Offician or funeral services today is Rabbi Steven Stark-Lowenstein.
A deep breath going to a funeral is sad gathering here for Nicholas's funeral.
This just plain wrong at every single level.
Our hearts are so heavy 38-year-olds shouldn't die.
At a time like this, the only thing to do is to help each other cry.
The death of this beautiful soul is a drastic reversal of the natural order.
It just shouldn't be.
I'm so sorry that we have to be here today.
Washington Irving once wrote the following.
There's a sacredness in our tears.
They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.
They speak more eloquently than 10,000 tongues.
They are the messengers of overwhelming grief of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.
So here we are.
Our eyes filled with tears, our hearts heavy.
With sadness to share our grief and more importantly to share our love.
Life as we know it is both complicated and confounding.
Life is filled with extremes.
There is sorrow mixed with joy.
There's holdness alongside brokenness.
We see the rain and the rainbow at the same time.
But there are two truths that I know to be true as a rabbi.
Number one is that the heart can withstand an incredible amount of joy.
And sadness at the exact same time.
And that same heart can experience unbridled joy along with that sadness.
Equally.
These two things can happen at the same time within the same moment.
The heart that feels pain can also feel joy and equal measure.
Today we feel that pain.
Tomorrow we hope for that joy.
Abraham Joshua Heschel once said the following in the presence of death.
There is only silence and a sense of awe.
Today we feel that awe.
As we gather here, as we look at his earn, as we look at these beautiful pictures and the flowers.
And the people that are gathered here in this room and the many people that are gathered online.
To remember, we feel that awe.
It just shouldn't be.
The journey through grief for all of us is unpredictable.
You don't know where, you don't know where it goes, you don't know when it's going to start.
You don't know if it will ever end.
You know and don't know where it will lead you or who you will be when you get there.
And when who thinks that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line,
we'll never really understand grief.
grief is not a linear process.
With sadness diminishing each day until it clears up.
Not for you, David.
Not for you, Wendy.
Not for you, Samantha.
Not for you, Tim.
Not for you, family members and friends, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.
It's not a straight line.
There's going to be good days and bad days for the rest of your lives, as you think about Nick.
Sometimes we can stand up in it.
Other times it pulls us under.
But grief.
grief is a sign that we love something more than we love ourselves.
And today we feel that grief.
We find comfort from the words of the Jewish tradition.
As I and I all have remay I and you have always re as remay me matter.
Nio says to my own barats, I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
What is the source of my help?
My help today comes from God, make her of heaven and earth.
God will not let your foot give way your protector will not slumber.
See the protector of Israel neither slumber nor sleeps.
God is your guardian.
God is your protection at your right hand.
The sun will not strike you by day nor the moon by night.
God will guard your soul.
You're going in coming.
Now and forever.
No matter what faith tradition we may be from.
And I know that there are lots of people who knew Nick from lots of different faiths.
No matter what faith tradition we may be from.
There's one Psalm out of 150 Psalms that speaks to everyone.
It reminds us that we're not alone.
It reminds us that God is there to help us.
It reminds us and it's used by clergy of all different faiths.
It reminds us that we walk together in the valley of the shadow of death.
But the Psalmist who wrote this Psalm.
Perhaps they say it was King David.
We're Solomon.
The beautiful words of the Psalms with each word being meaningful.
Remind us that we think about what the Psalm is said.
I've always loved the fact that the Psalmist who wrote the 23rd Psalm.
Wrote something that's so significant.
It's just one word.
The Psalm is said ye the way walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
The Psalmist very easily could have written ye the way walk in the valley of the shadow of death.
Still would have worked.
Ye the way walk forever in the valley of the shadow of death would have worked.
I feel like I'm always in the valley of the shadow of death.
Would have worked.
But the Psalmist was very careful in choosing the words.
Ye the way walk through the valley.
Because to next family you're going through something very hard right now.
But to go through something means that there's a before.
There's the period going through it right now.
