יואל בן חיים אליעזר וחיה דבשה ז"ל
Born: May 8th 1930, י' אייר תר"ץ Boston MA; Married in Jerusalem on February 4th 1975
Passed away: January 23rd 2021 י' שבט תשפ"א, שבת פרשת בא Brookline MA
Survived by his wife Leah, his three sons: Chanania, Zion and Chaim and his grandchildren: Chaya and Yeshaya
An Attempt to Write an Obituary
Rabbi Joel Orent is still a living presence in our home, not just a memory. His photographs, portraits and landscapes, are talking to us from the walls. His rose bushes are still blooming, his books keep his hand-written notes. There are not enough words to describe his rich and diversified life, engaging personality, his art, the variety of his academic pursuits, his many interests and hobbies and above all, his deeds of loving kindness.
Joel was admitted to Yale University for his undergraduate studies. He proceeded to Harvard Business School, graduating in 1953. Following a family tradition, he served in post war Germany as a translator for the military intelligence.
One of the Rabbis, who was kind enough to make a condolence call, remembered Joel as a seeker at heart, searching for meaning and religious relevance. Indeed, he cultivated connections with Jewish and non-Jewish religious leaders. He met the late Rebbe of Lubavitch, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik as well as: Thomas Merton, Hindu Swamis, Buddhist Gurus and Zen masters. Then, persuaded by the late Rabbi Wolfe Kelman, he came to the JTS, where he rapidly acquired proficiency in Hebrew and Aramaic. It enabled him to read and understand the Chumash and its interpreters, a page of Talmud, a paragraph of Zohar, even Israeli Hebrew literature. However, his interests were purely religious and intellectual, he was not motivated to fulfill the role of a congregational Rabbi.
During his years in the seminary, he was also enrolled in Columbia University, Department of English Literature, graduating both institutions in 1960. He received a grant from Columbia for a PhD in the Department of Comparative Religion. His goal was to explore and research the phenomenon of the spiritual guide, the Guru. However, he decided to quit, deterred by the unresolved conflicts, involved in the subject matter. This realization led him to search for meaning in the dimension of humanity, extending above and beyond any particular religion, or ethnicity.
Above and beyond his religious quest and academic interests Joel loved people. He had the unique ability to communicate with people of all walks of life, from bank tellers, receptionists, sanitary workers to renowned scholars, professors and politicians. He was always available for a deed of loving kindness. For many years, he volunteered with Rofeh International, an organization founded by the late Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Horowitz that provides accommodation and assistance for Israelis and Jews coming to Boston for medical treatment. He volunteered to provide transportation from the airport back and forth, and to translate from English to Hebrew during medical appointments. He invited people to the house and helped them to find their way in a foreign city. They remained in touch for many years after.
His genuine interest in people is expressed in his art of photography. He aimed at revealing the divine light, hidden in the human countenance, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, class, or other divisions. Sometimes, he used to wait for days, even months until he found the perfect moment for making a portrait. His outstanding portraits include some of his teachers in the seminary, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Prof. Saul Lieberman, Israeli and Jewish authors, like Eli Wiesel and Aharon Appelfeld, artists like Anna Tycho and Chana Robina, politicians like Golda Meir and Shimon Peres and many more. He exhibited his work both in Jerusalem and in the United States. His book of photographs: “My Enlightening Heart” (לבי אור) was published in Jerusalem in 1975.
Joel’s passion for life was extended to everything living: plants, animals and living nature. He was an avid gardener almost all year round. His garden attracted visitors from all over the neighborhood, who came to view and to take photos. He nurtured dogs and cats, who made peace in his presence.
Last but not least, he was an outdoors enthusiast. When young and unmarried he hiked and climbed alone. Later as a married man, he was joined by the whole family in hiking, mountains climbing and canoeing. As a family of five, we hiked and canoed in New Hampshire, Maine and Canada, until it became impossible. A person like him, who was larger than life leaves a huge vacuum. Besides many lovely memories, we are left with his photographic legacy, which preserves his unique vision for posterity יהי זכרו ברוך
Leah Orent
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