Remembering Edward Konigsberg z"l
ED KONIGSBERG was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. He graduated from Bayonne High School and went on to receive a degree in accounting from Temple University. He fought in Europe during World War II, while remaining an observant Jew. Ed married Minnie Spielvogel and they set up house in Brooklyn, NY, where Minnie was employed as a special education teacher. While working in Bayonne as an accountant, Ed made time to take care of an elderly gentleman, visiting him, preparing his meals, cleaning his apartment and taking him to appointments. While they had no children, they were surrogate parents to their nieces and nephews, and they deeply loved their great-nieces and nephews as well.
When Minnie retired from the NYC school system, she and Ed decided to retire to a vibrant Jewish community in New Jersey to be closer to family. After searching all over, they found their dream house only one-and-a half blocks from our shul in warm and inviting Springfield.
Ed very quickly became totally involved in the shul: with his own key he made sure the building was open every morning, and participated in both the morning and the evening minyanim. In fact, he was famous among friends and family for synchronizing all of his activities with the hours of daily services. “No” was not in his vocabulary; and in a quiet, unassuming way, he inspired others to follow his example.
The memory of Ezra Ben Sholom Ha-Cohen lives on in the great-grandnephews who carry his name, and in the Edward Konigsberg Award at Congregation Israel of Springfield. This award is given annually to an individual who gives of himself by attending Minyanim regularly. May Ed’s memory continue to be a blessing to all.