Remembering Rabbi Beller - Rav, Educator, Listening Human Being

What an incredible teacher, Rav, educator, listener and human being Rav Danny Beller was. It's so hard to say his name in the past tense, because the Torah he shared and the essence of who he became will Be'ezrat HaShem be with us always.

So many memories come pouring back, learning together in the Gush; break-dancing together at weddings as young yeshiva students; seeing the extra spring in his step and on his face when he met Arny, his beloved eishet chayil, sharing educational discussions as madrichei Tochnit Shabbat for the Jewish Agency,, coming to South Africa to give shiurim and meeting his baalei batim in Johannesburg... and especially the incredible impact he had coming back home to live in Rannana.

It was always such a treat when I would see him at Semachot, or on midnight Old City tours that he organized.. I always walked away from those meetings enriched.

Most of all, I cannot remember Danny - Rabbi Beller , without a smile, often mischievous, when some great thought or witty comment was about to spring forth.

He had a way of making everyone feel special, and he was the essence of "Naeh doresh, na'eh mekayem". He talked the talk and walked the walk. He loved all Jews, and all people, all the time, but was never afraid to tell them when there was some way they could become even better. He had an enormous belief in Hashem's goodness, and in people's as well, and it was this love of all that endeared him to so many. (Cannot count how many times he would agree to perform a chuppah for people he did not even know who needed a sympathetic Rav to be w them under their chuppah) .

What an incredible role model and what an inspiration to so many thousands of Jews in so many places, and on so many levels.

What he accomplished in a relatively short time, most people do not accomplish in a lifetime.

I will always miss his infectious smile, his wonderful personality and just knowing he is there....

Ranana and Am Yisrael lost a special special human being whose Torah will live on as will his ethical role model.

Rav Binny Freedman

Rosh Yeshiva Orayta