Thursday, September 3, 2020
When I heard of Peter's passing, I was so shocked and saddened that I could not stand for a few moments.
Peter and I were childhood friends here in Lakewood, and spent a lot of time together on many Shabbos afternoons at his Parent's home, where I was made to feel very comfortable by both his amazing parents. When we were in our young teens, we would often meet at Rabbi Baruch Ber Yoffe's home on 5th Street, across from the original Day School Building, to learn a few lines of Rashi with the Rabbi, and then enjoy delicious parve ice cream and other nosh from Mrs. Yoffe.
Peter was a good-hearted friend, always willing to do someone a favor, or to enjoy an outdoor adventure. I met up with him years later when he was a manager in Lowes in Howell, and he still was his funny, helpful old self.
My favorite story about Peter was when we were 14, we went on Purim to visit our Talmud Torah teacher Rabbi Bodenheimer. Being Purim, he poured us each a small shot of schnaps, and jokingly said how we had to drink it or he'd feel insulted. Well, after I drank mine (and it wasn't easy), while my back was turned Peter switched my empty glass with his full one, and when the Rabbi returned to the room he asked me why I hadn't touch my drink yet! My mother said that I came home unable to walk a straight line from those 2 shots.
I'm sure Peter was very proud of himself then.
I will miss him. May Hashem grant his mother and his family great comfort from their loss, and may Hashem grant Peter a kapparah from any aveiros, and bring Peter's neshomah close to Himself with rachamim.
-- Shepsil (Steve) Scheinberg
