Mira Brichto Obituary (1927

May the Memory of Mira Brichto Be a Blessing for AllMira Pollak Brichto, age 91, of Madison, Indiana, died on Tuesday, September 18 at 9:15 a.m. She was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania on September 28, 1927 to Rabbi Aladar and Riza Fleishmann Pollak, immigrants from Hungary. Mira married Dr. Herbert Chanan Brichto, a professor at Hebrew Union College. Together, they lived in New York, New Jersey, Jerusalem and Cincinnati. She studied at Hunter College, NY and later went on to obtain her MA and PhD at University of Cincinnati. Her degrees in English Literature and Education were combined with a passion for interfaith and cultural understanding. She established R'fa-enu, a charity in which she worked closely with the Pentagon and the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe to heal rifts left in the wake of the Holocaust. She wrote two childrens' books, short stories and continued to study throughout her life. Mira and her husband were blessed with three children, Johanna, Kathryn and Herschel. Widowed after almost fifty years, Mira came to Indiana to be closer to two of her children. Even toward the end of her life, Mira's keen intellect, wisdom and articulateness showed through. Her children find comfort at this time in remembering the statement she often used to comfort them: "By very definition, no love is ever wasted."A Loving FamilyMira will be missed by her daughters, Johanna Rabenstein of Baltimore, Kathryn "Katey" Brichto of Madison and her husband Rick Blakely; Herschel Brichto and his wife Sarah; her grandchildren Yeshuah, Chaim, Eric, Joseph and Rivka; 12 great grandchildren and her siblings, Hannah Hopfer, Judy Kirschenbaum, Yanki Pollak and Havi Stander as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aladar and Riza Pollak, her husband Chanan Brichto who died on February 18, 1996, and six siblings.Celebration of LifeMira's children express much gratitude to Jewel Place and Premiere Hospice. The care, sensitivity, support and love with which they surrounded Mira and her family were exceptional.Mira's family will have a private gathering at their farm in Switzerland County where her remains will be placed with those of her husband.Memorial ExpressionsMemorial contributions in Mira's name may be made to Interfaith Immigration Coalition.Cards are available at the funeral home. Online condolences, Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison, Indiana. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Mira Brichto, please click here to visit our sympathy store.