From Scott (Baltimore, MD)
November 8, 2003 was the date of my Bar Mitzvah. Rabbi Loeb sat next to me on the Beema while Rabbi Schwartz and Cantor King carried in the Shabbos prayers. It's a day I can't forget. I sang for what seemed to be all eternity on the stage. My voice then, was undeveloped and what resulted was a kid who sang like a little girl. However, Rabbi Loeb reassured me that my journey into adulthood would be fulfilling. It's unfortunate that he passed away. He will be missed by the many he touched.
From Laurie Birnbaum-Libby (Lewes, DE)
I am a 46 year old female that is feeling such a profound loss at the passing of Rabbi Loeb. Back in the early 70's Mark Loeb was the Rabbi of my families synagague in New Jersey, Temple Beth Chaim. I was 10 years old when he began teaching me in Sunday school classes, opening my eyes to the Jewish religion, and continuing on to perform my Bat Mitzvah in 1975. He also Bar Mitvahed my brother in 1972, and Confirmed him, later in 1975. He was very close with our family, enjoying dinner with us on a bi-weekly (sometimes weekly) basis for several years. I remember him to be such an easy person to talk to, and as a very troubled adolescent, he helped me through a lot of turmoil with my parents. I also remember engaging stories he would tell with a wonderful sense of humor. Quite a few years went by where we lost touch, although I knew he had moved to Baltimore. I also ended up in Baltimore for college. In 1995, my family suffered a very tragic event, when m
y mother committed suicide. We called Mark about performing her funeral, and his response was ,"absolutely." My mother adored him, and he led a beautiful service. My family is now spread all over the U.S., but I have informed everyone of the passing of Rabbi Loeb. He will be greatly missed.
From Maxine Sisserman (Baltimore, MD)
My Mother of Blessed Memory, Dorothy Rosenberg, worked for Beth El for many years. Years ago when my Father was having open heart surgery at Georgetown, who should show up to console us but Rabbi Loeb and Cantor Hammerman. Two wonderful men whom we have both lost this year, one living a long and full life and one living a full life but not long enough. These two men passed through our family's life - births, bar mitzvahs, weddings and deaths. Their Blessed Memory will be with us all of the days of our lives, and to this we say - Amen.
From The Fradin Family (Pikesville, MD)
The impact that Rabbi Mark Loeb had on the lives of the Fradin Family over the years can not be measured or described in words. Words alone are inadequate. The Eulogy for a beloved wife and mother and grandmother rang with a sincerity and emotion of "menschlikeit" that could never be equalled for those closest to Marilynn Fradin. The Bar Mitzvah of a son....Bat Mitzvah of a daughter...A daughters' Marriage ceremony...a grandson's Briss...A granddaughters' Baby Naming...and most recently, The Simcha of my Marriage to Ailene. Rabbi Loeb will forever have a revered place of highest honor in my heart and in my mind. Mark, I will surely miss you but rest in peace knowing that even of more importance, I will never forget you. Unlike only the closest of Family, the experiences of you in my life, through good and bad, will forever be an indelible imprint.Your Eternal Friend.....Stan Fradin
From Anonymous (Stevenson, MD
He was and he will remain an inspiration to all of us who remember his sermans following his retreat to Western Maryland. He was a man with teriffic insight into the human condition and I hope that his sole will return in some form again so that mankind can be made the better.
From Mr and Mrs. Philip Willen (Pikesville, MD)
Although we have not known Rabbi Lobe intimately as others in our ccongregation & not agreed with his liberal p[hilosohy, we have found we have always appereciated his discussions on our cultural experiences. We will surley miss his insight to life experiences. We have always felt a close relationship to his herartfelt feelings.
From Daniel Weiner (Seatle, WA)
Words can scarcely express the shock and sadness I feel at learning of Mark's passing. Our geographic distance never diminished the power of his menschlikeit or his responsiveness and diligence as a friend. As a young rabbi beginning my career in Baltimore, Mark went out of his way to reach out and mentor me. This continued throughout my rabbinate, up until very recently when he supported a speaking engagement in Baltimore in support of a recently published book. He possessed all the qualities that make for a good rabbi (let alone a human being): An unqualified pursuit of ideals; limited patience with inertia and apathy; realization of principle into action; a fun-loving, at times bawdy side that rendered him utterly and wondrously accessible. He was my teacher, my model and my friend. I love him and miss him profoundly.
From Rabbi Gustavo Surazski, Rami Cohen (Chairperson),Terri Davis and Congregants of Netzach Israel Ashkelon
Please pass on our Congregation's sympathies to Rabbi Loeb's family and to your congregants. We were saddened to hear the news.
Our Condolences.
From Rabbi Philip Pohl (Annapolis, MD)
Below is the message I sent to Rabbi Loeb's Rabbinical Assembly colleagues via Ravnet, our rabbinical listserve. We have lost a wonderful colleague and I have lost a dear friend. I met Mark in the early 1970's when I lived with Ken Goldrich z"l (whose brother Jeff lived with Mark on Claremont Ave,) and Sandy Stadtler (who also later lived with Mark on Claremont Ave,) at 210 W. 101st. It sems that Mark had a tradition of befriending all of us who lived in that apartment including several people who lived there before I did. One night during my senior year in rabbinical school I went to diiner at Fine & Shapiro's with Mark and Marv Goodman (another of Mark's former roomates on Claremont Ave.). Since Mark knew the country (actually the world) so well, I sought his advice as to where to find a pulpit. Mark recommended the suburban Washington/Maryland area and I have been here for the past 31+ years. Much later on he admitted that at least part of this advice was out of self-interest in having another friend close by. Of course, that is exactly what occured and our friendship continued to grow. Mark was a most excellent friend. He always was willing to meet for a meal, to share a simcha, to provide pastoral care to me and countless other colleagues. Mark was a rabbi to many of us!! He always returned phone calls within hours!! Mark & I used to be roomates at the RA conventions and of course I was honored to serve as his co-chairman for the Baltimore convention. Mark was a great darshan (his rule was to never speak for longer than 12 minutes-the time of the first commercial on many TV programs) because not only was he learned in our faith but also because he saw Judaism as a portal to understanding every major issue in life. Perhaps one of the greatest professional tributes to Mark was displayed at his retirement weekend in June 2008. Nearly all (if not all) of his previous assistant rabbis came to Beth El to honor Mark that weekend and in turn, Mark had all of them on the Bimah with him as he was discharged form his duties as Rabbi of the congregation. I cry as I write these words and I will miss him terribly.
T'hay nishmato Tzrura B'tzror Ha-Chaim- Yanuach B'shalom, Rabbi Philip Pohl Congregation Kol Shalom, Annapolis, MD
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