by Roger B. Jacobs
Special to NJJN

August 20, 2009

I attended the funeral recently of Arnold Fingerhut, who passed away last month at the age of 93. I knew him from Union, where Arnold was the father of a boyhood friend, but I really did not know his life story until last week. The “Arnie” I had known was a friendly, warm man who had a European accent and was always kind and welcoming when I entered his home. As far as I knew as a boy, Arnie and his family had come from Newark and Irvington and his son had been in yeshiva until I met him in fifth grade.

What I did not know was that Arnold was a true hero, a “survivor,” with a story that could serve to motivate all of us today. Arnold came from a small town in Poland and escaped with his brother from the Nazis. The brothers hid for four years, out of sight but with their confidence and religion intact. Thanks to the kindness of a family of devout Catholics, Arnold and his brother survived the war holed up in a barn. Tragically, the rest of their family perished.

The two brothers had a constant quest to move west, escaping the Russian forces and eventually getting far enough to begin working and starting a new life in Europe. With his lifetime clarity and conviction, he married Rose within two weeks of meeting her; they were together for more than 60 years.

Arnold and his young family came to Newark, that mecca for many of us, where Jews came to get a start and live the American dream. Arnold, who owned and operated a grocery store, had no leg up — no family funds, no trust funds — but accomplished everything through his own hard work. His only formal education came from his wits and his energy.

When at age 10 I encountered Arnie, he always greeted me with a twinkle in his eye, with kindness, and with respect. I remember going to his house all through high school. The one fact you could always count on was that Arnie would have deli meats in the refrigerator. His home was filled with warmth and happiness. He instilled in his children the love of family and hard work. He was blessed with two children, who have fulfilled the American dream, and five grandchildren.

Arnold Fingerhut’s legacy is that there was no obstacle he could not overcome. He did not complain, he persevered. Rather than succumb to natural and unnatural forces, he was decisive and proceeded with conviction to carve a life out for himself and his family, always faithful to his God.

I had not seen Arnie in many years but had only fond memories of him that perhaps were frozen in time in my own boyhood. In the twists and turns of life, his daughter turns out to be married to my wife’s first cousin. When I saw the warmth and devotion that Rose, Jennie, and Jack shared at Arnie’s funeral, I knew that further tribute was necessary for me and our community to express support for this fallen hero.

Roger B. Jacobs, an attorney, is a vice president of the NJ State Association of Jewish Federations and former chair of the Community Relations Committee of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ.

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