They called him “Rabbi Riddle” and “Rabbi Nature.” For more than 45 years, Rabbi Menachem Rodal taught children not only Torah and Talmud, but how to extract honey from a honeycomb and how to raise goats. He passed away on April 24 in Los Angeles after an illness. He was 68 years old.
Menachem Rodal was born in Montreal in 1948 to Rabbi Yosef and Faiga Rodal. His father was a Polish-born yeshivah student who had narrowly escaped the Holocaust via Moscow, Siberia and Japan, with a visa issued by Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat who served as vice consul for the Empire of Japan in Lithuania. Together with nine of his peers, the young survivor was dispatched by the Sixth Rebbe—Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory—to found the Rabbinical College of Canada in Montreal.
The younger Rodal grew up in the close-knit Chabad community of Montreal, and then went on to study in Chabad yeshivahs in Kfar Chabad, Israel; and New York.
Following his marriage to Shterna Baumgarten, the couple relocated to Pittsburgh, where he began teaching at Yeshivah Schools.
Even though he taught traditional Judaic subjects, his classes were far from conventional. He peppered his teachings with jokes, word plays and a passionate fascination with nature, showing that G‑d’s hand can be seen through its marvels outdoors.
“Rabbi Rodal would bring in chickens, butterflies, scorpions—all kinds of animals,” recalls Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum of Cheder Menachem in Los Angeles, where Rodal had been teaching since 2002. “He began teaching Talmud and Chumash, and doing this on the side, but then he transitioned to teaching the wonders of nature full time, going to all classes on a rotating basis.”
For decades, he also served as camp rabbi in Camp Gan Israel in Kalkaska, Mich., and later at Machane Mamosh in California. There, as at home, he would raise chickens, ducks, goats, snakes and other critters, allowing children to marvel at the wisdom of their Creator.
“Rabbi Rodal had a unique sense of humor, and a huge repository of interesting humorous thoughts on the weekly Torah portion and just about everything else,” notes Greenbaum. “When he taught, the lessons would come alive. He didn’t just talk about things. He made it exciting and got the children interested as well.”
The rabbi is survived by his wife and their children: Rabbi Mordechai Rodal (Johannesburg), Rabbi Sholom Ber Rodal (Los Angeles), Menucha Rochel Loewenthal (Copenhagen, Denmark), Rabbi Yechezkel Rodal (Inverrary, Fla.), Mirel Levitansky (S. Monica, Calif.), Devorah Leah Heidingsfeld (Moorpark, Calif.), Chana Raizel Sossonko (Miami Beach, Fla.), Rabbi Meir Yitzchok Rodal (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Rabbi Yossi Rodal (Melbourne, Australia), Chaya Mushka Chazan (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Bracha Esther Rodal (Brooklyn, N.Y.); in addition to many grandchildren.
He is also survived by siblings Berel Rodal, Rabbi Shmuel Rodal and Chana Raizel Kagan.
The proverbial hit by a bus when I read about Rabbi Rodal.
I only knew the Rabbi and his family for a few years give or take. But what a few years.
Me being a not yet finished convert was invited to the Rodals for shabbos lunches.
They made a place for me right next to the Rabbi. A great seat to watch Rabbi Rodal in action with his countless puns and jokes. He worked in puns like Rembrandt worked in oils.
His delivery, timing, pace and execution was just superb.
Shabbos guests would look at him with eyes full of bewilderment and they would always (yes always) ask "wait, is this a joke or are you serious?".
He would hold the serious look for a few seconds then he would break into a great big smile. And all the guests are "he got me again." My heart goes out to the Rodals. Such a wonderful family. The world sure seems empty without him, but ya know Gan Eden seems nice and full now. Bye Rabbi I already miss you.