And then there's a new period that comes after.
And we understand that.
We walk through that with you.
No one can walk this path alone.
We hope you walk this path together.
In Hebrew the words are so beautiful.
Arunay Raui, lo ex-arbina, deshaya, yarbizhenya, mehmenu, chodhina, chaleni, nafshia, shovev.
Yankheni, bhammad, leid, sarak, lemma, anchamo.
Kamkei, lech, bighed, salmabet.
Laui, rarat, yatay, madhi.
Ahto, vahes, edir, defuni, kojime, khayai.
Veshab, tibebe, arunay, laurah, yamim.
Please join with me.
In the words of the 23rd Psalm in his honor and in his memory.
The Lord is my shepherd.
A shawnaut want.
He make it me to lie down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul.
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
I will fear no evil for thou art with me.
Thy rod a nice staff, they comfort me.
Thou prepare us to table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Thou has anointed my head with oil.
My cup runeth over.
Surely goodness in mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord.
At this hour, the blessed presence of family and friends brings comfort and strength.
It says to us be sure that love this bring of life abides.
May all who mourn take heart as they remember the goodness they've given and received.
And when the days of their morning are ended, may the memory of their loved ones.
May necklace's memory truly be a blessing.
I've always loved the words of Rabbi Joe Black.
Commenting on the 23rd Psalm when he said the following.
Those who walk through the valley of the shadows,
wear no shoes.
Their feet are cut in torn as they stumble through the darkness.
With no time to pack a bag or say goodbye.
They begin their journey unprepared.
With no time to pack a bag or say goodbye.
Nick Sundath last Wednesday.
Has turned our world upside down.
Some people are dressed in their finery, jewels gleaming like stars in dim light.
Others wear pajamas or work clothes or purse dolls or bathing suits.
Some clutch briefcases or papers or blankets or teddy bears.
And everyone, everyone wears their grief.
And with each cautious painful step, they move further into the abyss.
The chasm grows narrow.
Stretching out their fingers, they trace the grooves carved by previous pilgrims.
Handholds in hue, hue into the cold canyon walls.
Sometimes they march in silence.
Other times singing hauntingly beautiful melodies, their voices echoed to the very vaults of heaven.
The river that created this place does not flow from on high.
It was formed and filled by the tears of those who's bruised souls traversed the trail.
But no one walks alone.
Stubbling pilgrims are quickly caught in how to lock by those who travel beside them.
They're caressed and carried through the brambles and branches that are exposed in hidden from the light.
Added the chaos and confusion of the journey.
And in time for some, a light appears far in the distance.
Peersing through the veil of darkness.
Hope long buried rises to the surface like a beacon.
And with that the weary travelers, a send to find a world that has been changed forever by their absence.
They return with pale faces and broken hearts.
But now as experienced travelers, they will always have a suitcase packed and ready.
We're never ready for a moment like this.
It happens.
And we're left scrambling trying to understand, trying to make sense out of it all.
To add us in an old and entailer.
I'm sorry you have to be sitting in this front row to say goodbye to your uncle.
It's just not fair.
We think of Hannah of Blessed Memory, which we know is in fair.
But we take great comfort in knowing that their two souls are together.
Their two souls are together because when death occurs, a body gives out, but a soul lives on.
Ever wonder why someone sneezes, we say, God bless you?
It doesn't make any sense. Why would you say, God bless you when someone sneezes?
The answer is because your soul almost leaves your body when you sneeze.
Every morning, as Jews, we pray, hello, hi, nishamashana, tata, bita harahi.
The soul that you have given me, oh God, is pure. You created and formed and you breathed it into me.
And within me you sustain it.
For as long as I have breathed there for, I give thanks to you, God.
We take 22,000 breaths every single day.
But there comes a time when we take our last breath.
And when we take our last breath, our soul leaves our body.
The only thing that was cremated is a body.
The only thing that we take to the cemetery here is a body.
A soul lives on.
And that's all.
