Victor Smorgon laid to rest
More than 500 family members, friends, business associates and communal leaders braved a wet, chilly day at Melbourne's Chevra Kadisha cemetery in Springvale on Monday to bid farewell to communal and business titan Victor Smorgon, who died on July 3, aged 96. Photo: Ben Weinstein
PETER KOHN
MORE than 500 family members, friends, business associates and communal leaders braved a wet, chilly day at the Chevra Kadisha cemetery in Springvale today to bid farewell to communal and business titan Victor Smorgon, 96, who died on Friday.
Rabbi Laibl Wolf said: “I’m told by family that Victor and his father would often debate openly, loudly on the merits of a particular approach in business life or communal life.
“Victor was a deeply passionate individual, whose emotional energy fuelled the energetic initiatives of his bold life moves. This was channelled in a beautifully balanced way through compassion and deep empathy.”
The Smorgons “may have had humble beginnings” in Czarist Russia, said Rabbi Wolf, “but Australia was a very special country, the lucky country” that welcomed those in need and provided opportunities that “allowed the Smorgons to rise beyond the confines of a small butcher shop and build an empire that epitomised these leadership traits”.
“How many people right here in this room can testify to his personal chesed [compassion], his personal tzedakah [support of those less well off], qualities that are essential in Jewish leadership models?” said Rabbi Wolf.
Watched by his widow Loti, Mr Smorgon’s three surviving daughters, Ginny, Belinda and Vicki, and four of his 15 grandchildren, evoked special memories of their father and grandfather.
Rabbi Menachem Wolf conducted the burial in the Smorgon family’s plot and recited the tehilim and kaddish prayers. Mourners lined up to extend their wishes to members of the Smorgon family.
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