The new book, released just in time for summer readers like me, is “Always on Call”, an inspiring biography on Dr. Raphael Moller. I need not tell any of my readers who he was, since if You didn’t know; you probably wouldn’t be reading these lines on this website.
I will tell you about the sentimental journey contained within this book, and how it is important to
Dr. Moller’s life.
The book consciously undertook the task of chronicling the history and uniqueness of Washington Heights. It did this in a meticulous and thorough manner, so that even those who have known our community for decades will find bits of new information.
Of course, the names of rabbis and shuls are sometimes only mentioned in passing. A more thorough recounting of the different communities in the Heights would warrant its own book- and already enjoys a YouTube channel (lol).
The book aims to show how Dr. Moller, having hailed from Hamburg, had a broad exposure to other streams of Judaism and other Kehilos, as Hamburg was a hub for travelers and had several communities within its borders. Consequently, he was equally fluent in the writings of Sefas Emes as in the Lomdus of Brisk, while still being a seasoned Ba’al Tefillo of our local Ritus- and maintained close contact with the leaders of the Chasidic communities and the Yeshivah world.
When the book finally delves into the many stories of Chesed performed in his medical office, along with his bedside manner and expertise, the reader is overwhelmed by the extent of this man’s Tzidkus and devotion.
I also enjoyed the two or three places the reader is given room to think about the possibility that the doctor had a supernatural ability… without actually going “there”. Whether or not he was a miracle worker, the book makes it clear that he performed in a way that was indeed supernatural.
Finally, I found it amusing that when googling his grandson in Monsey, who followed in his
medical footsteps, Dr Wurzburger, you find a man with a goatee in the likeness of Dr. Moller.
I thought the book took too long focusing on the history of the Kehilla before launching into the doctor stories, but perhaps that was only because most of the local history was already familiar to me. (A local may be advised to leave that part for the end.)
The book was the project of Dr. Moller’s great-grandson, Rabbi Moshe Weiss, whose grandfather, Rabbi A. Joseph Weiss, the doctor’s son-in-law, had a part in assisting our own Yeshiva in its early years and was of Chasidic influence, despite teaching at YU and leading a Shul on the Upper West Side for many years. (The Moriah Shul, which famously hosted the shiurim of Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveichik zt’l)
The book was co-authored by Mrs. Tzippy Basch of Monsey (whose husband is the menahel of the Yeshiva of Spring Valley) and our own beloved Rabbi Eliezer Gevirtz.
I originally thought, based on a conversation with a family member, that the book would show differences of opinion between Dr. Moller (as Kehilla President) and Rav Breuer zt’ ‘l. It didn’t – thankfully, thus preserving the sanctity of both of their legacies. In fact, the book focuses on their working relationship and the eternal bond solidified by their passing within weeks of each other. Anyone with an eye for symbolism will see that Heaven had indeed deemed them
partners in Avodas Hakodesh.
I encourage you to consider purchasing this book and gifting a copy or two, especially to a newer generation that may not have known the doctor or the time he lived in.
