By Andrew Coen
Jacob, from Merrick, who died on March 30, 2005, will be remembered by the HAFTR community at a golf and tennis outing in his honor on May 15. The inaugural Jacob Greenberg Memorial Golf and Tennis Spring Classic, presented by HAFTR at the North Shore Country Club in Glen Head, will begin at 9 a.m. According to yeshiva officials, the event will be dedicated to Jacob's memory as a means of carrying on his good name, fine character and commitment to torah. It will include a full day of golf and tennis, a breakfast, cocktail reception and dinner, and raffle prizes as well as silent and live auctions.
"We are honored that HAFTR chose to memorialize Jacob with such an active event," said his mother, Hope Greenberg, who mentioned how much her son loved the yeshiva he attended starting in fifth grade. "We love this event because it symbolizes things that were important in Jacob's life. It stresses his strengths - an athletic ability as well as a love for academics and Judaic studies."
According to his mother, Jacob had a special enthusiasm for golf, often playing with his grandfather and attending the Hofstra University Golf Camp one summer. "He would love, and yet be amazed, that there will be a day of fun and competition inspired by his young life," said Hope Greenberg.
"Jacob was very into sports, so we felt this was very [fitting] to honor his memory," said David Shapiro, executive director of HAFTR. "We're very excited about doing something in his memory."
Preparations for the event come as the yeshiva honors Greenberg one year after he died from sudden cardiac arrest as a result of a congenital heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to his family. Greenberg lost consciousness in front of his school just before noon that day while throwing a football around with classmates. Following attempts by CPR-trained students, nurses and medics to revive him, Greenberg was rushed to St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, where he was treated and then transferred to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park. He died there the following night.
HAFTR High School held a memorial service for Greenberg, which was attended by family members, on the yartzeit - the Hebrew anniversary of his death - on March 23. HAFTR 10th-graders from Jacob's class conducted a torah learning program in his honor. The Greenberg family was also given bracelets made for the occasion in HAFTR maroon with the saying "Live From Your Heart JG."
Merrick is also paying tribute to Jacob, with the Merrick Police Athletic Little League, in which he played, creating a Jacob Greenberg Courage Award to be given out each year. Jacob's brother, Seth, is also hoping his team will wear the HAFTR bracelets when the season starts.
Since Jacob's death, the yeshiva has been planning a memorial, and has purchased defibrillators to help save future lives in emergencies, even though officials do not believe such a device would have made a difference in Jacob's case. In addition to raising money for HAFTR programs, proceeds from the Spring Classic will be earmarked for the purchase of additional defibrillators as well as the training of faculty and high school students in CPR and other lifesaving techniques.
While the May 15 event will no doubt bring joy to Jacob's friends and family, one year after the tragedy, the pain still lingers. "His room is still as he left it, and we can't bear to change anything yet," said his mother. "Yes, his heart failed him, but Jacob's life was fortunately not about a disease. It was about his passions, and this outing fits perfectly."
Further information on the memorial event is available at (516) 569-3370 ext. 25.
Comments about this story? ACoen@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
