I AM VERY SAD TO FINED OUT THAT DAVID HAD PASSED AWEY. 
HE TOUGHT ME GUITAR PLAYING.
HE WAS A SPECIAL MAN AND A WANDERFULL COSIN. 
MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.
MAY HE REST IN PEACE....

It's hard to believe that it has been  a year since David has passed we were good friends for over 40years. I feel great sadness for the family especially his wife and two daughters who loved him dearly.
Life doesn't seem right without him. I keep thinking he will appear one day this is such a difficult thing for me to deal with but I try & think about the happy & joyful times we had together. He told me so much about life, nutrition, spirituality and taught me how to do meditation and easy yoga he was always there for me with any questions I had at any time of the day. I loved him so much.
I think about him  most days when I go into one room where I used to do the meditation  via zoom with David. 
His spirit lives on and I know how important family is for him.
Miss him & love to his family.
Shirlee Tunick

I just learned of David’s passing and I am in shock. He has been a medical advisor to my family for many many years - anytime someone had a medical problem, the first call we would make would be to David. I am recalling a shabbat dinner he spent with my family, it was one of the most memorable nights in my life (because he made it so with his stories, jokes, and just overall pleasant attitude). I will very much miss David. May he rest in peace. My condolences to Rochelle and his family.

 I just heard of Daid's ascension. Sorry to hear of this. David was a beautiful man shining with light and love. May he ascend to the highest places. May his wife be comforted by all the love around her. 

A beautiful man, with an abundance of love to give. He will truly be missed, we are grateful for his courage to love and listen even during the darkness that was in the world. 

Rene, was a kind soul whose presence will, always be with us all. I’m grateful to have been a part of his journey and I’m grateful that he was a part of mine. 

May he be one with Source now, eternally beautiful and with each of the hearts he touched. I send my love to his family, to Rochelle and his daughters. You were the pillars of his heart, throughout it all and he adored you, with every breath.May we celebrate his prolific life and embody his gentle, kind, and intelligent  approach. With the grace of love. 

Although I wish I would’ve seen you more, towards your transition, I cannot help but to be grateful and nostalgic, for what was and is. 
I love you, I’ll miss playing guitar & chess with you over coffee. In our time together, You have truly touched my soul and awakened in me a spiritual flowering which I will carry  with me deep in my heart, and gift unto the world. my whole life. 

I love you Rene 
Forever and ever on.  

-Larion, 

I’m so very sorry to learn that he passed! I loved him and thought he was the kindest most generous person.  I’m a cancer pt and he went out of his way to help me years ago and I also really enjoyed his yoga and meditation. I live in FH and red pipe was such a beautiful place to hang out in bc of him as well. My condolences to his family and closest friends. He will surly be missed and not forgotten. RIp Rene 
Dara Joy Cohen 🥲😘♥️❣️😇

You were a light and inspiration to many. Your genuineness was a beacon of light for many. Your love and honesty always shined through your presence and teachings.  Your tenderness, insight, and loving way will live with all those that have gotten to know you through the years. Until we meet again. 
Love, appreciation, and gratitude always
Keith Villanueva

Dear Rochelle & loved family, I am in Boca Raton or I would have been there with you to honor my sweetest friend David (my sweetest friends refers to a Reb Shlomo Carlebach greeting that David would know as we both loved Reb Shlomo’s music!) I know David 30 years. He was as you said a true “renaissance man”, his talents were many. I would call him a few times a year to see if I could stop by Genesis Tree of Life just to talk to him as he was so deep on so many levels of things we had in common that I wanted to understand! He had so much wisdom! And we would tell jokes! Last I had seen him was when I came back to Forest Hills for a visit 2 years ago. He had an open mic poetry night going on at the Red Pipe Cafe which was filled with young people, how cool is that, not typical of Forest Hills,  it was a  way to create community providing an outlet of creative expression! I felt like David & Rochelle were family. I could call and go there for a Jewish holiday meal as my family circle is small so friends became family. I would call David out of nowhere on occasion and find David & Rochelle away on some travels. I admired David for so many reasons as do so many! Thank you David for always being your highest self! I will miss you ❤️

