Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

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The unexpected and Iragic death of l)r, Meyer Atlas on October 15, 1965 brought to a premature end an academic career that spanned almost three decades of loyal and devoted service to Yeshiva College and its student body. His passing left an irre- placeable void in the faculty as well as a deep feeling of sadness and sorrow in the hearts of his colleagues as in all the students who were privileged to be in his classes. Dr. Atlas was an outstanding proponent of the piiilosophy that a professor ' s primary activities should be leaching and then re- search. He was not only interested in transferring information but in helping motivate students to pursue learning and to develop a capacity for independent thought. Dr. Atlas was a biologist whose erudition was both broad in scope and rich in depth. As a man, he was modest, self-effacing and unobstrusive. His personal qualities collectively made him stand out even in the academic world. He sought neither compli- ments nor recognition, for he felt he was only fulfilling his respon- sibilities. Many generations of students are immeasurably richer for having had him as their teacher — this is his legacy. Dr. Saul Wischnitzer Great achievements in life are attained by men with a singular ideal. Eager to see their ideals implemented, these people put all other interests aside. The old adage that there is a time and a place for everything was never intended for these extra-ordinary ' men. Their particular commitments in life, which transcend time and place, are always in order. Such dedication in any field greatly taxes the devotee. How much more so, in the realm of Torah. which asks the ser -ice of body and mind, the wakeful hours and the sleepless ones. Rav Fishman was an extraordinary man. dedicated uncondi- tionally to Torah and Mitzvot. In other pursuits, total involvement is often characterized by a frenzied look or an eccentric person- ality. In Rav Fishman, one saw a staidness which reflected an inner calm that possessed the Rebbe. Verily, he was an Aron Hakodesli. a sanctuar} ' wherein the Torah resided. The growth of a mature tree is imperceptible for it grows in girth, not in height. So the Rebbe was constantly amassing knowl- edge of Torah. constantly perfecting his deep love for man. and his reverence for G-d. His roots in Torah struck deep; he towered over ordinar} ' men as the cedar in the forest. It was only when the tree was struck down and we counted ring upon ring, that we realized whom we had lost.

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IN MEMORIAM Dr. Meyer Atlas Rabbi Henoch Fishman

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When we look back on the four years we spent together at Yeshiva, several of our classmates are sure to be remembered. Those who dis- tinguished themselves in athletics, class leadership, or in their studies will be among the first to come to mind. However, there will be others remembered, not because of some singular achievement, but rather because of a general impression made upon us. Such a person was Philip Lieberman. Phil, was a quiet boy, never concerned with making his presence known. He knew what his obligations were and fulfilled them to the best of his ability. He approached every task diligently, finding in its successful completion a source of personal satisfaction, not a basis for competition with his classmates. Religious practice especially was an accepted fact for him; a natural part of his daily life. Even when deathly ill he strove to perform the Mitzvot. Yet there was another aspect of Phil ' s personality that will contribute, perhaps, even more strongly to recollections of him. He was always ready and willing to be of assist- ance to anyone in need of help. And of extreme importance; his will- ingness to help was a true manifestation of his character, and not a facade or the expression of an egocentric need. It is in acknowledgement of these traits, that we, the class of 1966, remember Phil and mourn his passing.