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Michael Hernandez

"HEY MR. H !" I can see Mickey saying this everyday as he came in eaœrly for 8th hour Ancient History class. These were my favorite memories of him. I would look forward to that time of the day when he and Elliot would come in before class and we would talk and joke about a variety of topics, particularly sports, history, homecoming, or just life in general. It seemed as if we would always find something to laugh about. This class could be rowdy at times so these talks really helped me get into a good mood. (the calm before the storm) I wish I could have told him how much these few minutes every day helped my peace of mind. During class he was always so calm and relaxed but he would always seem to have little grin here and there. He truly was a student that made my job gratifying and gave me a sense of purposed. I will never forget Mickey Barter! He made everyone around him a better person including myself.

Garrett Barter

Once, on a shabbaton, on Saturday night, the activity was watching some movie. However, the TV or VCR didn't work, so 50-60 people in one room began to get restless. Mickey, seizing the situation, got up in front and led everybody in a chant. He got everybody to chant, "See, seniorita olah, habalah cabalah espanol!" as loud as they could. They he divided the room in half and did some harmonizing. Everybody was having a hard time chanting because they were laughing so hard

Niel Segall

Mickey's smile - first and foremost - is the lasting memory I will have of him. Many baseball memories - My son Justin was pitching and finding himself in trouble and in danger of losing the game. First and third, no out - line shot to Mickey who calmly steps on third and throws to first to end the game and preserve the win. What excitement. Another game, Justin is pitching with Mickey doing his usual superb job of catching. Justin is laughing on the mound in a tight spot in the game. Afterward, I find out that instead of the usual signal for a fast ball (index finger down), Mickey was giving Justin the middle finger up sign!!!

Jason Auerbach

Mickey and I were going to see a movie one night, and it was an hour before the movie. Mickey looked at me and said, "Ok, we better go now. I need to get gas." Well, I didn't understand how it could take an hour to get gas so I said let's wait. He warned me, but said ok. So with about half of an hour until the movie we left to get gas. Well, we get into Mickey's car (a '54 Ford named Dolly) and we go to the gas station. He goes inside, (I didn't know what he was doing) and comes back out with a squeeze-bottle of lead- substitute. His car was so old that it still ran on leaded gas. It took about 5 minutes for him to fill his car with the lead substitute, and then he has to put in the unleaded gas. By this point, we were late for the movie, so we get to the movie theatre and Mickey is driving around the parking lot in circles. I asked him what he was doing and he explained to me that he needed to find 3 open-spots, because he didn't have power steering and couldn't get into one-spot. We were late for the movie, but I don't think I've ever laughed that hard.

The same night as the gas/parking escapade was the night we were going to see Halloween: H40. At the end of the movie, Jaime Lee-Curtis drives off of a cliff and in Mickey's immortally sexist words he looks at me and says, " I told you, WOMEN CAN'T DRIVE!"

Mickey would always run up to random girls who he had never met, but found attractive, hug them and say, "It's been so long since we've talked. Why don't you ever call?"

Mickey once took a Biology test, and it was multiple choice, with 4 choices for each question. He circled every answer on the test and then asked the teacher to give him 25% credit.

Michelle Marcove

Every guy at school had a crush on Abbi Levine. Mickey also did, of course and he wanted to be original. He found out that her favorite color was green and tried to find ways to give her things that were green. He picked out all the green M&M's to give to her and, most originally, told everyone he was going to dye his hair green for her. He always found a way to make people laugh and he always got the highest grade in our math class- both years that I had math class with him. The teachers adored him, even though he was always distracting the class with his constant jokes. He always sang his famous song during math (-: He was a wonderful, funny person that will be missed

Daniel Greenspahn

In twelfth grade I went with the Mathcounts team up to Golden to take pictures for the yearbook. I was in the car with Mrs. Deutsch and on the way up we listened to Debbie Friedman and various other light selections. On the way home, Mickey was in the car and had asked Mrs. Deutsch if he could pick the music. Mrs. Deutsch was, of course, fine with that and the next thing I knew we were listening to rap. It's not only that the music was rather loud, but that somehow the music appealed to Mrs. Deutsch that amused me the most. Anyway, there are not many people who wouldn't hesitate to put on rap music in Mrs. Deustch's car- but Mickey was certainly one of them. The story still makes me laugh. It was the only time I got to groove with my calculus teacher!

