Chesbed for David Gatsky z"l David ben Meyer Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 31 January 2012

I began this funeral service for David with a reading about a King. Let me continue in this vein, for as you all spoke with me last night, you presented an obvious and as it turns out, faithful connection to David’s namesake, King David.

King David was the youngest of many siblings. The Torah described him as ruddy-cheeked, bright-eyed and handsome lad. When the famed prophet, Samuel came to the small Judean town of Bethlehem, all the people came to greet him. Samuel, on meeting Jesse, David’s father, enquired whether all his sons were present. Jesse replied that his youngest son was out tending the sheep. At Samuel’s insistence, David was hurriedly brought and Samuel anointed his head with oil, “and the spirit of the Eternal One gripped David from that day forward (I Sam 16:13).”

David Gatsky was born on 2nd August 1939, in Whitechapel to Charlotte and Meyer Gatsky (a presser and a machinist). He was the youngest of five, Sylvia, Jack, Anne and Leon. David, as the youngest and also in his own right, he was the golden boy, doted on by his family. Although he was evacuated to Wales with his mother during the War and spent early years in and out of hospital with asthma, he was blessed by God with a loving, warm and large East End family. David was a bright lad and his brother Leon funded his place at Grammar School in Thames Ditton. The large family were supplemented by many, many cousins, actual relatives or honorary Gatskys. They were not only linked by blood but by real friendship.

King David was a skilled musician. In his youth he was bought to King Saul who was subject to fits of melancholy. Saul was calmed by the good looks, intelligence and beautiful music that David played on his harp and lyre, as the Torah records, “so Saul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him (I Sam 16:23).” Saul employed David as his arms-bearer that saw him scurry to and fro to bring provisions to the King whilst also tending his father’s sheep. On one occasion, David was given gifts to take to his brothers that included ten cheeses for the commanding officer.

David Gatsky loved music and dance, loved engaging in debate, scurried to and fro developing his career whilst at all times, providing for his family and bringing good cheer to all around him. I am not sure whether David ever saw arms but he studied metallurgy at the University of Surrey, a sponsored sandwich course that saw him through a good career, also achieving a second degree and working longest for BOC, allowing him and Maureen establish their home in Stanmore for a growing family. Indeed, the homes that they created were ones in which everyone wanted to be a part. His brother and sister at various times lived with them and there were always friends of theirs and the girls staying over. Whilst Maureen provided the sustenance, David was the host. The Gatsky home was one that always celebrated the lives within it. That King David bought cheeses to the commanding officer is an amusing connection to David Gatsky, who decided that the triangle labels from ‘dairy lea’ chesses would be wonderful spoils to bring back to his family from whatever place he visited on business!

King David is of course best known as the boy who defeated Goliath with a stone and sling-shot. When the triumphant men returned, the Torah reports that, “the women of all the towns in Israel came out singing and dancing to greet [them] (I Sam 18:6-7).”

David Gatsky was an exceptional sportsman. He was an athlete, rugby player for Richmond and Middlesbrough, squash supremo, snooker champion and committed golf player. He instilled his love of sports and in pushing oneself to achievements into his daughters, watching and cheering from the sidelines, encouraging them, nurturing them towards success. He was your inspiration, the nurturer of your dreams. This was certainly not restricted to the sportsfield as David always believed that one of his girls would be Prime Minister. Lisette, Marcella, Charlotte and Georgia, what a wonderful group of cheerleaders you must have seemed to David when he arrived home from his travels and how he delighted in your successes, your independence. This pride will always be with you as you know the pleasure that you brought to him, indulging his laddishness, bringing boys into the house for him to interact, providing him with the most amazing source of pleasure in his grandchildren, and by truly adoring your King David.

King David was much loved as a young man by all around him, even though this love sometimes led to others and in particular, King Saul, being jealous of him. David married King Saul’s daughter, Michal, and with his son, Jonathan, David had the most special of relationships. Again the Torah recalls, “Jonathan loved him as himself (I Sam 20:17).” Both protect him from the rages of their father, Saul, and David attempts to protect all around him, most notably his parents, from the jealousy of Saul. David also took care of all the farmers who sustained him in his flight from Saul.

What can one not say of the love for David Gatsky that is palpable in this prayer hall today. He would have loved the fact that this room is more than full, not just by the quantity of people but because of the quality of the relationships that you all formed with him. He was a consummate host. You will all recall your favourite debates with him, David raising issues that he did or did not know much about, revelling in the intellectual joust of being able to argue both sides. You will recall his jokes, his laugh, his smile. His goodwill to everyone, treating you all and everyone he came in contact with, as an individual, as a unique human being. These traits he instilled in his girls who maintain and cherish friendships from their lives.

David built and thrived in community. Many in our Synagogue, Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue have been sorely saddened at hearing of David’s death. David was by no means a religious man but had a deep pride in being part of the Jewish community. My parents recall at our recent Bazaar, David, about to leave being enchanted by my niece playing the clarinet and asked Mum if he could take her home!

But of course, David Gatsky loved nothing more, than to snuggle up on the sofa to the love of his life, Maureen. Meeting when she was 15 and he 21 at St Anne’s Dance Hall on Shaftesbury Avenue, you have danced through life together. David could not believe his luck and knew that you provided everything for him. You were his foundation upon which he could express himself. Sharing everything, music and dance, your food in which he delighted, your friendships and family, and also quite rightly the moments only you know, of just being together. Maureen, David was utterly devoted to you and you to him. The shock of David’s death is so acute. Yet I pray that as you continue your life, David’s love will always be with you as the strongest source of blessing, comfort and support.

Of course, King David was most famed for establishing Jerusalem and bringing the Ark of the Covenant to it, being attributed 73 of the 150 psalms in the Tanakh and creating the strongest, unified Israelite nation. Just as importantly, he was a protector, a loving husband and father, faithful, passionate and intelligent, who lived for 70 years. The Torah records, “These are the last words of David: The utterance of David son of Jesse, of words of the man set on high. The anointed of the God of Jacob, the favourite of the songs of Israel (II Sam 23:1).”

David Gatsky was the King of his Gatsky home. He ruled for just over 70 years and in that, the blessings that he brought are immeasurable. The Psalm of his life is plainly there for you all. David was blessed in his life by God, he was anointed, and may you continue to sing his songs that stand out in Israel.

May his life that was a blessing, always be so for you all.

Amen