After his prayers, Abraham Gannes enjoys a busy morning walking, studying, writing letters, teaching Hebrew and penning articles of Jewish interest. Then there’s another chapter to add to his book on Jewish education.
All this before he slows down for lunch, if the 90-year-old Cupertino resident can ever be accused of slowing down.
“I’m a busy man,” acknowledges Gannes, who has been called one of the founding fathers of Jewish education in America, and is an active member of Congregation Beth David in Saratoga.
In honor of his 90th birthday, Gannes’ family and friends threw him a Shabbat birthday party at the synagogue in June. Six large posters were hung with pictures capturing his life as a child from a shtetl who lived through the Russian Revolution, to a prominent scholar who met with Israel’s presidents. During the service, Gannes’ son, Howard, read the Torah portion and his grandson-in-law, Jeremy Wiederhorn, a Conservative rabbi in Nevada, gave the introduction to the Haftarah.
And who chanted the Haftarah? Why, Gannes, of course.
When his granddaughter, Rebecca Wiederhorn, herself a Jewish educator, made a speech about her grandfather, several of the congregation found themselves reaching for their handkerchiefs. She tied Gannes into that week’s Torah portion concerning Moses’ choice of 70 elders to lead the Israelites through the desert. The men he chose had allowed themselves to be beaten by their Egyptian masters when the work groups they supervised failed to make their quota of bricks.
“Their selflessness and willingness to provide protection and security for their people identifies them as Jewish leaders, just like my saba [grandpa],” she said.
Many people in the community must agree with Wiederhorn’s assessment of her grandfather. According to Howard Gannes, the family had estimated that 200 people would show up for the service. Instead, the number topped 300.
As Madelyn Isaacs, vice president for finance at Congregation Beth David put it, “If you become his friend, you’re his friend forever.”
Isaacs shared a story underscoring her point.
“When I first met Gannes, he asked me what my father’s name was. He recalled that [he and] my father went to one of the first Hebrew speaking camps — 72 years ago.”
Jewish educational camping was always an integral part of Gannes’ career. He eventually became executive director to Cejwin Camps, one of the largest Jewish educational camps in the country, serving children from the New York area. In his varied career, he’s also served as the first executive director for the Bureau of Jewish Education in Miami and as the director of the World Zionist Organization’s department of education and culture, American section. In his 80s, he wrote a book, “Childhood in the Shtetl.” He’s also made more than 40 pilgrimages to Israel.
And to this day, he’s a teacher.
“There are some basic things I teach,” said Gannes. “The love of Hebrew. The love of Judaism. And the love of Israel in its broadest sense.”
Isaacs is one of many who admires Gannes’ stamina.
“At the age of 90, we should all be as strong as he is,” she said.
What keeps him going?
“Travel,” he answered. “Physical travel, intellectual travel and spiritual travel. Also, I have a lovely family.”
Gannes was married for 59 years to his late wife, Miriam, whom he described as a “wonderful companion.” Together they raised two children.
Chuck Taubman, previously an engineering manager for Hewlett-Packard and an active member of Beth David, finds that Gannes keeps him moving.
“He keeps giving me things to read, piled up on my keyboard. He’s always pushing me to improve. When we meet on Tuesdays for my Hebrew lessons, it’s painful for me. I need a physical workout afterwards,” Taubman said laughing.
According to Taubman, Gannes never asked for a penny for his speaking engagements to senior groups and his mentoring efforts to the young.
“His only compensation is for someone to listen,” Taubman said.
“I’ve always been a community man,” said Gannes. “When I moved here to retire in 1977, I called the federation right away.”
Then he conducted a colloquium on Jewish education at Stanford University and spent the following year as a senior lecturer at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Gannes calls his activities over the last couple of decades “retirement in action.”
During the birthday celebration at Beth David, the congregation acknowledged Gannes’ continuing contribution to Jewish life. Taubman presented him with three certificates. One was a resolution of appreciation from the Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose and another was from Chai House, a senior housing facility in San Jose. The last certificate dedicated shelving and books in Beth David’s library to him.
After the dedication, Gannes leaped up and spoke about his guiding principles for 15 minutes.
Without notes, of course.