Brett Radetsky

In sixth grade Mickey and I were outside of Herzl and we were talking about climbing on the roof. I thought he was just joking and I began to walk away and I turn around and I see Mickey climbing the wall. Then Coach came out surprised and made him go to the office. Also in sixth grade I remember one day Mickey walked in to Hebrew and said he didn't feel like going to class and he just walked out and went down stairs and sat by the office. When we were little Mickey always had the most creative ideas I remember once he thought it would be cool if we all climbed the roof at his house. Mickey began to climb and we all followed him. Also when were in sixth grade I remember Mickey and I getting kicked out of gym class on regular basis and the teachers told us if we didn't behave we would have to repeat sixth grade. I slept at Mickey's house many times one thing I will always remember were his monopoly games. We would play monopoly for hours and I would want to go to sleep and he would not let me sleep until the game was over no matter how long it took. He would take those games very seriously.

Lindsay May

Mickey always stunned me with his smile. Mara Zalkin and I used to always talk about his incredible smile. But when I think of Mickey, I can only think about this one night at this one dance that we were at. We danced and danced that night, as if the night was never going to end. And finally, to soothe the night, a slow dance came on, and Mickey very politely asked me, "Can I have this dance?" and I courteously said, "of course!" What was so funny was that I stand at about 5'2" tall, and Mickey, being as tall as he was...well, I couldn't even reach his shoulders. Being the nice, caring kid that he was, Mickey got down on his knees, and danced on his knees, where we both stood at about the same height. We danced, while he was on his knees, and I could then reach his shoulders.

Adam Leventhal

This summer I had the pleasure of going to Las Vegas with Mickey. He was good at making me laugh; he was good at making everybody laugh. Mickey was such a strong, dedicated Jew, who loved to study Talmud. I was able to study with him every once in a while on Shabbat. It was a lot of fun. I miss him.

Jenny Hampel

I remember in eighth grade Mickey had this bag of rubberbands and he would constantly snap them on our arms. I would get so upset at him and he would say you can get me back...I don't care and I did not have that skill that Mickey did. When I tried to snap that rubberband it just didn't work. Any time anyone was upset or crying Mickey would always crack a joke just to make that person smile. In science class in eighth grade we did this study on amoebas...for some reason Mickey had this fascination with the word. For months he would go around saying "would you like to see my ameoba? My ameoba wants to see you hoo!" Mickey was an amazing person who always thought of everyone before himself, and no matter what if Mickey was there you would be smiling.

Noah Zepelin

I remember going over to your house numerous times over the course of our elementary school years, and while my memory has dulled concerning movies we may have watched and games we may have played, it seems as though more times than not, when I was over at your house, you, Mickey and I played football. We played in your front yard out on Dexter Street, with your walkway always an obstacle, and your father's worn out old car a constant observer. If memory serves, Mickey was usually "all time offense," being the youngest participant. Always goofing around, Mickey added a delightful element of lightheartedness to our otherwise serious contests. On a critical fourth down, in our little pseudo-huddle, I could always count on Mickey to crack a funny joke or design a ridiculous play in an attempt to move the ball past your outstretched arms. And every now and then, when he and I did manage to connect in the end-zone (your driveway), we shared a brief moment of immature, but nonetheless authentic and meaningful joy at having finally scored a precious touchdown. Of course, the moment passed, the game ended, and life went on, but those brief interactions when your brother and I successfully joined forces are still very much alive in memory. They take me back to a different time and place in my life, and they make me all the more sad to know that your brother, whom I will always remember as the happy-go-lucky 3rd grader he was then, is no longer with us.

Hillary Gardenswartz

I remember one time a bunch of us went out on a Sat. night and Mickey didn't have anywhere to go so he came along with all of us. We ended up seeing the movie "While You Were Sleeping." I had the good fortune of sitting next to Mickey. The boy drove me absolutely nuts!!! He must have thought that it was an interactive event because he talked back to the movie like what he was saying was going to change the plot. I was so aggravated and annoyed by the end of the movie, but all I could do was laugh.

Mickey went on a vacation with us last summer to Las Vegas. He was always cracking jokes or saying one-liners. He was convinced that he could talk his way into bed! Well, in Las Vegas he would continually ask me in his sheepish yet sly way if I would fulfill one of his fantasies- he wanted to paint my nails!

My absolute favorite memory of Mickey was the way I could not start off a day my senior year of high school without him saying, "Hillary, you look great." Even in college I would talk to him on the phone and those words were the first things out of his mouth.

Leslie Kaplan

as we sit
here today, here tomorrow, here yesterday.
memories race in
our minds, our souls, our beings.
not just someone else but rather
a smile, a bard, an enigma.
there's pain and grief
a brother, a son, a friend.
but look at the relief
the love, the sorrow, the darkness.
and suddenly we have to think
which hurts, which brings time to a standstill, which cause tears.
don't stop being despite
the fear, the helplessness, the solitude.
it weakens our desires
to live, to love, to cry.
they're all speaking
at you, at them, at him.
there's no energy left
for walking, for existing, for imagining.
but we ponder with
the moon, the stars, the agony.
and a single petal falls as
we mourn, we weep, we remain.
and we will sit
here today, here tomorrow, here yesterday.
and memories will race in
our minds, our souls, our beings.

