Eulogy to Arthur (Artie) Karp, who passed away in Boca Raton, Florida, on December 27, 2004, the funral Dec 30.2004.
The bad news about the death of Artie, our beloved friend and member of the Slonim Jews association in Israel shocked us very much.
It is hard to believe, that Artie will not be more with us , the modest and honest, gentle and beloved man and friend. Artie liked people , he was a good hearted man and was always ready to help them at their needs, but not always he received the right thanks for it in general, but he didn’t looked for them either. I was very glad to recognize Artie via correspondence and at the visits at his house, when I have visited Florida and heard his history. His dream was to visit us in Israel and in Slonim on the tour to the roots we have organized several times. Unfortunately, his health conditions didn’t permit it, but we still hoped, that maybe his situation will improve and he could realize his dream. Unfortunately it didn’t happened.
Arthur, Ah-re as he was called at home, was born in Slonim in 1922, the oldest child of Rachel and Yosef Karpovski. His father was a craftsman who specialized in building brick ovens used for heating, coocking and baking. Their economic situation was far from comfortable, as was the case for the majority of the jewish residents in Slonim. Ah-re completed the primary school and then, in 1938, a year before the burst of WW2, he immigrated to the United States with the help of his uncles in New York City. His dream was to work hard and earn enough money to bring his family to America. However, with the outbreak of WW2 in September 1939, correspondence with the family in Slonim was interrupted and never resumed.
His entire family perished at the hand of the Nazies in the Slonim Ghetto in the years 1941-1942.
Ah-re worked very hard to improve his living and economic situation in New York.
His bravery helped him to overcome many difficulties and obstacles along the way for a young , inexperienced immigrant with a lack of money and English language skills. In time he established a family with three children, all of them married. With his present wife, Harriet, a lovely, good-hearted and well-mannered lady, the lived in respectful harmony.
Several years ago a close contact was established between Arthur and our association and personally with me. I have visited them
twice in Florida during my trips and was warmly welcomed by them. Arthur was very sensitive and close to the past of his old home and to the tragedy that befell his parents and his people in Slonim. He contributed with a generous hand and heart to support our associationso that they will forever be remembered. He perpetuated the memory of his family in our bulletin in order to remember and never to forget.
We shall never forget Arthur as well. Let him rest in peace and be a good prayer for his beloved wife and family.
To Harriet and the entired family, please accept our sincere and deepest condolences.
Zvi Shefet
Chairman of Slonim Jews association in Israel.
