‘The Lion of Judah’ dies at the age of 82

When Cedarhurst resident Leo Zisman and his wife, Myrna, joined the Cedarhurst-based Chabad of the Five Towns 15 years ago, Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, the shul’s director and spiritual leader, noticed that Zisman’s love for his family and the community at large was “beyond the norm.”

“His love and respect for his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren had no limits or boundaries,” Wolowik said. “We wish his family comfort in knowing how much he loved them, how much he did for them and how much they will continue to do in his honor and memory.”

Zisman died last Saturday, at age 82.

He came to the U.S. from Poland in 1946, at 15, after surviving the Holocaust. He wrote about his life experiences in the book “I Believe: The Story of One Jewish Life,” and he had been featured in a documentary.

“He had surgery a few years ago on a Tuesday,” Wolowik recalled, “and the next day he told me he would be in shul that Saturday, and I thought, no way.” That Saturday, he walked into shul wrapped in a jacket and blanket, with the biggest smile on his face, and said, ‘I told you I’d be in shul.’ Nothing stopped him. He was one of the greatest heroes I’ve ever met. He’s irreplaceable.”

Matt Mindell, a Woodmere resident and executive director of the Manhattan-based Jewish Enrichment Center, filmed Zisman’s visit to concentration camps in Poland in 2010 for a documentary titled “The Lion of Judah.” “I never thought a guy like that could ever die,” Mindell said. “He was a very unique human being, and the world lost an unbelievable person. He’s changed people’s lives in so many ways.”

Mindell said that the documentary was shown at the Albuquerque Film Festival on June 9. “There were no Jews in the audience, and yet people were blown away by the film,” he said. “To me, that represented the film and who Leo was. He was able to affect people positively and get them to change. I’m glad I have that to share with the world.”

Cedarhurst village flags were flown at half-staff this week in Zisman’s honor, said Mayor Andrew Parise, who met Zisman nearly 10 years ago, introduced by former New York Sen. Al D’Amato. “He was such an energetic, compassionate and wonderful person,” Parise said. “All of us here at Village Hall adored him. Any time he came here, which was very often, we would chat about many things in the community and about the Holocaust. My heart goes out to Myrna, my dear friend, and the entire family.”

Myrna Zisman is a village trustee.

Leo and Myrna met at the Pioneer Hotel in the Catskills, and were married for 54 years, said Alan Greif, Zisman’s son-in-law.

“He was a true loving family man and community leader whose influence was worldwide,” Five Towns Community Chest Executive Director Bob Block said. “I will cherish the conversations I experienced with him.”

Services were held on June 23 at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Brooklyn.

Along with his wife, Zisman is survived by daughters Leba Koren, Karen Portal and Chanie Greif, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

“Our family has lost a good friend — one who was unique and always looked out not only for the collective betterment of the world at large, but for individuals as well,” Wolowik said. “We lost a pillar, supporter and partner in all of our community activities, one who has influenced many, and the world has lost a survivor who took the message of the Holocaust and turned it around to restore faith in the almighty.”