Heather Loughin

When I was in 9th grade and Mickey was in 8th, I was lucky enough to have algebra with him. I always looked forward to math, because Mickey never failed to make me laugh. Our teacher, Mrs. Vinestock, couldn't hear very well and always had a rivalry going on with Mickey for the attention of the class. While Mrs. Vinestock's back was turned he would make the highest pitched sound he could (that's all she could hear), and she would cover her ears and say, "I can't hear with that awful noise!!" Then Mickey would snicker in the background along with the rest of us.

Amy Ojena

It has become tradition that Ian and Marsha take a trip out to Las Vegas every summer after the kids finish school, before they go to camp. They always invite me and I happily meet them for a few days of fun and relaxation. This past trip this summer, Noah brought Mickey along and he was such a delight. I distinctly remember Mickey asking me the entire vacation if he could give me a manicure and pedicure. He seemed to have this fetish with nail polish and painting nails, and it was my pleasure to let him paint mine. I must say, he was very good at it too. He paid a lot of attention to detail and was very sweet and gentle. He even asked me if I would take him into Victoria's Secret to look at the nail polish with him and of course I did. Whenever I think of this story, or of Mickey in general, a smile comes to my face.

Abbi Levine

Mickey could always make me laugh or cheer me up. I used to stress from the workload of high school. Mickey would ask me if I was okay and then tell me not to worry. He would say, "Do what I do, don't do the work."

I think he used every pick-up line on me that he could think of. On the back of his school picture that I have carried with me in my wallet ever since he gave it to me, he wrote: "Hey, baby! Want to rumble?" I enjoyed answering some of his pick-up lines because I was always rewarded with his radiant smile.

Danny Wolfe

I Remember that every Sukkos you guys would come over, and at the end, we'd all drink some schnapps. It was always very fun to watch Mickey who loved drinking them with us. He was always very funny and excited. I remember last year, we lost our schnapps, and Mickey got really worried, but at the end of dinner we found them, which pleased him very much. I would always look forward to drinking schnapps with him, because it was very fun and a great memory of him.

I also remember going to your house on Shabbos nights, and I would love to watch you and Mickey box. At first he would be afraid, he'd duck down, and sit down before the match started. Then he'd get more aggressive, and he'd give you a good challenge. It was always fun to watch and it was very entertaining for the whole family

Ari Hagler

I was over at Garrett's house near the JCC, as I often was in those days, and after Mrs. Barter made us our usual afternoon snack (I can't remember exactly, but I think it was grilled cheese), we went out to the front yard to play the game we always did; we would throw the Nerf football against the slanted roof, yell out that "this one was for the championship of the world" or something equally aggrandized. On this particular day (we must have been in third grade or fourth grade, I think, which would put him in kindergarten or first grade), Mickey came out, watched us play for a minute or two, and then, as the ball was rebounding off the roof, jumped up, got in front of me, and literally snatched the "universal championship" from my fingertips. In an uncharacteristic display of acceptance, Garrett and I "allowed" Mickey to stay and play with us (something tells me that he would have stayed anyway). The contest became so competitive that, in our zeal to attain the prestige of catching the ball off the roof, we bumped into (he shoved) each other. Well, Mickey ended up with the ball (and the championship), and I ended up in the rose bush to the right of the porch.

Emily Ruda

Yesterday when I got the Email with the web page for Mickey on it, I sat down to try and right a memory. Three pages later I realized that there is no way to right one story to describe what Mickey gave to me. Of course I have all the funny stories that everyone remembers, the apple smashing, this jokes, the constant teasing and singing. Lately (probably because of the snow out here) I've been thinking about the NCSY Shabbaton that we went on when we were in eight grade. There was so much snow and Mickey being the outrageous person that he was spent the majority of the time rolling around in the snow and having snowball fights with everyone! It was so much fun. Of course that was not all that Mickey was. I've known him for as long as I can remember and through the years he taught me so much. He was definitely one of the smartest persons I have ever met. He knew about everything! We would spend ours talking about archaeology, Judaism, and many other things. I could ask him the most random question and he'd give me a very educated answer and if he didn't know, I could count on him bringing it up and telling me that he found out the answer the following week. In addition he was the sweetest guys that I have ever met. I remember once last year I was babysitting and I called Mickey just to check in, in the process I somehow realized that I didn't have my biology book to study for my test for the following day. I was flipping out, so what does Mickey do he goes over to the JCC gets my book from my locker, and brings it to my house! I mean really who else would ever go through so much trouble for someone else without expecting anything reward!

