{"id":90223,"date":"2021-01-11T11:56:51","date_gmt":"2021-01-11T09:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/?p=90223"},"modified":"2021-01-20T11:50:21","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T09:50:21","slug":"ezra-gorodesky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/en\/ezra-gorodesky\/","title":{"rendered":"In Memory: Ezra P. Gorodesky, Peerless Friend for Six Decades"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ezra Gorodesky, who passed away on January 10, 2021, was a peerless and devoted friend of the National Library for some six decades. In 2017, I was privileged to have the opportunity to interview Ezra and hear about his life’s journey and life’s work, in his words. The following article is based on that interview.<\/em><\/p>\n

May his memory and his legacy be a blessing.<\/em><\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

It was hard not to be charmed by Ezra Gorodesky, the understated star of multiple video clips and newspaper articles. Into his 90s, he remained spry with a sly sense of humor.<\/p>\n

“I have a very rare disease” \u2013 <\/em>he would announce dramatically and pause \u2013 “<\/em>it\u2019s collecting.\u00a0And I thought if I\u2019d give my collection to the Library it would be a cure and I wouldn\u2019t need to collect anymore. But interestingly, the next day I bought a book. So I guess there\u2019s just no cure.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ezra during one of his regular visits to the National Library (Photo: Aviad Stollman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ezra began collecting as a 10-year-old boy in Philadelphia, starting with miniature books and then branching out to ABC and Alef-Bet primers, synagogue dedication booklets, and unusual prayers, including ones composed for Napoleon and Montefiore. In later years he developed sizeable collections of tea tins, books, and paraphernalia, and buttons. The latter collection is now housed at the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design, and Art.<\/p>\n