ברוך דיין אמת
It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you of the passing of Harold Halpern. I did not know Harold for as long as many of the members but I was always struck not only by his drive to be heard on issues affecting Israel but also his ability to communicate those views effectively and with moderation. Harold was published often in the Sarasota-Herald Tribune and Sarasota-Bradenton Jewish New, which he shared with pride, and for good reason. After the AAJLJ's 2019 mission to Israel, Harold was inspired to begin his second career as a journalistic contributor on Israeli Law and Politics. His legacy is multi-faceted. You can read some of the articles he wrote for the Sarasota-Herald Tribune here on the AAJLJ website.
A graduate of University at Buffalo Law School and The State University of New York, 1958, he practiced for 64 years and it boggles the mind the weight of sage advice that he imparted over those years and the people that Harold must have helped. Harold spent about half his time over more than 55 years in courtrooms at both trial and appellate levels. Harold once stated, “I represented various clients, including real estate developers, mostly on commercial and tax issues; and Native American tribes, protecting their rights as sovereign nations.”
The Buffalo community recognized Harold’s huge impact over the years with the following honors:
The Benderson Community Service Award at the Buffalo Jewish Federation for his many years of service to the board, including chairing several committees and being Vice President and President of the Bureau of Education and Kadimah, the Jewish Day School
Community Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee, Buffalo
Jewish Philanthropies Community Service Award for his communal activities, including establishing the Buffalo archives project (history of Buffalo Jews) and the successful ad hoc committee for restructuring and visioning the Buffalo Jewish community
Stephen Greenwald once wrote about Harold, “Participants in AAJLJ seminars and webinars, and readers of AAJLJ publications have been enlightened by Harold’s extensive knowledge and understanding of Jewish law and Israeli politics. Augmenting his intellectual prowess is Harold’s sense of humor and zest for life and learning that always color his talks and writings.” Today Stephen writes, "We mourn the passing of our friend and Board member Harold Halpern. Harold was a legendary lawyer in his home city of Buffalo, NY. Known for his skills as an advocate, he took on many human rights causes, including the representation of Native American tribes in New York. He was a fierce advocate on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, and he had a deep understanding of Israeli politics; an understanding that he shared with the Jewish American community through his prolific writing and speaking on the subject. His wisdom and fighting spirit were an inspiration to his fellow members of the AAJLJ. He will be sorely missed and we pledge to follow in his footsteps as advocates for the American Jewish community, the State of Israel, and human rights."
Michael Traison said today, “As we in the American Association of Jewish Lawyers, and Jurists know, Harold was an active engaged advocate for the Jewish people of their nation state untill the end of his days on earth. And his physical absence will not erase his influence and presence among us, as we continue to be affected by our relationship with him, and what he conveyed to all of us in substance, and by example.”
For me his memory will be a blessing and as we in the ladino speaking community wish Una Vida Larga – a long life – to his wife Susan, his children Bruce (Karin) Halpern, Lisa (Joel Sciandra) Halpern, and Samantha Halpern (Avishai) Kantor. Grandchildren Brian (Emily) and Kevin Halpern, Julia, Katherine, and John Barnes, and Daniel and Shira Kantor. Great-grandchildren of Ezra, Jonah, and Micah Halpern and his whole extended family. To lose one so committed to his fellow human on this earth is a loss to us all.
