Obituaries
RABBI HAROLD E. (TZVI ELIMELECH) KARP
Rabbi Harold E. (Tzvi Elimelech) Karp, z”l, passed away Thursday morning, Feb. 14, 2019.
He was born in Poland in 1932. He is one of the few members of his family to have survived the Holocaust. He had an incredible journey that took him as a child by cattle train from Poland to Siberia in 1939, where he lived for more than a year, then to Kazakhstan, and finally to a displaced persons camp in 1947. From there he went to Canada in 1947, where he attended St. John’s High School and met his wife Esther, with whom he celebrated 64 wonderful years of marriage.
He was ordained by the Hebrew Theological College and served as a pulpit rabbi of the Hyde Park Hebrew Center for over 17 years. He was also a founding member of the Or Torah synagogue where he also served a term as interim rabbi, with his colleagues, Rabbi Shalom Cohen, z”l, and Rabbi Yehiel Poupko.
He graduated law school from DePaul University and established a law firm where he practiced law for over 50 years.
He was an active member of the Jewish community, and in addition his synagogue participation, belonged to Hapoel Hamizrachi as well as serving as legal counsel for the CRC Chicago Rabbinical Council.
He is succeeded by his: dear wife Esther; brother Irvin Karp; son Jeffery and his wife Lidia; daughter Rachel Finkle, her husband James, and their daughter Zara; son Asher, his wife Cheryl, and their children Hadassa, Adina, Yaakov and Ephraim; daughter Melanie Lasry and her husband David, their four children Ariel (and his wife Leivana, and their children, Talia, Eliav and Hallel), Elie, Yoel and Nethanel. He is also succeeded by his nephews and nieces: Miriam Geller, Percy Golubchuk, Gary Karp, Michael Karp, Marcy Rosch and Ellen Grady.
He was dearly loved and will be sorely missed.
Obituaries
ESTHER MINUK Dec. 27, 1932 – April 3, 2026
Esther Bat Hershel Ve Devorah
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Esther Minuk, beloved matriarch of our family. She was predeceased by her bashert, her beloved husband, Julius; her parents, Doris and Harry Golub; and her sister, Evelyn (Herbie).
Esther was a loving and proud mother, Baba, and Great-Baba to her children Yale, Rhonda (Tom), Perry (Abby), Jody, and Marla (Franklin); her grandchildren Jordan (Amy), Daniel (Allie), Allie (Jordan), Hannah, and Lily; and her great-grandchildren Julian, Aidan, and Eddie.
Known to many as `Queen Esther’, she led with kindness and integrity, always seeing the good in others. Her home was open and welcoming, filled with warmth, laughter, and love. She was sharp, compassionate, and deeply devoted to her family. We are heartbroken and forever grateful for the love and legacy she leaves behind. She will be eternally missed by her family.
Memorial donations may be made to B’nai Brith of Canada Foundation, 416-633-6224, https://bit.ly/4bRsabI or Sunnybrook Foundation, 416-480-4483, www.sunnybrook.ca/foundation
Obituaries
MILTON FREEDMAN
It is with profound sadness and much love that I announce the passing of Milton Freedman on October 30th, 2025, three months after we celebrated his 100th birthday. Milton was predeceased by his parents, Helen and Peter, his older brother Sam, and his younger brother Sid, with whom he shared a very special relationship. He is survived by his wife Joanie, his sister Ruby Donner, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and a great-great nephew.
Family and friends meant everything to Milton, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. He was gentle and kind, quiet and dignified, thoughtful and wise. He gave the best advice, but only if asked.
Milton and I liked to travel, and for many years spent the winter in Palm Springs. We also travelled to Europe and England, and felt most at home in London. We reminisced endlessly about the river cruises we went on, and the amazing places we had the opportunity to visit, whether it was having dinner at a restaurant overlooking the North Sea, or attending a private concert at a palace in Vienna, or tasting Black Forest cake especially prepared for us, while we were in Germany’s Black Forest region. It all was stunning, magical, delicious. But it was the people we met along the way, who made everything even more special, and we never forgot them.
Milton was an avid reader, inhaling newspapers, magazines, and books as if they were oxygen. Remarkably, he remembered much of what he read, and it wasn’t unusual for him to quote a passage from a book that he had read years earlier, if it was relevant to a conversation. It was not to show off…that wasn’t who he was.
Milton was a runner, and for years ran ten miles, three times a week. On the days he didn’t run, he walked outdoors for two and a half hours. Eventually, he gave up running, preferring to walk seven days a week no matter the season, no matter the weather. This continued until he was well into his 80’s. And even in his 90’s Milton remained determined to walk, at first using one cane, then two, then a walker. When he was asked, how he did it, Milton simply said, “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.” On occasion he might add, “And eventually you’ll get to where you’re going.”
Sage advice.
Milton is deeply missed, and will forever be remembered.
Obituaries
MARLI REBECCA SILVERMAN
Marli Rebecca Silverman passed away on March 11th at the age of 43 from end-stage renal disease. She lived her life with meaning, courage, and resilience, and touched everyone who knew her with her strength, warmth, and spirit.
She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Rylee, who was the light of her life; her father, Bruce; her brother, Matthew; Rylee’s father, Drake; and many family members and dear friends who will carry her memory forward with love.
Marli will be deeply missed and forever remembered for the impact she made on those around her.
May her memory be a blessing.
Donations in Marli’s memory may be made to Breakthrough T1D (breakthrought1d.ca).