This morning Philip Berg collapsed in his home and died. He is survived by his wife Martha and his five children, ages 7 years to 5 months. Philip impacted thousands (or tens of thousands) of people through his work at the Institute of Holy Land Studies (now Jerusalem University College) and Shevet Achim, where he facilitated the heart surgeries of babies from Gaza and Iraq.
Kelli and I knew Philip since we were dating in Jerusalem and we were there when he met his wife Martha. We both earned the same degree, an M.A. in Biblical History, and our oldest children were born five months apart. Like, us, they had five children, and we even followed the same order (3 boys and then 2 girls). We both went through hard hospitalization experiences with a child in the summer of 2001. But there are significant differences. Philip’s life was characterized by selfless service and generous love. More than anyone else that I have ever met, Philip was a servant who loved people. In fact, the closest picture that I have on earth of Jesus is Philip. That is not an exaggeration and it’s not something I just thought after he passed away. I wrote this about him a few years ago:
Philip is quite simply one of the most God-honoring people I know. He is a quiet servant who has helped thousands of people in big and small ways in the last decade. Everyone who knows him loves him.
Philip served the Lord as a single man for many years before marrying. Like his father, Philip had heart trouble in his middle years, but he had hoped that he would enjoy long life like his father who is now 85. Philip was 55.
I don’t know that I will ever be able to calculate the impact that Philip has had on me. I have known numerous scholars whose work is impressive, but few servants who sought no glory. Philip was like his Master and now he is with his Master.
You can pray for the family in this tough transition and in the years ahead. These five kids haven’t just lost their daddy, they’ve lost a very special daddy. They are Asher (7), Adam (5), Nathaniel (4), Sara (2), and Anna Marie (5 months).
Update: Craig Dunning has commented on Philip’s ministry to him here.
Update #2: The burial will be on Jan 22 in Jerusalem. If you live in Israel and want more info on that, email me.
Todd,
Thank you for letting us know about your dear friend’s passing. I will be praying for his family, his wife and his children. I’ll also be praying for you and Kelli as you depend on the Father for comfort and strength. Death is painful and hard to understand…no matter how often we face the news of loved ones passing. Praise the Lord for Philip’s faithfulness and that now he is with his Creator. May the Lord’s name be blessed even in this. My prayers are with you.
~Ashley Ryan
Todd, I’m praying for you and for Philip’s family as well. Just last week one of my close friends lost her mom suddenly and unexpected to a heart attack while they were on vacation in California. It’s been very hard on her family and ours. I know it must be the same for you. It reminded me once again how the Lord’s ways our not ours and He has a purpose in all He does, but for those of us left behind He remains our Comforter, Helper, and Hope. I’m praying for you all. ~Rachel
Phil was indeed a special man. I’m so sad to hear about his passing. I’ll never forget all those nights at the institute hanging out in Phil’s room, talking about everything under the sun. He had such a kind heart and genuine love for people. I really admired him for that and I know he will be dearly missed because of it. I remember this one night where I was pouring out my heart to this guy I didn’t really even know (but felt like I’d known for 50 years!), sharing all my doubts and fears. He just sat there listening intently and then pulled down this book off the shelf. It was C.S. Lewis’s anthology of George MacDonald’s writings–my first introduction to them–and it changed my life. Somehow Phil just knew without having to say anything, that this particular book was what I needed at the time. For that wisdom, care and concern I will be forever grateful to him. Rest in peace with the Master Phil.
Thanks for your post, Todd. I heard the news from Bill yesterday morning and as I sat and wept at my desk here in King Hall, I was overcome by a whole hoard of memories—
Like seeing Phil in 1992 for the first time as he came to unlock the gate. He had those cut-off shorts on and his hair had that John-the-Baptist/Keith-Green look. And I wondered what I had gotten my little conservative Baptist self into.
Or the hours of playing spades and eating M&M ‘s and drinking coffee long after I should have done my Hebrew homework. Garrison Keillor and Pizza on Saturday nights under the Sistine Chapel. “The road to Hell is paved with unbought stuffed dogs.”
I wandered down to the Wall late one night and from the platform above the security check, I could see him standing down at the Wall with a very disturbed student. I stood there for the longest time and watched them, but not as long as Philip stood there and listened to her. And it was then, in my intense struggle to put a finger on what my faith really was, that I realized it was standing in front of me: Jesus, through Phil, was reaching out to her with intense, unconditional love—the same that He gave me.
Only when we join him at the feet of our Savior will we see the incredible impact of His life lived through Philip.
‘Till Then! Lisa L.
Phil left his mark on myself and a number of friends in the fall of 2000 when he provided a great deal of guidance and comfort in the midst of mounting arab-israeli hostilities.
I have some more thoughts over on my blog as well as links to donate to the Berg family over at secure.shevet.org/.
Myself and a friend had a powerful time of prayer today claiming God’s victory over the schemes of the devil in this situation. In reading that sentence over I know that sounds like a cliche, but there really was something to that prayer. God is up to something.
I have just stumbled upon this entry about Philip’s death, and am greatly saddened. I knew this gentle man back in the early 80s when we lead sister teams on Project Kibbutz, and he truely impacted my life. My fondest memory of him is when he helped me descend a mountain in the Negev after I had sprained my ankle. A true servant. My heart goes out to his wife and young family.