A Light to Illuminate the Darkness: A Personal Reflection on the Legacy of Rabbi David Ellenson, Z”L

In one of his famous Sichos on Hanukkah, the Lubavitcher Rebbe illuminated the point that in each and every Jew, from the most halachically observant to the most secular, lies an untapped jug of oil that when tapped, is capable of shedding light in a world of darkness. Indeed, this is the legacy of Rabbi David Ellenson Z’L that I have felt profoundly since accidentally stumbling into his class on the history of Israel when he served as adjunct professor at UCLA and USC over 20 years ago.

At the age of 18, I was living life to its fullest, hopping from Latin club to club, spending summers in France and Spain, and enjoying the freedom of living completely carefree with my only worry being when my next pair of Brazilian jeans would arrive from Rio. Moreover, as one of three Jewish girls in my sorority, Judaism was as far from my consciousness as the future ramifications of student loan debt. The world was my oyster (not kosher, I know, but I didn’t care at the time) and nothing would rattle my plans of future greatness as a professor of French existentialist literature. However, this all changed the minute I walked into Professor Ellenson’s class. Moreover, what I thought I would audit for an easy “A” to fulfill a tedious history requirement turned out to be lifechanging in the best of ways. I was transfixed by his profound analysis, eloquence and ability to discuss the complex challenges that the modern State of Israel faces; I was like a deer in the headlights of his grandeur.

What started out as a one-day audit, resulted in me following him like a loyal puppy from class to class until I actually decided to add Jewish Studies as a double major just so I could continue to take his classes. An added bonus was the Jewish History course that he taught alongside Professor David Myers who I then coerced into being my honors thesis advisor. Since the Catholic terminology is the only term that would do this justice, David Ellenson, David Myers, and Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller were the “holy trinity” of Jewish Studies at UCLA where leaving every class left one’s neshama uplifted, inspired and motivated to delve in deeper despite whatever plans I thought I had solidified for my future.

I will never forget our first conversation. I had arrived early to class, and Professor Ellenson and I struck up a conversation about how the other lovely Rabbi Ellenson who I had known at my secular high school turned out to be none other than his wife. David never let me see the letter of recommendation he wrote for me, which I believe resulted in my acceptance to Harvard University, but his lessons of wisdom, humility and profound love for and commitment to the State of Israel have left their indelible mark on my soul. For what it is worth, I did teach AP French for five years, but I also followed in his footsteps in my parallel careers at both USC and Hebrew Union College.

May his memory be a blessing for generations to come and may the majesty of his teachings guide all who follow in his path.

Lisa Ansell is Associate Director of the USC Casden Institute and Lecturer of Hebrew Language and Hebrew Learning Coordinator at Hebrew Union College.