Baruch Goldstein
(1948 - 2008)

One day I was walking out of a bookstore in Greenwich Village in NYC and I heard a voice speaking to me. I turned and there was a gorilla, or rather, Baruch Goldstein disguised as a gorilla. He had rented a gorilla suit like they use in the jungle movies and he was handing out Jews for Jesus tracts in Greenwich Village. He said, "Would you like one, Phil." I said, "Sure, Baruch. You don't fool me. I'd know you anywhere!" I always loved him and always saw him as my friend. Thank God for his salvation and his wonderful ministry that touched countless lives. No one was like him. No one will ever be like him.

For a dear brother… Baruch was both a blessing and a catalyst in my life and ministry. The two of us couldn’t be more different. “Your nickname was Gentle Ben,” he once kidded me, adding, “people had other words to describe me.” Well, here are a few words that come to mind when I remember Baruch: dedicated, fiercely loyal, determined, faithful and awfully funny. During my first assignment in NYC, I saw the incredible focus that allowed him to accomplish goals with single-minded intensity. Like so many, I was in awe of his incredible capacity to motivate and direct the skills and talents of believers. One time during a NYC campaign I heard him speak on Nehemiah3: 20 “Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.” (The KJV says he’s “earnestly” making repairs.) Baruch projected himself into the text, imagining this Baruch, like himself, resolved to do his part; and then urged us to rebuild the spiritual walls of a new Jerusalem. There’s another story that I think Baruch would want me to tell. In the early 90’s I stepped out of ministry—feeling burned out and deeply aware (as I had once been so sure of my calling) that my time as a congregational planter had ended. I had to stop and regroup. When I shared that decision with him, confidentially saying that I felt this was the best decision for my wife and young child, he replied, “I got that advice years ago…But what would I do for a living?” Looking back, I wonder what would have happened if this man, who knew how to appear so strong and invincible (like too many fallen brothers and sisters) had taken the “time apart” that he needed. But I also thank God for the impact that he had on my life and on others who seized hold of his courage and vision—and at a later time we had such an assured and loving relationship that when he was lying in a hospital bed he made sure to connect with me by phone to say that I was still in his thoughts and to hear that he was still lovingly in mine. I’m sure, Baruch, you fully grasp Paul’s words: “I press on to take hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua took hold of me. … Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Messiah Yeshua.” (Phil. 3: 12-14) That’s your message, “look heavenward.” I know we’ll embrace again on a distant shore. I’ll look into your face and see peace in your eyes along and that sly little smile. Until then, shalom.

I only learned of Baruch's passing this evening, in an email from another old friend of mine who's been "catching me up" on news of my past JFJ colleagues & co-workers. I am deeply shocked, as I had really not kept in touch, so I knew nothing of his illness, either. It hurts that I got no chance to express my gratitude to Baruch, or even be helpful in any way during his last days and years on earth. But I rejoice as I picture him in heaven, happily making jokes, playing gentle pranks, and looking down on the rest of us with love. And laughing at the knowledge that he's gotten to a perfect place while we're all just running around, living our less-than-perfect lives. I can almost hear the glee in his voice, calling down to friends and family, that we don't know what we're missing... I cannot begin to express the ways in which Baruch touched my life, and my walk with the Lord, but it is enough to say that his memory is indelibly imprinted, almost since the moment of my salvation. This world and I shall miss his presence immensely, and I send my sincerest wishes for comfort to his family and close friends. There is, was, and can only be one Baruch Goldstein, and heaven is, of course, all the richer for it. As we all were for knowing you. Susan (aka: Shayna) Turner-Lelin

