Henry Leplin Rasof, of Boulder, CO, passed away peacefully last Sunday, April 17, 2022.   He was 75 years old, and had been in the hospital for two months following complications of appendicitis.   Henry had many friends and relatives in different parts of the United States, and in other countries that he had visited, and they are already missing him greatly.

Henry will be buried next to his mother in Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.  The funeral, took place on Thursday, April 21.  You can view the service by using this link. The service recording will be available for 90 days.

There will also be a memorial for Henry in Boulder at a time that has not yet been finalized, but will likely be on a Sunday in May.  

Henry was a regular/irregular contributor to the Boulder Jewish News. Here is a link to his author page.

May Henry’s neshama be at peace and may all the mourners receive strength and comfort.

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From Henry’s Chanukah Lamplighter profile in December, 2019:

According to Rabbi Pesach Scheiner, co-director of The Boulder County Center for Judaism, “Henry is a scholar at heart who loves to study the Torah and especially the Zohar, which contains discussions of the nature of God, the origin and structure of the universe, the nature of souls, and more. He is also very charitable to the Jewish community in Boulder.”

“Henry is a gift to this community,” said Jonathan Lev, executive director of the Boulder Jewish Community Center. “He is like a tree at the JCC: rooted, supportive, spreading his branches, bringing life and vibrancy, and deeply connected to the community. He is always present at events and cares intensely about ensuring our community’s success. On behalf of the board and staff, I congratulate Henry on this community honor.”

Rabbi Dr. Tirzah Firestone, rabbi emerita at Congregation Nevei Kodesh, describes Henry as, “one of the most ingenious characters in our community. His colorful imagination, brilliant mind, and years of learning combine with a wild sense of humor to give us a prolific author, poet, and trickster who lights up our world with laughter and cheer.”

Each year the Lamplighters are asked the same four questions. Here is what the Henry had to say:

What brought you to Boulder County?
The easily accessible open space and mountains, and, at the time, a location halfway between where my parents were living, so that I could more easily provide care when needed than I could when I lived on the East Coast. However, the one time both were hospitalized at the same time, deciding which parent to visit was a challenge, so I’m not sure I can recommend this approach to everyone.

What is your favorite Chanukah memory?
Eating almost 50 potato latkes at a party when I was in the 8th grade. Secondly, discovering that if you view the right kind of menorah in the right kind of way you will see just one light. For me the teaching is that perspective is everything. For example, we can see ourselves as separate souls or as manifestations of a universal soul, namely, God.

Can you share something interesting about volunteering in the Boulder Jewish community?
I spend a fair amount of time figuring out where, how, and when to give tzedakah, and one thing I have learned from this is that giving nonprofit organizations money isn’t as easy as it sounds.

What is your vision for Jewish Boulder?
That the community remains true to Jewish values, especially gemilut hasidim—acts of lovingkindness–which the famous rabbi the Chofetz Chaim (1839-1933, b. Belarus) calls the most important mitzvah.