by Yehudit Taffel
I am not a member of Rabbi Hauer’s shul, and he almost certainly did not know who I was. I am simply one of the many people in the wider Baltimore community who knew of him and respected his leadership from afar.
During COVID, I went to Ner Tamid one evening when they had some extra vaccination appointments available. By chance, Rabbi Hauer was there as well, getting his shot. We both waited the required 15 minutes afterward, and then were told we could leave at about the same time. Rabbi Hauer was a few steps ahead of me walking toward the exit. Just as we were leaving, he turned towards me and said, “kol tuv.” That was it. He offered this simple bracha and we both went on our way.
I have thought about that interaction many times since. As a single woman in the Jewish community, it is very easy to feel unseen or invisible at times. Rabbi Hauer had no idea who I was – I was just a person from the community who happened to be in the same place at the same time as him. But in that moment, he saw me, acknowledged me, and offered me words of bracha. It was so simple, yet so impactful. I’ve thought about that story many times in the years since it happened, and I’ve shared the story with a bunch of people over the last few weeks. Rabbi Hauer was such a strong example of someone who saw others and treated them with genuine kindness and respect.
Wishing comfort and strength to everyone who knew Rabbi Hauer. May his memory be a blessing.
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