a tribute from his daughters Rachel reads - I remember mornings with dad sitting at the table with a cup of coffee brewed, his mug placed on the round coffee warmer and next to it was the Ryrie study bible open and a stack of postcards next to it. Liz reads - I remember mornings when he came back from a run all sweaty and proud that he had ‘kept up with the boys’ with his Cadence music blasting through the earphones. The “SWEAT MONSTER” would always try to hug us and we thought it was gross and run away. Rachel reads - I remember mornings when the sound of ‘sitting on the dock of the bay’ would blast on the stereo, playing on an old record to try to wake up the girls who had slept too long. A blender full of eggs and left over French fries had made its way to the skillet for a Goldstein omelet. Liz reads - Driving was always interesting. Mo-town or smooth jazz or whatever else HE wanted to listen to was playing in the car. At stoplights he would always drummed and SLIIIIIIDE on the dash. He still drove like a NYC taxi cab driver and making it to our destination was an adventure. Rachel reads - It was no secret that he was a prankster and we either fell victim to his pranks or played the straight man and watched others fall. When Liz would invite friends to sleep over a sure way to induct Liz’s new friends to the Goldstein ways was the “Dad’s missing a finger and they don’t know it” gag. After comparing palm sizes, Liz would step away and dad would switch hands, holding the left one up, which was minus one finger. Unsuspectingly, they would mirror that image and following the realizations that something was wrong, there would be screams and quick dashing away. Liz reads - We moved from the city to a suburb, traded an apartment for a house with a backyard and the promise of a clubhouse. A couple nails went into a couple boards and soon that clubhouse idea was traded in and a nylon tent was bought. Rachel had a sleepover in the tent and giggles and flashlights were the perfect set up. Rachel’s friend had just finished telling a scary story and though the details are fuzzy, there were killer squirrels. With stealth and agility, a stick in hand, he started poking the tent from underneath and on the sides. The screams were the stuff movies are made of and the delight of my dad’s heart. Rachel reads - You got to admit, he had a store of patience for the right moments. Mom had just finished tucking Little Elizabeth in bed. Living next to a ravine often brought little furry friends scurrying around the house. Hearing small scratches in the room wasn’t cause for much alarm but on this particular night the scratching was more persistent and localized. After some time, little Elizabeth got out of bed, turned on the light and looked around her room. Upon opening her closet door, she discovered her father sitting on the floor with a propeller beanie on his head, looking up at her with a huge smile. Liz reads - Fast forwarding a few years, now with 2 grown daughters living in New York City. Having taught us his Goldstein ways, with a wealth of quotable movie lines and music, a love for NY food (bagels, Chinese, and Zabaars) and the Bronx bombers. With a recent visit to NYC and he had tickets in one hand and his cane in the other, we climbed into our stadium seats. It happened to be against the Blue Jays and we think we embarrassed him when we sang the Canadian national anthem as loud as we could. However, throughout the game Dad kept taking his teeth out to give us a big half toothy grins to which we replied, “Dad, put your teeth back in.” He would put his teeth back in, satisfied with our embarrassment… only to replay the scene again in a couple minutes. Rachel reads - Dad taught us a lot. He taught us to be bold, to be smart, to be witty, to have chutzpah, to laugh at ourselves and to laugh with others. He gave us a lot of street smarts and to think big and to not take no for an answer. There are numerous movies and songs and foods and places that will always remind us of him. We have the family whistle that, even though he lost, it will always be the way we find each other in crowded places. Liz reads - Thank you all for coming and being with us during this hard and very strange time. It is very obvious to us that somebody is missing. Many of you are uncles and aunts of this extended family. We also want to thank and acknowledge Raye for your amazing dedication, care and love you gave to our father during these last years. Thank you isn’t enough. Rachel reads - Dad gave us something special. Early on, he taught us to love the Lord and serve him. His actions and desire to see people come into a relationship with the Messiah served as our role model. Without this, we would not be where we are today, with our own heart’s desire and prayer to see Israel saved while serving the Lord full time with Jews for Jesus and Chosen People Ministries. Can we all agree that this is one of his greatest accomplishments?

