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Baruch Dayan ha-Emet
Sep. 4th, 2008 10:22 amMichael Hammer passed away this morning after a tragic accident.
To the world, he's probably best known as the author of Reengineering the Corporation. Although that book was unfairly blamed by some for starting the "downsizing" trend, I think it's fair to say that Michael was well-regarded in the business world for his insights into recognizing ways to improve our productivity.
Those of us in Congregation Shaarei Tefillah knew him as a caring and thoughtful man, who could deliver a brilliant dvar Torah without notes, who had a kind word for everybody, who generously supported many worthy causes, and who gave an annual dvar each Simchat Torah in the character of the Meshuggener Rebbe --- if you knew enough Yiddish to follow along, you could hurt yourself laughing.
But my most enduring memory of Michael is from a shiva call seven years ago. Neighbors of ours had had twin boys around the same time as Tani was born, and when they were four months old one of them didn't wake up one morning. It was heartbreaking. When I went to make a shiva visit, Michael arrived at about the same time I did. He told the parents about his own history. Michael had been one of a pair of twins, born after his parents had almost given up hope of having children. And when he was an infant, his twin brother also died of what we now call SIDS. He spoke, kindly, gently, to these bereaved parents about what it was like being a surviving twin; he offered them a shoulder to cry on and help whenever they wanted it.
May his family be comforted by the Omnipresent, along with all mourners of Zion; and may they be comforted in the knowledge that he brought comfort to others who mourn.
To the world, he's probably best known as the author of Reengineering the Corporation. Although that book was unfairly blamed by some for starting the "downsizing" trend, I think it's fair to say that Michael was well-regarded in the business world for his insights into recognizing ways to improve our productivity.
Those of us in Congregation Shaarei Tefillah knew him as a caring and thoughtful man, who could deliver a brilliant dvar Torah without notes, who had a kind word for everybody, who generously supported many worthy causes, and who gave an annual dvar each Simchat Torah in the character of the Meshuggener Rebbe --- if you knew enough Yiddish to follow along, you could hurt yourself laughing.
But my most enduring memory of Michael is from a shiva call seven years ago. Neighbors of ours had had twin boys around the same time as Tani was born, and when they were four months old one of them didn't wake up one morning. It was heartbreaking. When I went to make a shiva visit, Michael arrived at about the same time I did. He told the parents about his own history. Michael had been one of a pair of twins, born after his parents had almost given up hope of having children. And when he was an infant, his twin brother also died of what we now call SIDS. He spoke, kindly, gently, to these bereaved parents about what it was like being a surviving twin; he offered them a shoulder to cry on and help whenever they wanted it.
May his family be comforted by the Omnipresent, along with all mourners of Zion; and may they be comforted in the knowledge that he brought comfort to others who mourn.