And it struck me as I heard the sad news —David Golden lived 110 years. That’s not just a milestone. That’s Torah. Two of our greatest leaders—Yehoshua bin Nun and Yosef HaTzaddik—both left this world at the age of 110.
Yehoshua, the faithful student of Moshe Rabbeinu, was the one who had the courage to lead the Jewish people into the Land of Israel. He didn’t just preserve the past—he pushed us into the future. Mr. Golden shared that same drive.
He had a passionate love for Eretz Yisrael and was constantly encouraging me—sometimes pressing me—to help our young people understand its value, not as a political entity but as a spiritual inheritance.
When the war broke out on October 7th, I took my cue from David. I began working directly with the Ministry of Defense and other organizations. David reminded me of something we once discussed: that in Yehoshua’s time, every soldier went to battle with an entire support system behind him. He believed that today, we have the same responsibility—to stand behind our soldiers, to support them, and to be part of their mission.
He believed in the next generation, and he held all of us personally responsible to shape it.
And like Yosef, who sustained not only Egypt but the entire known world—mefarnes ha’olam—Mr. Golden was the quiet sustainer of this community. For over a decade, it was through his generosity that our synagogue stayed afloat. He made sure the doors stayed open and the lights stayed on. He didn’t seek credit. Like Yosef, he did it with humility, wisdom, and a deep sense of responsibility to others.
He didn’t just live to 110—he lived a life that echoed the greatness of Yehoshua and Yosef. He led. He sustained. And he did it all with strength, grace, and vision.
He was our Superman—not just for living long, but for living right. For having our backs. For loving deeply. For caring fiercely. For giving without seeking honor. Mr. Golden, Yehi zichrecha baruch—your memory is a blessing, and more than that, a mission. May we live in such a way that your dreams, your values, and your love for Torah, Am Yisrael, and Eretz Yisrael continue to inspire generations to come.
And so, I leave us all with this call to action: You walked in here one way—leave another. Be inspired by Mr. Golden to live with integrity, to act with courage, to support your people, and to love without hesitation. Build something lasting. Stand for what’s right. And carry forward the legacy of a man who never stopped standing for others.
Tehi Nafrsho Serurah BeSror HaChaim
Reprinted from the Parashat Matot-Masei 5758 email of Rabbi David Bibi’s Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace.
