Robert “Rob” Bornstein

Robert “Rob” Abraham Bornstein

Birth: 1960 In the USA

Death: June 10, 2022 in Victoria

Plot: Row S – Plot 57a

Inscription:

פ׳׳נ
ראובן אברהם
בן שמואל שמשון הלוי ז׳׳ל
Robert Bornstein
Beloved husband and father
1960- 2022
י׳׳א סיון ה׳תשפ׳׳ט
ת נ צ ב ה

Translation of Inscription:

פ׳׳נ
(Abbreviation of Hebrew: “Buried here”)
ראובן אברהם
בן שמואל שמשון הלוי ז׳׳ל
(Hebrew:
Reuben Avraham
ben Shmuel Shimshon HaLevi (the Levite) [abbreviated: May his memory be a blessing])
Robert Bornstein
Beloved husband and father
1960- 2022
י׳׳א סיון ה׳תשפ׳׳ט
(Hebrew: 11 Sivan 5782)
ת נ צ ב ה
(Abbreviation of Hebrew: “May his/her soul be bound with the bond of life.”)

Biography:
The following words were spoken by Robert’s wife Jeanie Bornstein at the unveiling:

The sages asked, “Who is rich? One who is content with his lot.” Robert loved Pirkei Avot and greatly admired the wisdom of the sages.And he was surely a man content with his lot. He considered himself a simple Jew and a regular guy who felt called upon to serve rather than be served.

He wasn’t driven to acquire more for himself and he was unfailingly modest in his taking. He worked hard and gave freely. He wasn’t interested in fine clothes, Italian wool suits, or meals prepared by 5 star chefs. He preferred simple things like jeans and tee-shirts and considered a Shabbos chicken and a slice of chocolate cake just this side of Shamayim.

A professional driver with millions of miles under his belt, he never owned a brand new vehicle “straight off the lot.” He preferred his old pick up that he got in a great deal and which he considered useful for schlepping people and things to the places they needed to go.

His drink was Jack Daniels Ol’ No. 7 and he liked to say the refrain “Tennessee whiskey got me drinkin’ in Heaven.” He knew there were finer, smoother whiskeys out there but he thought “Ol’ Jack” was just fine enough.

For himself, Rob always chose the most modest portions but for the people he loved and cared about, the sky was the limit. He always insisted his wife and kids should have new clothes and nice things. I should have a new car for safety and reliability. He spared no expense seeking out the most beautiful esrog and lulav, the finest silver candlesticks, building the most beautiful succah to welcome guests and the best food to serve them. His tent was truly open on all sides.

Every holiday was celebrated with gusto and family trips from Disneyland to Brooklyn to Seaside Heights, NJ to Tzfat were filled with meaning, fun, and adventure. Rob shared everything he had easily – he was always the first to volunteer to help with community events and he was the “go-to” guy for pop-up delis at Chabad of Bakersfield, and matzah and mishloach manot deliveries. He walked people home if they were alone and he invited new people to his table. 

Robert was an extraordinary person with a lion’s heart, brave, courageous, and fierce. Filled with love and light, he gave freely and asked nothing in return. He taught his kids to ride a bike and to tell the truth – even if it means you might get in trouble. He taught me how to pump gas and balance a check-book among many, many other things.

Rob spoke words of Torah in his home and on his way. He was a loving husband, a caring Dad, and an honest and steadfast friend. He earned the love, devotion, respect, and friendship of good people everywhere he went in this world. And we thought he was invincible.

He was a man content with his lot and considered himself to be richly blessed in it. It’s been said that “humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.” Rob was a person who thought of himself but thought of others more. 

Spouse:
Jeanie Bornstein