Aaron Segall

I remember Mickey from when he and my brother Justin became friends in the beginning years at Herzl. Garrett and I would constantly talk about how much we wanted to beat the two of them up and how annoying they were. They grew out of that, as did we. Mickey was a very special kid. I got to know him in a number of different ways but most of all he was a friend. During Color War a couple of years ago, Garrett and I decided to build an eight foot tall book as the team banner. Mickey was so enthusiastic about helping us, that it made our work that much more fun. His ever-present company was appreciated and it made working on that monstrous book much more fun. Another memory is that Mickey decided to come and learn on Shabbos afternoons with Craig, Garrett, David and I. For the last year and a half, every Saturday afternoon, Mickey and I would walk to EDOS and just talk. We would discuss how school was going or about one of his numerous sports teams. Mickey was never one to brag about his athleticism and that is truly an admirable quality. After Mickey got his license this past summer, that was when all of the fun began. Mickey was so anxious to drive that it did not matter to him that he probably would not be able to park the car. Since our Saturday night activities usually consisted of seeing a movie, Mickey, Garrett and I would go pick up Elijah in Mickey's car. It was just so much fun to drive around in that car and hear Mickey huffing and puffing and complaining about the lack of power steering.

Mickey was an unbelievable individual that we will all miss very much. For those of us that had known him for a long time, or just over the last couple of years, he made an impression on us. Mickey was special and still is special because he touched all of our lives in some little way. Whether we remember Mickey for smashing apples, praising Hillary, driving his car, playing sports, or just being himself, his memory will live on in all of us.

Herb Keinon

When I heard the news, the only thing I could think about was when we were at your house on Shabbat, and for some reason we slept later than usual. It was already 7.30 in the morning, and I didn't hear a noise from Raphael, who usually wakes me early, and who was supposed to be sleeping with Mickey in his room. I got dressed, went into the hall looking for him, and there was your brother holding Rafi by his feet upside down, as if he had just caught a huge fish. My son was giggling like mad. For weeks Rafi spoke about Mickey -- as if they were life-long buddies.

Jesse Blum

I remember going over to the Barter's house for a Friday night dinner. As usual my parents were talking with Mickey's parents, and the kids all decided to do something else. The Barters had two pair of boxing gloves, but one pair had a hole in it so every time someone got hit some of the stuffing would come out. So we all took turns with the gloves on. Everyone had fun, but when Mickey had the gloves on he would make everyone else laugh. The reason is that he hit the other person so hard they fell down. Mickey was waiting for them to get to up, but they were too scared to face him again. I tried to box with Mickey but I could never get a good hit in, he was too good. Anyways, I will miss Mickey and those fun Friday nights.

Rachel Brandt

I hadn't seen Mickey in at least a year, and I didn't go to RMHA, so I don't have any of the recent memories of him that the rest of you do. I do remember the first day of kindergarten at Herzl. We all sat in a circle and introduced ourselves, and when it was done Becky, the teacher showed us where our cubbies were. Mickey' s was on top, and I remember looking up at him and calling him Mickey Mouse, and he looked down at me, and it felt like he was at least three feet taller than me. He told me never to call him Mickey Mouse, and I never did. I think I must have been one of the only people who started out their relationship with Mickey scared. He was one of the funniest people I've ever met, and I hope that's a place he'll always have in my heart.

Peter Molick

I've been thinking of what to write for this page, but it is so difficult to choose one or two memories I have of Mickey. I guess most of my memories are through playing baseball with Mickey for the past few years. He had a certain style on the baseball field that separated him from all the rest of us. As goofy as he may have acted sometimes, Mickey was one of the most dedicated people I knew, not only in baseball but in everything he did. I remember in every game he started for us this summer, coach Karsh would yell at him not to warm up until 5 minutes before the game but Mickey yelled back because he thought he needed extra time to get loose. So he would wander out on the field with his black turtle neck in the 90 degree weather and take his warm ups. Mickey never followed anybody or any trends. He always had his own style. That is what I always admired about him. He will be missed in the hearts of everyone.

Andrea Englander

There is one memory about Mickey which stands out in my mind. In 4th grade I was on an all boys basketball team at the J-CC. Being the only girl on the team, no guy every had the nerve to ever pass to me except for Mickey. Whenever Mickey did pass the ball to me I made the shot almost every time. I wish Mickey knew how happy he made me feel whenever he passed me that ball. I will miss his humor and beautiful smile.