A necklace has touched so many lives.
And for that we're truly grateful.
Bodies give out, but souls live on.
Merit Malois said it best.
When I die, if you need to cry, cry for your brother walking this street beside you.
And when you need to give me something, give him what you need to give to me.
I want to leave you something, something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known or loved, and if you cannot give me away, at least let me live in your eyes and not on your mind.
You can love me most by letting hands touch hands.
By letting bodies touch bodies and by letting go of children who need to be free.
Love doesn't die, people do.
So in all this up to me is love.
Give me away.
If you remember nothing else from today, I hope that you remember.
Love doesn't die, people do.
David, yesterday after we met, you said that you had done some writing.
At first, you called ramblings.
But then, the second piece, you just wrote second in your own handwriting about Nick.
And so it's my great honor today to act as you're a maturgoman, to act as your translator.
These are your words from the deepest parts of your heart and Wendy's heart for your son.
Nick, kicky, uncle, kicky, music bismarty.
You came to us six pounds, three weeks early, and scrawny, April 30th, 1986.
And you grew to be a beautiful, highly intelligent, percosious, bigger than life man.
Not destined to stay with us long enough.
You played football in basketball with your group of friends in Glencoe.
Frequently had them at our home after school and on weekends.
You were a wake up early, a head start on the day kind of person.
Getting you to school and time was next and possible.
You didn't really need to study because you're mind worked differently.
You absorbed information differently.
You got to answer correctly, but couldn't explain how you ever got there.
Playing football at Nutriar, you got cold cocked with a helmet under your chin.
You didn't know where you were for 10 minutes.
A terrible concussion.
I think that's when you changed.
You didn't continue football and fell out from your athlete friends.
Young brains either do or don't recover from such trauma.
You've always been witty, humorous.
And when you allowed us to see, it was not just entertaining but informative from a very humble, unpretentious perspective.
We don't know where your education information came from, but usually like most of us.
It had some reasonable basis effects.
I know I learned a lot from you, especially over these last few years.
After I believe losing most of my attitude about you and just letting you fully occupy my heart.
You claimed to be conservative, but had it open heart to all.
Your pride of being Jewish has remained prominent.
A bar mitzvah and masada.
A big star of David tattooed on your right breast.
Not intimidated by anyone about it.
God bless you.
You never were the typical go-to-work.
Pay the bills kind of person.
You developed a large YouTube following as music dismarty.
I didn't agree with much of what went on there, but you made people laugh.
A rare ability.
And there were many who have written to support you and us at this terrible time.
Maybe we didn't need.
Maybe we didn't support you creatively.
Enough.
We're in a fashion that would have allowed you to have a less stressed life.
Tough love, verse letting.
You just do things and do your own thing.
COVID wasn't kind of you either.
And gave you your first heart attack.
After that, you just couldn't change your lifestyle.
And here we are.
You've left us filled with joy and with the broken heart.
We will all miss you forever and cry our eyes out.
And never being able to touch joke, hug, agree and disagree with you.
This is cruel to all of us, family and friends,
and all of your followers.
God keep.
God keep you close to our hearts.
Take the love of all of us with you.
Be with Papa Irving, Booby Judy,
Nana and Papa Jerry Uncle Mike.
Let Hannah be with you.
You have been a kind, gentle, good person.
This is a huge loss to all.
God bless you Nick.
Kiki Uncle Kiki.
Music biz Marty.
Dad.
David, thank you for those beautiful words.
It truly was my honor to read those.
Perfect.
Perfect words.
And to your words, I add some of my own and from some words that I gathered from others.
In my 30 years as a rabbi here in Chicago,
I can honestly say that I've never met anyone like Nick.
Nick was big.
Everything he did was big.
The world just became a much dimmer place without him.
He was kind, he was giving.
He was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back,
if you needed it.
Nick had a big heart.
A huge heart.
Nick never followed a normal path,
but always followed his own heart.
As a three-day old baby he arrived in Glencoat to his family.
