Oliver Sacks

Oliver Sacks, born to a family of Jewish physicians in London, carried on a proud tradition of healing and inquiry, though his personal identification with religious practice seemed to wane as his scientific curiosity grew. Still, the man was so Jewish in his very essence, one could practically smell the matzo ball soup wafting from his prose.

Sacks had an uncanny ability to turn complex neurological conditions into compelling narratives. He introduced the world to patients with fascinating, often bewildering conditions, making them accessible and, dare we say, even poetic. He was less a dry academic and more a neurological bard, weaving stories that illuminated the mysteries of the mind.

His work, spanning from Awakenings to The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, not only enlightened the public but also humanized the often-stigmatized world of neurological disorders. We kvell, not just for his brilliant insights, but for his profound compassion. He made us all feel a little smarter, and a lot more empathetic.