Ilya Kushnir

One of my most favorite memories of Mickey was in Eighth grade. We had science class with Mrs. Stanford. So one day, Mickey and I were sitting there and it he started making sharp movements with his head. I asked him what he was doing and he replied, "I'm trying to bite my ear!" He continued his goal to bite his ear for the rest of the class, with everyone staring at him with very perplexed and astonished facial expressions. Later, he devised a plan to sneak up on his own ear. He would slowly start opening his mouth to the side and then all of the sudden, "CHOMP", he missed it again. To this day I can't stop laughing about that incident. I will always remember the days in eighth grade, when we had Math with Mrs. Vinestock. At some point, he just started sing "I, wanna rock and roll all night, and party every day" repeatedly over and over. Then eventually Mrs. Vinestock would notice and tell him to shut up, but he would be doing it for like 10 minutes before she actually realized he was singing.

Tatsuko Go

As most of his close friends know, Mickey had an outrageous car that he absolutely loved!! On night while we were on the phone he asked me to help him come up with names. The first word out of my mouth was Dolly. He said he didn't like it, and to think of others. So two hours and thousands of names later I asked him, "what's so bad about Dolly?" "Oh, that's perfect!!" he replied. I'll never know if he just decided to give in, if he didn't hear me the first time, or if he really did just like it so much more after hearing it a second time.

Lisa Ruda

I was always amazed how gentle Mickey was for such a large kid. When our daughter Shauna was little she was bugging him and spitting at him. He was never mean to her and put up with it. Other kids would have been very mean.

We enjoyed having him so much at our home. Jacques enjoyed their archeological discussions. I always felt Emily was safe when she was with him. He was a great friend and a good listener. We will all miss him very much and prayer he is at peace now.

Eli Oderberg

The story that most sticks out when I think about Mickey is when he invited some of us to do tashlich with him during lunch. Since we are all in public school we weren't able to miss anymore class for the holidays. However, Mickey found away around it. It ended up just being me, him and two of our none Jewish friends but we got to throw away our sins without having to miss school. This was one of things I most admired about Mickey. He had his priorities straight and I looked up at him a lot for that. Mickey was a good person with a good heart and he will always be recognized for that.

Katie Small

I want him back
I want to erase the memory
That stains my heart-
Black Blood
Smelling sour and sweet-
Like beer, or vodka, like a 43-or something.

I want him back
I want to pull him
away from my angel
She promised he would stay
She promised he would live.

God, I want him back
I want to fill myself again
I want to hear him laugh
I want to see his eyes
I want to smell him.

God-why did you take him?
God-why?
All I want in this world.

I want him back.
I want to stop staining his memory
with salty-sweet tears.

God I hate you.

Craig Edelstein

The one thing about Mickey I will never forget is how overtime I saw him, no matter where it was, he would always come up to me, smile, put out his hand and be like "What's up Craig?" That was always cool for me when he did that, I will miss that. I really never got to know Mickey too well, Which I regret, even though we did go to school together in 7th Grade, and we did have some fun times, now I will never be able to get to know him better :(

I never ever expected something like this to happen, it has been hard for all of us. In other words "This really sucks."

Rachel Wolf

Mickey went to Lalapalooza with me and a bunch of our friends and we had a great time, "Two medium Frosties." He drove my car before he got his license. Ask-A-Nurse. He stayed at my house when my parents were on vacation. While I was stage manager for RMHA he was in the hilarious play "Sure Thing," and I was impressed at how well he could act. For those plays we had to paint these big boxes and Mickey was there every afternoon, either helping paint or making me laugh while I was painting. He wrote funny poetry for "The Back Page." He made me drive him the block and half from the JCC to his house. He united the school singing his "Se Senorita" song. An interesting fact about that song, one day he refused to sing while we were sitting before an assembly, and later I asked him why, and he said it was because he had seen someone who was of Hispanic descent who might be offended by it. I know a lot of other kids who wouldn't have thought twice, but Mickey really cared about everyone's feelings. He liked my music tastes. He liked my mix tapes. He was the consolidator of orange juice at morning prayer. He told Iowa jokes up the wazoo. Helped me learn how to keep score at baseball games. He told me he wouldn't make out with me loud enough for the rest of the school to hear. He was always there to give me a reassuring smile, a handshake, or a friendly punch on the shoulder.

Eloise Kauvar

One time, I was at the J playing basketball and Mickey was there too. I wanted to learn how to post up, so I asked him to teach me. He smirks and goes "ok." He shows me how to do it a couple of times then tells me to try on him. Every time that I thought I had it, the ball would leave my fingertips then come smashing down to the floor. The pathetic part was that he didn't even have to try to play defense at all, he just had to stick out his hand to block my shot. He never forgot about that time, and neither did I. A few months later, he wrote me a letter at camp and asked me how my post moves were coming along. It was the little things like that that we did together or that I told him that he never forgot. Those little things are what I now remember him by and I will hold them in my heart forever.