Words from Moishe Rosen Baruch was a lot more to me than a friend or a co-worker. Our life together was like an adventure. He made me feel like we were characters in an Our Gang comedy. Both of us loved mischief. Not the malicious kind of mischief, but, well, let me illustrate it: I was invited to the Jesus Joy Festival to be held on Labor Day of 1972. Baruch wanted to go, and he arranged with the military air transport to meet me in New York. The Jesus Joy Festival gave us two rooms, because I said that he was my bodyguard. And it was credible that I needed a bodyguard, because the Jewish Press came out with a front-page article that was designed to stir people up. It said, “All Jewish organizations have forbidden their membership to attend the Jesus Joy Festival to be held in Madison Square Garden. An apostate who calls himself is the keynote speaker.” Actually, I was supposed to give a ten-minute testimony. But as a result, there arose a clamor, and the Jewish Defense League got busy, and so it was credible that I needed a bodyguard. But what we did—we took the mattresses off the beds, and we had other people move in with us: Dan Rigny, Stuart Dauermann, Bruce Skoropinski. And we all had denim jackets that said “Jews for Jesus” on them. Well, we all knew how to stand up straight, so we looked kind of revolutionary. But the rooms at the Sheraton Hotel were on the 35th side of the street. So we took our broadsides, and Baruch and I folded them into paper airplanes and would sail them one at a time out the window, and they floated down like the leaf at the beginning of the movie Forrest Gump. And lo and behold! Most of the time they were picked up by people. Baruch told me that he had been a cab driver in New York, which I found—well, shall we say, a bit exaggerated, because when I wanted to drive down to Greenwich Village, he ended up parking by the Holland Tunnel. I knew the geography of New York a little better than that, and he said, “It’s just a nice walk. I thought that you would enjoy the walk.” Well, we made quite a hike. There was so much publicity. We did all kinds of interviews with all of the New York newspapers, because no one had ever heard of anyone whom “all Jewish organizations forbad their membership to attend.” When the time came for me to speak, I stood up. Baruch stood at my right with crossed arms, and Stuart Dauermann at my left, and they tried to look tough. Baruch was like me. We both took the Gospel seriously, but we never took ourselves very seriously. He wanted to do the Jews for Jesus work, but he wanted to stay a volunteer, feeling that his veteran’s pension was quite enough. But when he was assigned to Miami, I had to insist that he take a salary. He said, “But why?” I said, “Because. If you take a salary from Jews for Jesus, then I get to be the boss.” He said, “That’s just what I was afraid of.” Where ever Baruch lived, it became a commune. He always had other Jews for Jesus to come and live with him. In the course of his ministry, he was an effective evangelist. Before he became my son-in-law, Alan Bond moved into Baruch’s little commune, and it was Baruch who led my son-in-law to the Lord. Or I think of someone like Steve Wertheim: With Jews for Jesus, we always had teamwork, and Baruch led Steve Wertheim to the Lord. I don’t know if it was Steve’s father or brother who came to the Lord next, but eventually, all of the Wertheims came to faith in Christ. From time to time, we would take offerings. Sometimes, a brother needed a car repaired, or a sister needed an airplane ticket, and the most generous check would be from Baruch. I could pretty much count on it. He was a person who made others smile. If you see a strange paper airplane floating down from Heaven, and you open it up, and find that it’s a Jews for Jesus tract, you’re probably hearing from Baruch, and God is enjoying Baruch’s “mischief.” And I guess the paper airplane made of a tract is just Baruch’s way of telling us that he made it.

Words from David Brickner Baruch was the first among firsts as one of the founding leaders in Jews for Jesus. He was the first branch leader in Jews for Jesus. He opened the Los Angeles branch and the Florida branch. He led the New York and Toronto branches as well. He now has become the first of our founding leaders to go home to be with the Lord. All of us appreciated Baruch’s charm, his mischievous sense of humor, his down to earth love of life and his genuine “street smarts.” If ever you were in a tight situation Baruch would be the guy you’d want to have watching your back. I remember being in one such situation when I was leading the Liberated Wailing Wall, our Jews for Jesus music team. We were doing a concert in front of Brooklyn College which had a high percentage of religious Jewish students. A large crowd had formed and those in opposition were starting to riot. The team was singing, some in the crowd were screaming and throwing things at us. Meanwhile, Baruch was standing there in the front of the crowd with a big goofy grin on his face. He made a motion to me with his hands that I shouldn’t worry, that he had things under control. Well it sure didn’t feel that way, especially as a group of young protesters started advancing toward us. I was playing the trumpet and one of the guys was about to shove that trumpet right through my teeth when two squad cars of New York’s finest screeched up to the curb where we were performing. The protesters stopped dead in their tracks and we were able to continue singing. Baruch’s timing was impeccable and his big grin during all of it helped take some of the edge off my own fear. Afterwards he took us all to a deli. He was just so much fun to be with. Baruch lost his way for a while, left the ministry of Jews for Jesus, left his family and even left the Lord. Eventually the Lord brought him back to Himself. After many years of being estranged I heard that Baruch was very sick in the V.A. hospital in Florida (he was a Viet Nam vet). I went to visit him and when I walked into his hospital room he began laughing. He said, “I must be dying if my enemies are coming to visit me.” I said to him, “Baruch, I’m not your enemy,” and we were able to talk and clear the air. He was on his way back toward faith and obedience to the Lord and I was grateful to renew that contact and do my best to encourage him on that path. It was one year ago that Baruch came out to San Francisco with his wife and his uncle. He called me to ask, “if there was any good place to stay.” I invited them to stay in our Shalom Hospitality House and had the privilege of taking Baruch to visit Moishe where we shared a lunch of sushi in Moishe’s home. I admire the gesture Baruch made to resolve an outstanding conflict and make the effort to come to San Francisco and meet with Moishe. It was bittersweet for me to see these two men who shared so much in common, so many memories of service to the Lord but who had drifted so far apart over the years. I rejoiced to see them recounting better times but I also had a sense of melancholy over all that was lost in the in-between time. Well, Baruch is now in glory with the Lord Jesus and that loss that those of us still feel here on the earth has been taken away finally and forever for Baruch. Praise the Lord!

