Cashing in a Receipt

An epilogue to last week’s tribute

When he lived in Cleveland, Rabbi Berkovicz served on the chevra kaddisha. One day some 23 years ago, he was summoned to perform a routine taharah at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz funeral home. His associates in the task that day would be Dr. Zelig Schur and Reb Shia Neuman. None of the men knew the niftar but all took note of the arm with the tattooed numbers.

The trio performed the taharah in complete silence, in accordance with custom, and left the funeral home. But one detail niggled at Dr. Schur. The cause for his anxiety was confirmed in a call he soon received from Rabbi Berkovicz, who had also spoken with Shia Newman. All three men had perceived the same thing: The deceased had no bris milah.

What now?

Dr. Schur called his father, Reb Doniel ztz”l, a noted local rav and mohel. His instructions were to go perform a bris on the meis — but with glass, not metal. Dr. Schur hurried with Rabbi Berkovicz back to the funeral home and carried out the milah, taking care to bury the orlah in the forest out back.

Afterward, when Dr. Schur dutifully reported all this, his father immediately protested. “No, no! The orlah must be placed in the right hand of the niftar. It will serve as eidus that he had a milah. Avraham Avinu sits at the gates of Shamayim and protects those who have been circumcised.”