Alumni Spotlight
In Tribute to A Mensch*: Harry Kraft ‘27
“Long before I was a die-hard New England Patriots fan or knew who Robert Kraft might be, I was a huge fan of Harry Kraft.”
Harry Kraft, English High School Class of 1927
Robert Kraft paid tribute to his father, Harry, at the English High School 200th Anniversary Gala on October 1, 2022.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft chose to attend The English High School’s 200th Anniversary Gala on a Saturday evening in October instead of traveling to Green Bay with his team as he usually does on the day before a Sunday game.
He didn’t live in Boston when he was high school age, but he recalls how his father, Harry – born Aaron Krafchinsky in Boston — learned so many life lessons as a student at The English High School, and he passed those lessons on to his children. Harry was in the Class of 1927.
When Kraft’s grandfather, a Polish immigrant named Louis Krafchinsky, died in his Roxbury home in 1955, a Boston Globe obituary described him as a leader of Boston’s Jewish community who bore “a renowned rabbinical lineage.’’ Krafchinsky had four children, two became rabbis and one, Harry, became Robert Kraft’s father, a successful businessman, religious school teacher, and community leader.
Robert Kraft says his father never got rich running the small Crown Dress Co. in Boston’s Chinatown. But before he died in 1975, Harry Kraft told his son he was leaving him something more precious than material wealth: the family’s good name and a legacy of decency and dignity. To that end, the philanthropic, community-minded Kraft has long supported interfaith initiatives through organizations such as the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Anti-Defamation League, and Catholic Charities.
Those who knew him described Harry as a ‘mensch*,’ a man who dedicated his life to a love for mankind by making peace among people.
Perhaps the best way to describe Harry is through the words of those who knew him. On the 40th anniversary of his passing – May 10, 2015 – in a tribute book, dozens of distinguished community leaders described Harry Kraft. Here are a few excerpts:
Harry Kraft and his bride Sarah at their wedding in 1935
Rabbi William Hamilton said, “Harry Kraft had a warm smile and a unique capacity to gently convey a contagious love for the Psalms. The ways he met our gaze, took interest in our lives, and brought passion to personalized learning experiences all conveyed with animated clarity…. We thank God for the blessing of Harry Kraft’s life. And we thank God for the privilege of learning from his love-filled legacy.”
Rabbi Joseph and Shoshanah Schultz said, “We both studied Talmud with him. Harry’s seriousness and complete emotional involvement in study sessions were so inspiring. The second image is that of Harry leading the junior congregation on the Sabbath. The joy he exuded, the care, sensitivity and warmth he showed the children were unforgettable. He was a rare person whose counterpart is hard to find.”
Larry Brown said, “The role model that Mr. Kraft provided for me strongly influenced my involvement in the community. Mr. Kraft showed me the importance of being a conduit of knowledge and commitment to younger generations. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mr. Kraft, an unparalleled role model for all those who benefited from his contributions to the entire community. May his memory be for a blessing.”
Rabbi Robert Dobrusin said, “My awareness of his influence on me never fades. It is through these memories and the memories of so many others that his soul is bound up in the bond of life. May the memory of Harry Kraft continue to inspire those he touched and, through us, generations to come.”
Attorney Sid Dockser said, “Harry Kraft was my teacher in high school in the late 1930s. It was a joy and a privilege to be in his class. He was a warm, engaging, and stimulating teacher. He was the most modest, and yet among the most knowledgeable people I know — a kind, gentle, and sweet man.”
Attorney Jeremy Rabinovitz said, “I still have my prayer book signed by Harry for perfect attendance at the Junior Congregation in the 1940’s. He taught me to read from the Torah and to lead a service. Those skills enabled me to lead religious services while I was serving in the US Air Force in the mid 1950’s and to act as a military Chaplain. He was a wonderful leader and spiritual guide.”
*Mensch – Yiddish, from High German — a person of integrity and honor; someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character.