He came home and he became yours.
He was in your own words, a cutie.
He was smart, he was kind, he was kind of cookie.
He was a mischievous.
He was a big boy with a warm heart.
He was always a little stubborn in a good way.
You could never win an argument with Nick.
He always, always won.
Samantha you said is children, you and Nick played so well together.
You played with each other's friends, you did fun things,
you made forts and secret places once you've made a spaceship.
I'll let you tell the rest of the story.
You said in your own words that he was always, he was always cool.
And that the two of you never bickered.
He was always so kind and he did what you asked him to do.
A true younger brother.
He always loved animals, beautiful golden retrievers like Molly.
Every animal he encountered.
And as a family you traveled so much, Paris and London.
I love the picture that you showed me a Rabbi Paul Feinberg.
Formerly at the Temple of Solomon who had moved to Israel,
doing Nick's bar mitzvah and Masada,
and a great picture of Nick wearing his semi-social jersey at the Western Wall.
When you were there as a family with Mendi as your guide,
that was the year that Sammy Sosa was in the home run hunt.
Maybe wearing a Sammy Sosa jersey to the wall helped him.
He loved Jamaica, St. Lucia in California, Disney, Holland, Michigan,
and visiting grandparents in Florida.
He had super close glenco friends.
I know some of them are here, some of their families are here.
There was something special about the glenco boys that he hung out with.
Central school friends, grade school friends.
He was bigger than most, and he first enjoyed playing football,
but he never really liked hurting people.
He felt bad on the football field every single time someone got hurt.
Maybe he was just too kind to be a football player.
He was a starting blindside tackle his sophomore year,
and everything changed when he got a concussion the next year.
He lost his way.
He changed friends, he stopped playing sports.
He was always proud of his Jewishness,
and I love the fact that his huge star of David on his chest,
a family tradition that three out of four of you fulfilled on one Hanukkah.
While he struggled in school, he was wicked smart.
A visual learner, he always followed his own path,
and that led him to the music business as a YouTube influencer.
And a new persona, music Bismarney,
where he broadcast every night, people loved him, people adored him.
He was known by many names.
He was a big man with a 56 inch chest.
And an amazing ability to unite strangers.
A presence for so many, he made people laugh,
he made people cry with laughter.
He put smiles on people's faces.
He could brighten up every one's day.
He truly cared for the people,
and he was filled with comfort for those who needed it.
Deep down in this big, big person.
It was a good man,
who just wanted to make the world a safer place for those who were vulnerable.
Nick was so articulate and witty and overall entertaining.
If he was here right now, he most certainly wouldn't want anyone to be sad.
He would want his legacy to continue,
and I know that it will.
He was known by a lot of names online.
Music biz,
and the big dog, big cat, big boy,
a gentle giant, a big teddy bear,
the king,
an animal over,
Marty Nick,
a giant.
The world's strategic and connect four champion.
He was known as King of the Goblin Slayers.
He was known as a legend,
a drift king hero,
the King of Akron,
an internet trolling genius, a maverick.
The best dreamer to ever do it,
a content creator and institution,
to those on the internet.
He was a great showman,
an enormous presence in any venue,
an unmatched entertainer,
and a friend.
His shoes could never be filled.
I went through,
and as I said before,
I'd never met anyone like Nick before
in my 30 years as a rabbi.
Literally hundreds of messages,
thousands of messages, thousands of followers.
Catherine Wright's Nick was a wonderful person.
He is the only reason I've gotten so far in university.
He inspired me to never give up
because he never did.
He had a good heart,
and he would do anything to see people smile.
Watching his videos brought me comfort
and joy when I needed it most.
When I go out on my own,
I want to be just like Nick.
I will never ever give up,
because Nick would not.
He brought so much light into so many people's lives.
I'm sending you hugs.
John Wright's RIP Nick aka Music Biz Marty.
You have left us with so many memories and laughs.
You will truly be missed by many of us around the world
that found you many years ago on YouTube.