Zane Dombrowski

During the course of our baseball season, Mickey told me to hit my spots so many times... In one game he told me to pitch outside fastballs to a kid. The first pitch was outside, ball one. The second pitch was outside, ball two. the third pitch was inside, Mickey was setup outside. he nearly missed the ball. When he got up he ran out to the mound, "Hit your F@#$%*g spots!!!!!!" I'll miss you

Karen Flaxer

The name Mickey, when someone mentions that name I've always thought of Mickey Barter. There is so much that I can't put in words. I remember one of the first times I met him was at Ilya's Bar Mitzvah. He was so goofy, and when you would look at him he would always have his big smile and his brown eyes look back at you. Every year after meeting him in 1996, during the Jewish holidays or at other events. We would always have our little talks about what is going on in our lives. You never really realize how important every minute is in a day. Mickey Barter will always be remembered by everyone that knew him, and for all the times we were together.

Terri Auerbach

I loved having Mickey in our home. He always brought smiles to everyone here. Whatever we were doing, he just seemed to fit in with the chaos of our household and always with a smile. He was always so nice to everyone in our family. Even just sitting and doing nothing at my parents on Yom Kippur while we passed the time away before we all went back to shul before the day's end was great! We all truly loved being with Mickey and having Mickey come over. I used to ask him to come over more often because he was such a pleasure to have around the house.

Knowing how close Michael was with him and how much we loved him makes missing him even harder. I hope he knew how much we all loved him and how much he truly had to offer to the world.

If anyone else is reading this with thoughts of suicide on their mind. PLEASE remember that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Please stick around just to see how your life will turn out!

I know I speak for my whole family when I say that we truly miss Mickey and that sweet personality that we knew!

David Fishman

I was lucky enough to have some of my last memories of Mickey to be in the holy land. He came to visit both Garrett and myself last year and spent a really wonderful and memorable trip with us. One story I remember is; Mickey, Garrett, and myself decided to walk from Mevaseret to Yerushalim. While on this trek Mickey decided he wanted to explain and prove to both Garrett and myself his theory that the world we live in is nothing compared to the civilization that pre dated our era of existence. Mickey said that there was a civilization which was so technologically advanced that it is not even conceivable for us to understand. He said that if we would only dig deep enough into the ground that we would find evidence of this civilization. These people unfortunately blew themselves up with a nuclear war. Of course Mickey was able to bring up facts about the soil, and the historical ideas to help prove his point that this civilization truly existed. The walk from Mevaseret to Yerushalaim at first seemed like it might take all day, but with Mickey talking and making both Garrett and I laugh so hard during the walk, that the time just flew by. Who knows maybe he is correct.

Mickey touched my soul. I can remember countless memories of Mickey that are filled with deep conversations and ridiculously funny moments. Mickey truly is a special soul. There are few people who I have met in my life, who I can remember only really good and funny memories about them. My memories of Mickey bring tears of joy to my eyes, and such deep positive feelings to my heart. Mickey had a cartoon smile which could light up any room, and change every moment to be a happy, wonderful, unforgettable experience for everyone who was involved. I deeply miss him, and often find myself reviewing my experiences that I was fortunate enough to spend with Mickey.

Jeremy Bernstein

I remember on Simchas Torah and when we were dancing the hora, Mickey lifted me on his shoulders as we danced. I looked up to Mickey in a lot of ways. I use to wish that I could be as tall as him and shoot hoops like him. I still wish that I could. I have a lot of great memories of Mickey that will remain in my heart forever. I miss Mickey and wish that he was with us today.

Danny Hyatt

A few nights after Mickey's death I spent the night at Michael Auerbach's house along with Eli, and Noah. We couldn't really sleep at one point and decided to take out our feelings on paper. We all wrote poetry and the funny thing was none of us were any good at it. It's a shame that such a tragedy can bring out poetry like what we wrote. It's nothing that'll make me famous but it's how I remember Mickey.

I hope all this is just a dream
I'll miss what was a super team
In Baseball, basketball, soccer too
I didn't respect anyone as much as you.
You didn't listen when I told you what pitch
But you knew your arm that would make you rich
You told me not to tell you what to do
Or "don't touch me I'm fragile" or I smell like you
I miss how you showed me what you learned on guitar
Or to flap your big ears, and to drive your old car
Your facial expressions, your laugh and your look
How you said all women could do was cook
The pain that you felt, the sorrow you had
It hurt me inside to see you so sad
You left a lot of people I hope you know
But we'll always love you, wherever you go
We love you Mickey...always and forever
We will remember the good times of your 16 year endeavor
Nothing can replace you and your history
One things for sure; you'll always be inside of me

REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN.....

