting himself up in the midst of the shocked congregants.  He then lays out his ideology; with a take it or leave it tone.  He knows our congregation spans from Orthodox to Reform, traditionalists who won't (yet) accept women at the Torah to alternate lifestylists looking for nirvana.  He yields to no one- this is the way it will be if we want him as our new Rabbi.  I remember him stating all this as a fixed number of points-like Martin Luther at the gate.  And so this dear seemingly unassuming man brought our shul into the contemporary world; retaining members of all stripes, and bringing vitality to our backwater.  He Bat Mitzvahed our daughter, and mentored many.  To a great Rabbi and teacher.  Farewell.

Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel

Robert Sandman

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Robert Sandman

9 November, 1935 – 7 December, 2020

Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel

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