You could make me smile and laugh out loud.
That's a rare character trait these days
to those close to him.
May God comfort you
from a fan in California.
Another fan in St. Louis writes
if there was a Mount Rushmore of this game, Nick would be there three times.
While you were funny and entertaining and charismatic,
you also had a level of kindness that shined
in everything you did.
It's truly hard to believe that you are gone.
And there will just be able to tune into your streams
and hear your voice.
You gave us the gift of laughter.
And whether you realized it or not,
you were a legend.
You will be missed.
Sarah, a long time viewer writes from Pennsylvania.
He'd never admit this but he brought a lot of people together
and created a community.
Nick or Marty was a natural entertainer
and a comedian.
It was near impossible to look away from whatever he was up to
and completely impossible to not laugh at his shenanigans.
It now feels impossible that he's gone.
My heart and prayers go out to his family
and to all of his loved ones.
I loved how shalom.
May he be remembered with blessing.
Truly a legendary figure within the
a massive community that he created.
He will never be forgotten.
A human of mythic proportions,
righteous warrior for the innocent,
rest in peace,
from a fan in Massachusetts.
And the list just goes on and on and on and on.
The memories go on and on and on and on.
Goodbye charming friend.
You made me laugh on my worst days.
Now I'm crying my heart out.
Baruch dian ha met.
We will meet again.
From a fan in friend in Israel.
Your videos and live streams kept me from feeling lonely
and sad on so many nights.
And you always brought laughter and happiness to your viewers.
So many people's lives have been changed forever
for the better because of you.
You were gone way too soon.
You will be missed.
Rest in peace.
The king of Akron.
Beth.
And finally, yesterday.
As soon as I witnessed music Bismardy
and a small, small, lonely and confused man
and Akron into a rock star overnight,
I knew that I was witnessing someone who was ahead of the curve
on the top of his game.
A true genius and a master of his craft.
Nick was a once in a lifetime talent.
Whose life was taken way too soon.
Rest in peace.
You'll be missed from all over the world.
Friends, I tell you that there are hundreds and hundreds of comments
like that.
All throughout the internet, all throughout different places
were Nick touched lives.
Sometimes you knew it sometimes you didn't.
But the intact that he had on so many is so great.
Wendy, I love that you started to listen to the radio
and Nick loved that you were online with him.
You found comfort there after many years.
Realizing that, some people today lead non-linear lives.
And we have to learn how to accept that.
And as one of you said so beautifully yesterday,
sometimes we have to learn that we can't fit a square peg
into a round hole.
We can try and try and try, but sometimes it just doesn't work.
And once you accepted that,
you could simply enjoy who he really was
and Nick could enjoy who he really was.
And for that we're very grateful.
There's never just one way to live our lives
and once you accepted him for who he was,
you knew that you could love him and he knew that he was loved.
He was never unhappy with his own life.
He loved the freedom he loved the creativity.
He used his brain in ways that most of us never could figure out.
He went his own path.
Here was a man, even at age 38, who was at peace.
And so I hope that we all take comfort in that.
He had a huge impact on so many.
Sometimes it's not until you die that you understand
and realize how great of a person someone was.
Here was a young man whose vision was expansive.
I truly meant what I said at the beginning
that as 30 years of being a rabbi in Chicago,
I never met anyone like Nick.
I remember when we buried Hannah.
I'm bigger than life trying so hard to give comfort
because he always cared about the vulnerable.
He always cared about those who needed just a little bit more.
We stand on his shoulders now.
I was drawn to the world of music when I was thinking about Nick.
And I went to one of my favorite musicians, Bruce Springsteen.
Who often talked about someone who had a huge impact on his life.
He always talked about the big man.
And those Springsteen's fan knows who the big man was.
The saxophone player, Clarence Clemens.
And just like Nick had a big personality.
So did Clarence.
Nick was our big man.
Everything he did was big.
And when Bruce Springsteen talks about his big man, he once said,
the big man was big.