Me and you threw ping pong balls at your brother when he was asleep.
I told you to throw a curve and you threw a weird pitch that wasn't much of anything but you struck the guy out anyway and then you stuck your tongue out at me in the middle of the game.
Coach Munoz didn't let us stretch our groins, and you said you wouldn't play unless we got to.
Kidding around with Emily at RMHA. At lunch when we would whisper into each others ears to make her think we were talking about her.
Everyone came over to your house before a RMHA baseball game and we ate all your cookies, and you got really mad for a second and then said, "oh well, I didn't like that kind anyway."
You told me that I smelled in the East hallway and everyone turned around and looked at us and we blamed it on the kid behind us.....well I do

If you didn't notice every memory starts with the letters in his name. Some of the sentences didn't grammatically work and remembering Mickey's poetry, neither did his so it's all good. These are just some of the memories of Mickey I will cherish forever, and I hope he can still read them (even though he flunked English.....that is what he wrote in all of our yearbooks). I hope he is happy and I'll never forget him.

Jamie

Looking back, my friendship with Mickey seems so cliched considering it was pretty much based on our common love of Nirvana. In our 8th grade Bible class with Jerry Mickey would tease me about Kurt Cobain so much that Jerry offered our class a pizza party if we could go for one day without mentioning Kurt Cobain or Nirvana. Mickey made sure that everyday someone (usually him) would say Kurt Cobain. Sometimes he would sit waiting until the last second of class and then yell it out just as everyone was getting ready to leave. Well, we finally got our pizza party one day when Mickey was absent. Mickey and I were in a play together and I have to say he stole the spotlight. During practice he would always forget his lines but when the actual play came I was the one who actually forgot my lines. He never stopped giving me crap about that. The day Nirvana's new cd came out "Muddy Banks of Wishkah" I was so upset because I didn't have enough money to buy it. Mickey had a gift certificate left over from his Bar Mitzvah and he gave it to me and told me to buy two copies of the cd... one for him and one for me. I tried paying him back later, but he just wouldn't take my money. There are so many more memories of Mickey, but I'm sure I'm boring all of you with my Nirvana stories.

Daniel Cohen

Being Mickey's catcher for the years that I played ball with him was the greatest time I ever had in baseball, especially when he would put a little smile on his face every time I told him to throw a curve ball which we both knew would end up at the backstop. But, no matter how hard he made me work behind the plate sometimes I always had to laugh when he was on the mound. This season's for Mickey.

Rachel

I remember in 8th grade at RMHA some of the girls in our class decided that since Mickey was afraid of worms, we'd play a little practical joke on him and put some worms in his locker. Well, Mickey didn't think that joke was so funny! He was so horrified of the worms! Mickey had a great sense of humor and if a class at school ever got slightly boring Mickey would always liven it up with a joke or a remark that would always make all of us laugh. I will miss Mickey very much.

Leah Hagler

I went to elementary school with Mickey. I had a particularly hard time in elementary school, and I don't remember much of it, but I remember Mickey. He was always around making jokes and having fun. Even when his friends were being nasty to me, Mickey never was. While we were never good friends, he was always polite to me at a time that few people were. I think, however, that my most vivid memory of Mickey was at a Bat Mitzvah. A friend of mine kept asking him to dance and he acted VERY shy (a first for him, I think). Well, it took an order from the DJ to get him out on the dance floor. While he protested, he was laughing and so was everyone else in the room. I remember that, because that truly made my night. Mickey was a wonderful guy and I think that without him, the world is a lot emptier.

Bernard Mendoza

I do not have any great personal stories of Mickey. In fact, alas, I didn't get to know him too well. So why am I writing? Because you didn't need to know Mickey, you only had to meet him to realize he was somebody special. Mickey, to me, was one of those rare individuals who dared to be different and was not afraid, even at his young age, to express through his incredible sense of humor, how he saw the world about him. His views were seldom conventional but invariably humorous and he always gave a new slant to what most would see as hum drum. Although his wonderful, sometimes mischievous smile drew you in, for me it was those incredible eyes. Unflinching, directed, strong eyes that riveted you to him once he got you in his glare. For all that you have given Mickey, may you be blessed, and may you have peace wherever you have traveled.

