The story of the Steins

 The following is an account by Pessy Krausz of the story of two of our most senior members: Dr David Stein z'l, who sadly passed on only a few weeks ago, and his wife Miriam. We offer our thanks to the Stein family for helping Pessy put this together, and offer Miriam our warmest wishes for the future.

The inspiring story of Miriam Stein and Dr. David Stein z”l

Beware of fruit shop owners with discerning eyes and long beards—especially if they sit next to you in Shul. Some 70 years ago, one such ingenious fellow sat next to the father of eligible medical student David Stein. It’s said, "a nod's as good as a wink"—leading him to catch Dr. Gottlieb, father of lovely daughter, Miriam. And the rest is history. Unlikely as it was, even more so was the miracle of a match between the son of Polish immigrant parents and a daughter of parents of German origin.

 David was youngest of four brothers. His father’s story was one of a struggle to make it to the Goldene Medina, landing on Ellis Island in 1914 having left his wife and two sons, Paul and Joe in Der Heim’ Only two years later, having amassed sufficient funds, could he bring them over to join him in USA. There, despite economic struggles, the couple was blessed with two more sons: David’s brother Julie and last but not least, the hero of out profile, David!

 Miriam’s story was one of a life disrupted when Nazis came to power. A whisper from an acquaintance in the ear of Dr. Gottlieb in 1940 led to him urgently applying for and receiving a visa to leave Germany—but only to get to Cuba. Miriam’s mother, also a doctor, could not leave her elderly parents. Thus, when she was only eight years old, these disastrous events led to Miriam being sent, together with her brother, Fred, by Kindertransport to England.

 Initially Miriam and her adored elder brother, who eventually also became a doctor, were kept together in an orphanage. But Miriam was separated from him when he was sent to the southern seaside town of Margate and Miriam to a non-Jewish family in East of England’s Bedfordshire. She remembers how the family ate meals regularly – though she ate separately with other Kindertransport children whose meals were sent to them by the Kindertransport organisation.

 For the two years of this orderly life Miriam, their little star, was educated in Jewish classes provided for all children evacuated to her locality. Thus Miriam felt she was on familiar ground when finally she was lovingly re-united with her parents. A famous proverb meaning that a person's character and worth are defined by their behaviour, politeness, and conduct is “manners maketh man” to the extent that little Miriam wrote a touching thank you letter to which her host family responded in appreciation. Miriam has both letters to this day. To see them, click here.

 Eventually David’s mother and father’s elderly parents managed to leave Germany and the family was reunited in New York. His grandmother is remembered by both Miriam and her daughter Susie – who kindly joined us – as being very Yiddish in both their language and their mode of expression. For example, when saying See you next week after spending the Sabbath together, grandmother would respond with If I live that long! Still, Susie proudly possesses a glass set of translucent yellowy jug and glasses inherited from her which she re-produced in addition to family photographs as well as the one of her mother with this writer.

When the family relocated to the States, having family there, Miriam’s father—despite his previous qualification—had to retake State medical exams after which he opened his private practice. It’s said that an ill wind blows no-one any good: many of the younger doctors were called up just when the smallpox disease became rampant. It created a demand for serum which Miriam’s father was able to obtain. People who came to be vaccinated remained as patients, thus creating a thriving practice. All the while, Miriam’s mother was the home-maker, only later resuming her medical career as a dermatologist.

 Stemming from a family of doctors, Miriam made no exception to this rule by marrying David in 1955, even though he was still a medical student at the time. His prowess was remarkable. Neither he nor his brothers were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but by dint of obtaining scholarships and working their way through college, they achieved every Yiddishe Momma’s dream. David’s oldest brother became an accountant, the next a lawyer, third a cardiologist and our David a very popular allergist. His winning smile, kindly eyes and gentle voice endeared him to all.

 On marrying, this young couple made sure they would share their Shabbatot equally between their parents. A series of sayings could illustrate this adoring young couple’s early beginnings. "You've made your bed, now lie in in", meaning you must accept the consequences of your choices. Furthermore, the saying "If two people are in love, they can sleep on the blade of a knife" is an aphorism attributed to the American author and nature writer Edward Hoagland. Pirkei Avot, on the other hand, focuses on the nature of love – specifically whether it is conditional or unconditional—rather than on physical circumstances.

 Miriam and David proved their devotion in both the letter and spirit of these sayings throughout years of unconditional love. Indeed, theirs proved to be a match made in heaven in more ways than one. When single, Miriam had been a blood bank technician. But after marrying she become David’s office manager. This demure, quietly spoken princess was responsible for the finances, and hiring and firing of staff who eventually joined David’s thriving practice.

This did not prevent the couple from raising three loving children who in turn realised every Jewish parents’ dream by becoming a doctor, a psychologist and lawyer! Neither did it prevent David from following his hobbies: learning Hebrew calligraphy and, above all, growing flowers and vegetables. So successful was he that, when they were youngsters, their trio would sell the vegetables while the flowers graced their Shabbat table.

 On retiring from his practice, David and Miriam realised another dream and made Aliya in 1995, following their children. For a while David continued working as an allergist and, on retiring volunteered as consultant in Da’at under the auspices of Yad Sarah – the leading volunteer-staffed organization in Israel, which provided compassionate health and home care services for the general public. For 10 years David devotedly participated in a team which responded to people who found no satisfactory solution to queries relating to medical matters—a project which sadly ended with the outbreak of Covid. Miriam was not idle either. For 20 years she volunteered for Melabev’s day care centre devoted to improving the quality of life for cognitively impaired adults. Miriam willingly gave a hand wherever one was needed. One was very much needed by a blind German-speaking patient who had no use of her hands. How she cherished Miriam’s sympathetic weekly German conversations!

Sadly, in his later years David became wheelchair-bound, but that did not stop him from having a cheerful chat whenever our paths crossed. Increasingly frail, David passed away some two weeks before my meeting with Miriam. As always, her petite figure with its upright posture belies her age. Indeed, she is a star in our Sunday morning chair Yoga group. Dressed immaculately, Miriam follows the moves with concentration. Our yoga teacher confirms that she has made considerable progress!

 Having made only blended food for David latterly, since the short painful time of his passing Miriam confided she has already returned somewhat to her love of baking and cooking. “Well,” she reminisced, “That’s what he would have wanted...and after our 70 years together, this is the way it is. We had a gift from Hashem.”