I recall running with Baruch in some forest near Toronto and him relating a story of his time in Vietnam… years have gone by since then… not so long ago I sent him an email hoping he'd remember me, he said "of course I remember you". I still remember you Baruch! blessings Steve Tel Aviv, Israel

I did not know Baruch very well but well enough to miss him. I rejoice for Him, as he is now in the presence of his Messiah, Yeshua. You are missed, Baruch, but I will see you again. Olivier Melnick

GOD drew me in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT thru the "group" of New York Jews living at and involved with the Balboa St. hippie "family" commune in San Francisco(1970-1971). Remember what it was called?....The Freaky Dude Ranch!(See us dressed up for Halloween in 1970 in the photo section of this site. :>) One by one I saw my New York Jewish hippie friends step out in faith and accept JESUS CHRIST as their MESSIAH. I'd grown up knowing of CHRIST's death and resurrection. Went forward at a revival meeting and prayed to receive CHRIST at 13. But there had been no follow-up, so I stagnated. For me, the improbability of JEWS accepting JESUS so impacted me, that I gave my life totally and completely to CHRIST. BARUCH(then called Bruce)was a close friend and one of the gang. I am still amazed at how many people were drawn to a personal relationship with GOD during "those days"! Thanks, Baruch, for your part in helping GOD reach lost souls back then! I last saw Baruch and Raye, when they visited San Francsico a couple of years ago. He will be missed! What a glorious time we will all have, when we join Baruch in heaven!!! Hallelujah! Love to all, Deidra

Dear Liz, I just want to share what a blessing your father was to my family. Back in the early 80's my family lived in Fort Lauderdale. I and my husband are both Jewish. I came to the Lord in 1979. Bernie at that time did not know or did not want to know who Jesus is. Baruch came to our home and became a friend to Bernie. There where times when Bernie would be at the soccer field and your father would wait till Bernie came home. To make a long story short Bernie excepted Jesus as his Lord...Many lives were changed thru Bernie He was a mighty man of God. Your father was such a vital part of Bernie's salvation. Now Bernie is also with the Lord and he will tell Barauch himself. I talked to your father and few months ago. Jack who lives in Phenix came to Las Vegas and we had a home bible study here. Jack gave me your fathers phone number and I called your father and told him how thankful I was for him. I was so blessed to be able to talk to him and tell him the rest of the story since we moved to Las Vegas. My prayers are with you and your family and remember your father is in your future Rita

(sent to mitch, but words express what many are feeling) Dear Mitch, We are part of an enormous group of people who loved and appreciated the special life of Baruch Goldstein; all that was good and all that was a struggle, we still love him! But for you, I know it is loss that is more than a brother. Helene and I want you to know we are grieving with you (and the few others who knew him the way you did) and we will be standing on this coming Shabbat for Baruch during the mourners Kaddish at Shuvah Yisrael on Long Island. We will ask everyone to stand with us if they wish to and we will not forget him. He is for many of us the first of our generation to go. When I spoke to Larry Feldman he said the same thing. I also spoke to Jhan and we prayed together for a few minutes. Our time is so short to accomplish what God has called us to do, let's do everything we can to love and appreciate each other while we are still here. We love and appreciate you Mitch. You were and are a faithful and true friend to Baruch. You and all who weep over his loss are in our prayers. In Messiah's Chesed v'emet David, Helene and our Shuvah Yisrael family

Dear Rachel and Elizabeth, I just found out today that your dad passed away on October 26th. I'm certain that both of you know fairly well how far back your dad and I go, indeed, to our childhood. Although we experienced many youthful adventures together, through adolescence and early adulthood, and ultimately went our separate ways in manhood, there always a existed a brotherly bond between Bruce and I which was never diminished. At a time in our lives, we were best friends. My family knew him as my best friend, and he was regarded by all of us, my mom, dad, and my brothers, with affection and love. I knew his family intimately, your grandmother, grandfather, and uncles Freddie and Richie. I spent a life of weekends sleeping over your dad's house, in his room on the high rise from under his bed. We spent summers together on the beach at Far Rockaway, teenagers with our lives ahead of us, bold, daring, undaunted. My entire family is saddened by his passing. The last time we were together, I met him in New York and we went to Southstreet Seaport, to a bar overlooking the East River. Because of the prescribed medication he was on, he couldn't indulge in more than one beer with me. I'm of the mind that he wasn't even allowed to have that one beer as a consequence of his medication and condition. However, I always found in your father a good measure of the reckless and cavalier, bordering on the divine. To all who knew him, he was a lovable and dauntless rascal. We chatted over hors d'oevres while sipping our beers, and reminisced over our youth, journey through life and our families. Afterward, we drove back to JFJ in midtown, and amazingly, and coincidentally, my daughter Valerie joined us as we drove cross-town (I had called her to say hi, and found out that she was walking toward the very area we were in.) Then, we proceeded to JFJ where Elizabeth was waiting for her dad. It was truly a great moment for both Bruce and me to have both our daughters present to cap off the occasion. We hugged and kissed one another expressing our love and friendship for one another over the years. My love to you both, Ron Zinner

