Gerd
Lüdemann

von Jordan Almanzar am 02.06.2021 - 21:21 Uhr | melden

I was fortunate enough to be Gerd Lüdemanns student from 2008 until 2017 and I will be eternally grateful for this opportunity. During our time together, I learned more from him than I could have ever imagined. He was truly one of the greatest scholars of his generation, and I benefitted more than words can say from our conversations and joint-research. I have no idea what he saw in me, why he ever gave me a chance to do my doctoral studies with him. My singular intention became to make him not regret that decision. I wanted to make him proud of me. Over the course of time, we became very close. He showed his kindness to me from day one, kindness that never wavered. In the early years, it was truly his kindness that stood out above all! I was pleasantly astounded once when he told me he had become a big fan of Taylor Swift, and he wanted to know if I had heard her music. He used to ask me to email him links to stream NFL games, of course the Titans, on his computer in Germany. Beyond biblical research, which was always at the fore of his mind, we would talk about hockey and American football. At times, he would share his deepest thoughts, about life and about death. In one of my last conversations with him, he said, "God bless you." He then confessed that he was saying "God bless you" once again. I was not at all surprised, having come to know him beyond his writings. In the summer of 2017, we discussed authoring a book together. Sadly, it soon became apparent that he was not up to the task. He did, however, send me a recommendation letter in which his unwavering hope was still alive. The following excerpt from this letter both crushed and uplifted me: "I have invested more in Jordan than in any of my other students....In fact, Jordan and I intend to continue our work together; keeping the spirit of the old Göttingen alive." I was so out of place when I met him, yet he gave me a space in his massive office in the Theologicum, access to his office library and boundless inspiration through almost daily conversation. In that office space overlooking the SUB, he gave me the chance to launch my scholarly life. His passion and energy were contagious. How often he would encourage me with "weiter so!" I have nothing but respect for him as a scholar, teacher, father, husband and friend. Every memory with him is only full of happiness. I barely scratched the surface of the deepest personality I have ever met. I love and miss you, Dr. Lüdemann.