Jacob Lobel (1889-1960)

Last Will, written in 1958

Approaching the age of 69 years with the increased symptoms that eternal departure
from my beloved ones is nearing to me. I think it appropriate to be prepared for any
momentʼs call.

Truthfully a man of my standard without business money or moneyʼs worth needs not
bother writing any testaments. The general idea of a will is to bequeath someone with
the accumulated possessions that one leaves behind. However, I have none of that sort
to bequest my kin or family in a material way. Therefore, this document should be
considered as a funeral arrangement designed according to my will.

1. At the moment I will be declared dead, this will should be opened and followed as to
my wish.
2. The first and most important request is to my beloved family, especially the women;
my dear wife, daughter, daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and others in the family, to
control yourselves from lamenting and wailing too much or to loud. This may sound
rude of me. However, it will please my soul knowing that for the sake of my soul you
will control your crying and prevent undermining your health.
3. Before my body is removed to the chapel, you shall explain the funeral director of
my request to be encased in the cheapest casket with the cheapest shrouds that they
manufacture, and to furnish the funeral as agreed and for the price the Sadagurer
Young Mens made with him, not to talk you into any extras. To contribute towards the
higher cost of funerals, you shall give the undertaker 40 dol. extra towards what he
receives from the organization.
4. Omit all sorts of eulogy or benediction from any rabbi, clergyman, or reverend
Instead you donate 50.00 to my favorite charity, Jewish Social Service branch of
Jewish Philanthropies.
5. Read the will at the chapel in presence of all that will be gathered. Before leaving the
chapel any one of the gathered friends who wishes could say the el mule rachmin in
Hebrew or English. At the cemetery the funeral director shall advise the common
ceremonies usually performed, instead of meditations you continue reading the
document and my sons may say Kaddish. 25.00 dol. shall be donated again for
Jewish Social Service. The reasons why I designed this unfashionable funeral I will
explain subsequently.

My first demand was that as soon as I am declared dead my will shall be opened and
read. In it I implore my family, especially the women, to restrain lamenting and wailing.
The purpose of it is to prevent you from undermining your health with intense crying
whereas it will not benefit neither you or my soul. Considering my age, I leave this
world at a time when I am least needed. I have raised my family and children. I also
was a little help to my grandchildren, regardless if it was the best by approval of their
own or community. However, it was the best I could have done. To society I also have
done the best that was in me, admitting all my labor was not successful financially and
of little significance. Somehow I have tried to do my best.
Since I have reached the age of 67 years I felt my productivity is failing me. Every time
another symptom of old age appearing and deteriorating my health, step by step old
age is approaching me defecting some parts of the body as well as mental reservation.
The body aches at every turn. The feet slow down, the hands shake, the heart
palpitates, intense shortness of breath, loss of power, loss of patience, lack of memory,
failing of understanding, jittery nerves. Reflecting scenes I saw with elderly people how
helpless and burdensome they became, I dread the thought. I only wish not to become
a problem like this to my beloved ones.

Therefore I plead to you to control your weeping and wailing at my departure, realizing
that my usefulness for family and society I have outlived. A prolonged life would only
benefit the doctors, druggist, hospitals and by consuming another ton of food the
storekeeper would be the only ones to gain. It will not do much good for me, for the
pleasure of eating or drinking faded on me. Neither will the consumption of more food
restore my ability for any kind of usefulness. Therefore, either way it will happen; if I die
before I am helpless and bedridden be thankful, and if I should become a burden to
family and society, my death sure will be a blessed relief to my body and soul, as well
as to my beloved family. Again I plead to you do not cry over my death. I had lived to a
ripe age, and may you be compensated with lots of joy in the family, wishing that no one
of them should pass away younger than my age.

My second wish is to show the funeral director that it was my own desire to be interred
in the cheapest coffin and shrouds that are manufactured so that he shall not try to
persuade you to any extra conveniences for me. However, since the undertaker at the
present higher cost of everything cannot afford to furnish a funeral as specified in his
contract with the organization for the amount the organization pays to him, unless he
sells some extra modern equipment. Therefore it is my will to pay to the funeral director
an extra 40 dol. towards the higher cost, and the funeral to be conducted as specified in
the contract. As for my bodyʼs comfort I will be comfortable in the cheap casket just as
good as in the most expensive casket or vault. However, it will be more pleasing to my
soul to donate the money of an elaborate casket and shrouds to my favorite charity,
Jewish Social Service. branch of Jewish Philanthropy Organization 100.00.

My third request to omit any sort of eulogy from any ordained or practicing rabbi,
reverend or clergyman is simply because I do not think that any one of them has passed
the bar to represent anybody for the supreme court in heaven. As much as I have seen
these ordained or practicing clergymen accept anybody to represent them in heaven,
the saint, the rich, the poor, the gangster and the murderer that goes on the electric
chair, clergymen of any denomination see them off with the same prayer, leaving them
to godʼs mercy. Therefore I refuse any counsel of them. I am willing to accept my lot
with Gabriel or Satan, the path was designed by myself and no one can alter that
journey.

... overpraise, eulogize or extol will not impress the heavenly judges to modify their
verdict to leniency because of mediation of a rabbi, much less will advocacy of any
reverend shift the opinion of the people who knew me during my life to alter the
impression I have left with them while alive. Those who thought of me as a gentleman
surely will stick to their opinion, and those who considered me as disagreeable and
unfortunate will not sway their opinion about me, not even after a most plausible
sermon. The most proper way to please my soul and name is donating the 25.00 to my
favorite charity Jewish Social Service.

Fourth, to my children, especially my sons. Kaddish prayer is considered in the Jewish

religion as the culminate expression of filial respect and devotion to a parent after death,
so is yizkor 4 times a year, and memorial day once a year. However, I believe it will be
more satisfaction to my soul and to the memory of my name instead of kaddish you
should donate a minimum of 52 dol. each to Jewish Social Service, and instead of
yizkor 4 times annually, each time donate 1 dol. for each member of your family to your
favorite charity institution, and about (yahrzeit) memorial day, it will please my soul that
whenever my children will be assembled together, and I sincerely wish that you make
an effort at least once a year to see each other wherever it is most convenient for all of
you and during the time it is most convenient for all of you, not exactly on the date of my
death. At such a gathering if you will collectively donate a sum of money to any charity
you choose, that will be your best showing of filial respect and most pleasing to my soul.
It will also be more acceptable to god than an avalanche of kaddish. I am strictly
against hiring a man to say kaddish.

At the time I was writing this will, I knew the financial standings of all my children, and I
wrote a minimum as their donations to be made. However, at the time when I will die
conditions may change to better or worse. In that case I appeal to you who are able to
help the one unable to stand the financial burden, not only by paying his share of
expenses, but also in every other way that assistance may be needed.