Dr. Dan Kliman (1970-2008)

Dan was an interesting person. He was a militant bicyclist, vegetarian, and Israel advocate. He was also a (medical) doctor down with the herb. I used to mess with him about his left-wing politics, back when I was more open to what could be termed right-wing influences. He had a good sense of humor, but took what he believed very seriously, so I never went too far. The two of us were regular makers of Havdalah for the community at Beth Jacob in Oakland, California. Later we were part of a holy Motzoei Shabbos collective that chilled on Park Blvd. His death is the first among my friends on facebook, and his page is still there, now filled with comments from his friends. His death is mysterious. I do not have a generous amount of confidence in the San Francisco authorities, but they're all we've got right now. The media coverage of his death has been a trip unto itself. It started with a very brief and distorted article. Then Dr. Dan emerged as a local celebrity with a front page article in the San Francisco Chronicle. The mystery of his death was noted by many. He apparently had enemies among the Islamic expansionists and the fools who think they're cool and/or just. He was known to them and had been researched.