A Tribute to My Dad, the Ultimate Optimist
Reb Leima ben Naftali Hertz Minkowicz
“And the living shall take it to heart.” — Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) 7:2
There are people who leave behind memories, and there are people who leave behind life. My father, Reb Leima ben Naftali Hertz Minkowicz, was one of those rare individuals whose presence infused others with hope, strength, and optimism. His passing invites us to reflect not only on what we have lost, but on what we have been given and what we are called to carry forward.
The Torah teaches, “והחי יתן אל לבו” — the living should take it to heart. This is not a call to sadness, but to awareness. To pause, to absorb, and to let a meaningful life shape our own. My father’s life was a living lesson in how to face the world with faith, positivity, and an unwavering belief in goodness.
He was known as an optimist not because life was always easy, but because he choseoptimism. He chose to see possibility where others saw obstacles. He chose gratitude over complaint, encouragement over despair, and faith over fear. His optimism was grounded, sincere, and deeply rooted in trust in Hashem.
To be around him was to feel steadied. His words uplifted, his demeanor reassured, and his quiet strength inspired confidence in those who needed it most. He had a way of making people feel seen and supported, reminding them often without many words that things would be okay, and that even challenges carried purpose.
Family was central to his life. As a father, grandfather, and role model, he taught by example. The respect, love, and unity shown by his children and grandchildren are a testament to the values he lived every day. His legacy is alive in their kindness, their faith, and their commitment to one another.
My father’s life reminds us that optimism is not ignoring reality it is elevating it. It is choosing to believe that light exists even when it is not immediately visible, and that every moment carries an opportunity to bring goodness into the world.
As we reflect on his life, והחי יתן אל לבו let us take to heart the lessons he embodied:
To live with faith.
To speak with kindness.
To face each day with hope.
And to uplift others simply by being who we are.
May his memory be a source of blessing, inspiration, and strength.
May we honor him by living with the same positivity and trust that defined his life.
תהא נשמתו צרורה בצרור החיים.
From A proud Son who learned so much from his Father.
Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz
Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida
