116 entries.
Meghan & Joshua Jalowiec
from
Scottsdale
wrote on June 16, 2020
at
5:09 am
Micah was larger than life and will be missed by so many. There is a gaping whole left in so many hearts. We will miss his presence at celebrations and support during difficult times.
All our love to his family.
Regina and Danny Zelonker
from
Miami
wrote on June 16, 2020
at
4:51 am
Rabbi Caplan was our Rabbi and friend at Bet Shira Congregation in Miami. We loved him and appreciated his sincerity, knowledge, and joy. We are so sad for him, his family, and his congregation.
Abby Binder
from
Phoenix
wrote on June 16, 2020
at
4:14 am
I first met Rabbi Caplan a few weeks after my mom had passed away. He welcomed me with open arms and helped me get through the worst time in my life. He always had a kind word, a hug, or a big smile. He will always have a special place in my heart. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and congregation.
Fern Family
from
Scottsdale
wrote on June 16, 2020
at
4:02 am
After the 1st time meeting Rabbi Caplan (Micah) at our house when presenting a lecture while interviewing for the
Rabbi postion for our shul, our family lives were changed forever. We shared many life cycle moments, dinners, talks, hugs and shul time. He was our friend and Rabbi. He has been a huge inspiration to us. He was taken from us to early. May G-d bless his soul and look after his lovely family. Love from the Fern Family
Mindi Horwitch
from
Tucson
wrote on June 16, 2020
at
12:03 am
Rabbi Caplan came into my life to help my Father die in peace and help our family mourn his loss. Rabbi was a huge comfort to my family and I. Since then I have enjoyed his uplifting, compassionate and educational teachings via videos and occasional attendance in person.
The n ews of his passing was a shock. I feel a huge loss of his wisdom in this time of change and uncertainty.
I send my condolences to his family and the Congregation. He is irreplaceable. And has given us all the gift of teaching us how carry on in his spirit.
Traci Sherman
from
Pasadena
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
10:58 pm
Dear family,
Thinking of you and wishing you moments of peace and comfort during this extremely difficult time. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Love, Traci Sherman ❤️
Pasadena, CA
Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz
from
phoenix
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
10:15 pm
The Lipschultz family remembers fondly Michah, Ari loved his classes at Pardes and to me he was a good friend one of the better rabbis i have Known. He taught me a lot just by being kind.
Karen Liquornik
from
Encino, CA
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
10:10 pm
I was very sad to hear of Rabbi Caplan's passing. I have fond memories of him, Michelle and the girls when they were at B'Nai Simcha pre-school in Arcadia, California. Rabbi Caplan was wonderful with all the children and they responded to him with love and genuine awe. My condolences to the entire Caplan family.
Our tradition tells us that when a tzaddik leaves a town the town is never the same . That is what we in Miami felt when Rabbi Micah moved to Scottsdale. I remember his friendship, vision, and deep kindness. I am sure he shared his heart with all of you.
I had fallen out of touch but his presence enriched my rabbinate and he was someone I could always talk to.
And now this tzaddik has left this world for the eternal world. The world is better because he walked through it, and I know he had so much more to do, and that leaves all of us even more at a loss for words. We desperately need souls like Micah today.
I extend my deepest prayer that God should give all of us comfort- especially his family.
Baruch Dayan Haemet
Fred Klein, Miami
Darren Kleinberg
from
Palo Alto
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
10:00 pm
Brother Micah. I am so saddened by the news of your untimely passing. Our family and yours have been deeply connected to one another for a long time now. Debra and you were co-Presidents of your USY chapter ~25 years ago. Our children went to school together. Our families vacationed together (in the snow!). And we were blessed to be part of the community you led at Ohr Chadash. I recall the feeling of excitement and energy standing beside you at the bimah, with your wide smile, always on the verge of laughter, electrifying us all with your joy at life. I am deeply pained at your untimely departure from this world and must now wait for the time when we will be together again in olam haemet. I miss you, my friend. I love you. Our world is less with you gone. Your life was a blessing, and your memory will be also.
Marc Goldsen
from
Chandler
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
9:59 pm
I knew Micah since he was a toddler, and we grew up together as his mother taught me piano, his father taught me Judaica, and he and hung out, played Atari and Nintendo and went to movies. Micah was like a little brother to me, and while we didn't interact much in adulthood due to our divergent lives, I have always considered Micah to be one of my all-time closest friends. Really more like family. I am devastated and heartbroken by his passing. The world has lost a wonderful, warm, compassionate soul, but he will continue to be an inspiration to us all. Miss you lots, little buddy.
Michlowitz Family
from
Austin, TX
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
9:45 pm
I first knew Rabbi Caplan as a kid at Camp Ramah in California. He was then a 19-year-old counselor in my age group. We bonded over knowing a lot of the same people. His father, of blessed memory, was best friends with my Cantor in San Antonio. From there we formed a friendship that lasted 25 years.