Everything about him was big.
His laugh was big.
His personality was big. His size was big.
His problems were big.
His heart was so big.
Just like Nick.
He was elemental in my life.
Springsteen said,
and losing him was like losing the rain.
Bruce concluded,
let's hear it for the biggest man you ever saw.
See you in the next life.
I hope we can take comfort
in knowing that, while his body gave out,
his soul lives on.
I hope that we can take comfort in knowing
that the big man will always remain big for all of us.
And it's our opportunity.
It's our hope to reflect on a life,
whether it's a few days,
a few years, 38 years,
whereas grandma's brochure
in the pocket of the suit for eight years ago,
a long and full life.
No matter how much time we have,
it's what we do at that time that's most important.
We measure lives not in time but in grace.
And the joy with which they live in the love that they lead behind.
Nicholas leaves so much love behind.
And now it's our opportunity to stand on his shoulders
on those great big shoulders of that 56 inch test.
And see the world and help others in some small way.
May he rest in peace.
I ask that you please rise.
At the moment,
I ask that you say to me that I'll answer
what do you think about that?
Make it so that kids working out.
I hope that we are in peace
and we will do for viewers of the country with a deep voice.
Shahalah al-Olamah.
Bala Rahamim Yesterah who besetter
can fablolamim.
The Yitzhwar beats hurrahahayim
at Nishmato at Anahunah al-Ato.
But Tannuah bashalo maamish kawaban omarameen.
Compassionate God eternal spirit of the universe.
Grant perfect rest under the wings of your presence.
Tanniclus, Nick Biegler,
who is entered eternity.
The he find refuge forever under the shadow
of God's wings may as soul be bombed up
in the bond of everlasting life.
God is his inheritance.
May he rest in peace.
And let us all say, amen.
In the Jewish tradition,
we have one prayer that does not talk about death,
but rather reaffirms our commitment to life.
We say at the end of a funeral,
and we'll say it again at the burial,
a prayer called the Khadish prayer,
Khadish holiness.
There are those who say that the Lord's prayer
is modeled after this cottage prayer.
Because it doesn't talk about death at all,
it's actually written in the future tense,
hoping for a better world.
And it says magnified and glorified and extolbed,
are you God?
May the one who makes peace in the heavens
let peace descend on us and on all the world.
And so we say the Khadish prayer and his honor
and his memory for the very first time,
we will continue to say his name for 30 days
during the period of Slocheam
at our congregation, I'm Shalom.
We will continue to say his name
on Yom Kippur
and on Chavulot and on Pesakh,
during the Yiskir service,
along with all that who,
along all that who have died in this past year,
and on Yom Kippur ending that year,
we will say his name, time in this year of 5785.
And at the anniversary of his death each year,
we will say his name,
but as we talked about yesterday,
you don't need to gather an opinion
just to remember him.
There are so many ways that we will remember him.
When we look out and we see each other,
when we make someone's life better,
when we lift someone up who needs lifted,
when we use the bigness that we have inside of us
to help others will continue the goodness
that he brought to this world.
And so in his honor and in his memory,
we say the konuş prayer.
Those online, please join us, those in this room, please join us.
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for those contacted from Jesus,
the sixth of Jamal,
Do you want to thank for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
I would like to thank you for your support,
Vemrew, I'm in.
Yase, shalom. Yase, shalom.
Shalom, alaine, yube, alko, yus, rale.
Yase, shalom. Yase, shalom.
Shalom, I lay new, bell, co-yes, rye-ell.
Go your way for God is called, you go your way, and may God be with you may your
righteousness go before you and the glory of God receive you.
May God comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
And let us all say, Amen.
Friends, as you make your way out of the same, that you are in today, I ask you to look
at the beautiful pictures that are up here on the front, where to see them
right, where to look at the beautiful picture of him on the front cover.
The great theologians of Zion and Garth Uncle set it best.
Preserve your memories.
Hold on to them.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.