I became friends with Baruch because of our working together with JFJ. When we both left the organization our contact with each other diminished as is so often the case yet I always knew that he was a friend in the purest sense of the word and he'd welcome contact from me anytime. I last saw Baruch many years ago when he was living in Ft. Lauderdale and I went down for a visit and he welcomed me into his home. Even though we hadn't seen each other for about 10 years at that point it was as if we had just seen each other yesterday. It was so good to reminisce about the good times we had in the ministry together and some of the jokes and pranks we told to each other and pulled on each other (like the time he emptied my powder under my bed sheets at one of the Ingatherings). We laughed about the time we were in Israel together and while Angi wanted to examine every artifact in the Israel museum, and did so, Baruch and I went through the entire museum in about 15 minutes and then got something to eat while Angi was still exploring. We especially appreciated the way we had both come through some really difficult times and in some ways a parallel journey and came through true to ourselves and maintained our integrity (and sense of humor) through it all. I was so saddened to hear of his ill health these past years and especially of his passing this past week. In the picture montage that Daniel Goldstein so wonderfully and poignantly put together, the picture with Jhan, Baruch and me with his smiling face really tells it all about our friend Baruch. To my friend Baruch...thank you for the all of the joy and laughter you brought to all of our lives. You will be missed beyond words. Rest in Peace.

Baruch Eulogy/Comments Dear family and friends of Baruch. May the Messiah who asked us to cast all of our cares and burdens upon Him of give us peace and comfort during our time of mourning. I’m going to take just a couple of minutes to share a few thoughts. Baruch’s passing into the presence of the Lord has been difficult for me. Some of you know the relationship I had with Baruch since I was 17 years old. He was more than a friend and more than a brother in the Lord –actually, he was closer to me than even a physical brother. Baruch was a part of my family and one of my wife’s dearest friends and partners in crime. My two daughters loved Baruch and viewed him more as an uncle. He has been an important part of our life and family for my entire adult life. It has been very difficult to watch Baruch decline over the last number of years. The last five years have been very tough as he simply unraveled physically because of a deadly combination of disease upon disease. And over the years it’s been also very difficult to watch Baruch unravel spiritually as well. I am not sure that I was always there for him over the last few years but I tried to be – my wife, Zhava though was always there for Barcuh – quite honestly, they were on the phone almost every day until he became profoundly ill. And though I am deeply sorry for the loss of Baruch for you Raye, Eva, Rachel, Liz, Efraim and the extended family, I’m also very sorry for my wife, Zhava, for myself and for those of us who will miss him so much. I’m not sure what life will be like in a post Baruch world. I have the feeling it won’t be quite as much fun but probably a little more wholesome. I suppose I am now almost free from having to listen to just slightly off color jokes and having to try so hard not to laugh. Some of you who know and love Baruch and are followers of the Messiah, but have not been that that close to Baruch over the last few years have asked me over and over again whether or not I thought he was still a follower of Jesus. Dear friends, I cannot remember a moment when Baruch denied his faith in Yeshua – even when he was living a life that was what many of us would consider “far from the Lord”. I think it might be good for me to just state very clearly that I believe Baruch loved the Lord until his dying day and that he is now in heaven. Baruch was at his best and most noble when he was walking with the Lord. He was still playful and mischievous, but let me tell you, when Baruch Goldstein was on target for Yeshua - he was a force to be reckoned with and still in my opinion was the most effective minister among her Jewish people in New York City over the last three decades. Baruch was a great leader, a man of courage, lover of people, a proud father and more. Baruch loved to study when he was more focused on the Lord, but he was not an academic. Yet, Baruch was a man of intelligence and practical wisdom and great depth of soul. Yes, Baruch loved a good joke and many of us wish you he would have told one once in a while and of course he loved a good prank(I will spare you all almost forty years of Baruch prank stories – but his life was no joke and because he was a prankster – it did not mean that he could be very serious. But, in the midst of serious issues, Baruch was able to make them fun and enjoyable and that was a rare gift. OK..one story…( the bedroom in Florida)… We loved Baruch and we will miss him, but we are comforted in knowing he is with His Messiah. May I read what I know what was one of his favorite Scriptures and mine, 1Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.