I kept in touch with him while he was in Florida. And was elated to learn at a dinner by an accident of conversation that he was moving back to Phoenix. I saw him at a restaurant, and we shared memories, pictures, and stories of our year together at Ramah. I then saw him at Or Chaddash (at the time) and he handed me a Torah with the joke of "Let's see if he remembers all that I taught him at Camp!" I wrote a check the next day and was a devoted member because of him.
When my father passed away, his warmth and compassion was unparalleled. The shiva that he put together for my beloved father was perfect and beautiful. He even forced me to tell silly stories about my father publicly to help me grieve. And the advice he gave me of making sure I stated hydrated and fed is not advice I give to others.
He renewed our wedding vows. He said some of the most beautiful words about the marriage I share with my wife, and again about my late father that were so moving were in tears. And he immediately followed up with levity and humor as we celebrated together. While at our renewal, which was held at my Masonic lodge, he shared how proud he was of me that I was a past master (president) of the lodge and that he knew I would achieve great things.
He visited my child at Camp Ramah in California, even after we left the community. And leaving Phoenix for job reasons was made all the more difficult by leaving him as my Rabbi. I sobbed in his arms heartbroken he would not be officiating our daughters' bat mitzvah ceremonies. And not because he wouldn't or didn't want to, but because of geography.
I will never forget him. I was in awe of him. His tall stature, his tremendous heart, his love of sports, and his confidence in me to lead Yom Kippur morning services. He even bought me the kittle I now where when I have the opportunity to lead such services on the High Holidays.
We joked. We laughed We shared a life-time of memories. And he created memories with me, with my family, and with our community. There will NEVER be another one like him and there never should be. This world is dimmer for his absence, but my life is brighter for him having enriched it.
Micah, my friend, my teacher, my mentor, the words do not exist that can describe how much I will miss you. When baseball does start again, I'll be wearing Dodger blue. And I'm a Yankee fan!
We love you. Please look after us from above.
Elise Nochomovitz
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
9:39 pm
Thank you for everything. For being dedicated to making every day better, every person a little happier. For helping to build and grow an incredible congregation and family. Forever in our hearts, thoughts, prayers, and blessings. Todah ❤️
Barry Zorman
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
9:34 pm
Rabbi Caplan was a warm mench. He strived to bring and inspire goodness to other individuals and throughout the community.
KAREN TRACHTENBERG
from
Santa Monica
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
9:19 pm
I wrote this tribute to Micah earlier today, among a small group of friends, but I'll share it here as well. First let me say to Brianah, Julia , Avi & Michele that my heart is broken for you and I'm just so sorry. I send my love.
I have known Micah since....as long as I can remember. We were campers together at Camp Ramah and had
been acquainted with each other since grade school. I have heard that Micah was working over the weekend, and took time to do some kind of Zoom service on Shabbos along with calling a congregant to wish them happy birthday, and I'm not surprised. I know how hard he worked, and I know that there was concern about what a hard working clergyman he was. So I'm not surprised.
What I adored about Micah was (what seemed to me to be) his near-photographic memory. We could literally go for years without seeing one another, but when we ran into each other he would remember seemingly minor details about us as kids that even I had forgotten. I always chuckled when he talked to me about a play we were in together at Ramah. I was "frankenstein" and he always remembered this.
I remember hanging out with Micah and Michelle, who I have also known since childhood, and as long as I can remember, when they were in Pasadena and he was a Rabbi at a congregation there. I just remember feeling happy in their home with their sweet young kids at the time.
Once they moved back to Phoenix, another year or so would pass, and I'd run into him again at shul when I was in town visiting my parents and he would ask me...."so what's going on with your dating life? Have you found a Jewish partner yet?" Again, I would just LAUGH, because...Micah...how did you even KNOW I was still single? 🙂
I'm so happy I saw him just this past Rosh Hashanah in Arizona, visiting my parents for the High Holidays. He was leading a procession around the shul on Rosh Hashanah during the day, and it took FOREVER, because he took the time to say hello to everyone. And again, his face lit up when he saw me and saw that I was in town. It was just so warm and sweet.
I'm so glad I was able to see him and give him a big hug. He talked openly about his heart issues that day and how grateful he was to be with us all, and I turned my house upside-down today looking for my "From the Heart" stress ball that was handed out to Or Tzion congregants to remind us how precious life is. I am trying to find mine.
Oh, Micah. I'm just so sad. You have left a giant, gaping hole in many, many hearts. Your memory is already a blessing. Michelle, Brianah, Julia and Avi, I send my love and thoughts.
Please click "Write a new entry" to sign the guestbook in memory of Rabbi Micah Caplan.
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
10:07 pm
wrote on June 15, 2020
at
6:08 pm