Rosy Braunstein

I remember in sixth grade this huge crush I had on Mickey. When our graduation rolled around, I was still completely infatuated and obsessed with him. Throughout the whole year I had been sort of chasing after him...I'm sure at some point he must have gotten annoyed, but he was always nice about it. I remember at our sixth grade graduation party I was thinking about how sad it was that we were all going our separate directions. I guess I must have looked really upset, because Mickey came up and asked me to dance. It was funny, because it was the last thing I'd expected. I had already asked him to dance once, and he said yes, so it wasn't even like he hadn't danced with me yet. I was SO thrilled by him asking me to dance, and I keep remembering how sweet and caring he was to ask me to dance. I'll always remember you Mickey!

Britney

I remember when I met Mickey. It was at the 6 vs. 705 football game. He was sitting on the side with me, Shelly, and Brett and I remember he kept taking pictures of himself on Shelly's camera. He was so funny and I wish I got to know him better. He seemed like such a cool guy.

Jason Auerbach

Mickey still pops up into my mind all the time. I just came back from an NCSY Shabbaton, and the thing is that every inch of the place we stayed at reminded me of Mickey. I remember sitting in the dining hall with him making fun of Garrett's attempt at clapping in rhythm; I remember how Danny and Mickey repeatedly dove into a huge snowbank outside. I remember snowmobiling following behind him, I remember how he started a snowball fight on the top of the mountain. Every time I get an application for an NCSY Shabbaton I think of Mickey, because even if none of my other friends went on the Shabbaton, Mickey would always be there.

Mickey is still comforting me today though. The night before my last play opened, I lost my voice. I had the lead, and to say the least I was worried. That night, I had a dream. I dreamt that I was in shul, and I turned around and Mickey was standing there. He smiled his big goofy grin, and then just faded away. When I woke up, I realized Mickey was telling me everything was going to be ok. I still think it was Mickey that gave me my voice opening night, and I was singing because he let me.

Daryn

I read and hear stories about Mickey from people like Jason, Amy, Hillary, and others, and feel sad that I never got a chance to meet him. I've heard stories from friends that make Mickey sound like he was a wonderful, caring guy. Though I never knew him, I felt that it was my time to step up and voice my feelings. Mickey, you are missed.

Tatsuko

Don't go
There are so many memories still to be made
So much yet to be said
We have years of laughing in fornt of us
So much time ahead
The cherished moments are waiting to be found
Looking for the future
All the good is waiting to happen
Looking to endure
Please stay
There is so much I still need to tell you
Only to be left unspoken
Hopes and dreams will all be told
Only to be broken
A bond has been made that only two can share
We are forever tied
I'll give you my heart, so take it with you

Jacobson

I knew Mickey from Moshava in Wisconsin and wrote this for English Class during a Shakespeare unit:

"To throw away the dearest thing he owned
As 'twere a careless trifle." Indeed, Will.

Ahh, Mickey! What a cool guy! Athletic,
fun, funny, somewhat shy, ever so kind,
not the brightest, but considerate,
Mickey Barter, friend from camp.
Dated the very closest of my friends
two years ago. Lost touch with him,
but at his mention, fond memories
flooded the banks of my mind. A smile
crossed my face for the tall, skinny kid
from Denver.

Earth has lost his kindness, naive smile.
Mickey is gone, the car in his garage
still running long after defeating him.

"Out, out brief candle!"
"Rest, rest, perturbed spirit"

Why?

July 1982 - October 1998

Jeff Auerbach

As I read the message on the board in memory of Mickey, my eyes well up and realize that since Mickey's passing we have not really as adults provided a place for his friends to hang and be together. More important I recall all of the times that Mickey was here at our home and that he always made my kids feel special. As we approach Molly's first birthday both Terri and I recall Mickey's wish to name Molly his name..Mickey..perhaps that is why she has a name that begins with M---to carry on his spirit and sense of humor. It is true that Mickey dared to be different in a world that prefers for people to be the same... may we learn from his life and the lessons which he taught so many of us, adults as well as children...and may his memory be a blessing for his parents, Mark and Susie and his brother Garrett and sister, Devra. Mickey I truly miss your presence in our home and will forever strive to provide kids a place where they can be who they truly wish to be, and accepted for who they are.

Zvi Landsman

I may have no right to post anything here, being that I'm from the East Coast and I never met Mickey, but I did spend a year living next door to Garrett and David in Mevaseret and I felt horrible that there was nothing I could do for them when I heard about Mickey. When I checked out "Thor"'s homepage, I saw this section and was compelled to read all of the memories; some made me tear and some made me smile (especially the one's about picking on Garrett, those are my favorites). But I'm certainly going to walk away learning a very important message; while we all hope to live until 120, some may not, so we have to take advantage of every moment we can spend with others, and never be afraid to tell them how much you care about them-- it could mean the world. Thanks for letting me throw in my 2 cents.