Today I lost my best friend. I knew David for over 45 years. We met in Manhattan when we were both single and formed a close relationship. We continued this relationship  and I  even   introduced him to his wife Rochelle. What a wonderful day that was and they went on to have 2 beautiful daughters, Sharon and  Jeanine.
 David sang at my wedding 38 years ago and was there for me 20 years ago to renew my vows at the beach. No matter what I had to do in my life David was part of it, but not just for me-- a family member or any other person who needed help, he was there for them, whether it was spiritually or medically , he was there for us.
 David taught me yoga, meditation and many  other relaxing techniques  and 2 years ago  during Covid  we did meditation on Zoom, between NY and Florida, where I live now.  My heart goes out to Rochelle and the family and David will never be forgotten and I will never stop loving him. 

My first memory of Rene was of going into the small storefront studio space on Metropolitan Ave, curious about yoga classes.  He made it sound so easy and then after taking the class...so wonderful!  We talked some more afterwards until he had to go into the next class which was Belly Dancing with Shoshana.  He invited me to take the class WITH HIM as a free trial, which I did, and I was hooked...again.  He was like a Pied Piper opening the world of yoga, dance, spirituality, holistic health, and so much more, to those who would follow.   We didn't always agree on things, and he was so stubborn about change, but it certainly was never dull studying and working with him.  I was the one responsible for him reverting back to his first name "Rene" for the yoga center (I had asked which name he preferred, and he said Rene, but that David was easier for people to pronounce.  I told him too bad, and he agreed).  For those to whom he was kind and generous, it was boundless -- I will be forever grateful for the ways in which he personally helped me.   I thank you, Rene, for the light you helped me access within.  My deepest condolences to Rachelle, Sharon and Janine.  You are in my thoughts and prayers, and I truly hope your memories of him provide some solace.


Remembering when I first met David when he performed Bert and Shirlee's re commitment ceremony in the Hamptons. So special then and even more special and comforting during  Covid at his weekly meditations- Shirlee and I really appreciated that so much. 

 Jerry called David for counseling advice  around him and his son and truly appreciated David's  knowledge and generosity, As a practitioner of yoga since jerry was 14 he was really inspired by David's path in giving yoga to the world as an instructor   and teacher of other Eastern philosophies and granting being to people of  all beliefs, philosophies  and spiritual practices.  May  .    his generosity of spirit inspire us all...
Jerry Turner, also a Levite  and Gloria Waldman  

 
                               Our deepest sympathies.

Today in our emergency meeting, TAPAC-UGANDA has resolved to mark March-10th day every year on our calendar as Rene David Alkalay Memorial Day.  
His pictures will stay inside on our office walls and we promise to keep his name and genesis high as we had agreed with him that TAPAC will keep the genesis flag flying at TAPAC and wherever TAPAC goes. 

On this day, we shall always hold special prayers, compose and perform songs praising and celebrating our hero’s life. 
Poetry competitions, for who writes the best poem to be read on that Rene David Alkalay Memorial day. 

David Rene Alkalay will always be remembered here in Uganda and East Africa for the great contribution that he made to feed our needy children and youth from disadvantaged communities of Uganda during the pandemic. He donated food worth $3000 that was distributed to our community needy families and feed children that live at TAPAC project.
We made small and big plans with David to raise over $50,000 to build a home for the homeless kids who  reside at a rented TAPAC center in Uganda and in our last talk on 23rd/1/2022, he said “send me a document for school fees for those children” he had promised to $4000 for our TAPAC kids that are at school as we wait for him to get better to run a big plan for a home for about 200 children that are on TAPAC project and genesis society program. 

This fund was meant to meet children’s tuitions and fees for this year 2022.
For you the rest of the family, we hold you in our thoughts at this sad time and we promise to stay your family here in EAST Africa, Uganda.
But unfortunately David is gone and all we have to do is pray that God gives him the highest best rest
He was a man of his word and so kind. He is worth remembering and deserves his soul to R.I.P.
Our father, Grandpa David R.I.P
www.tapac-uganda.org
www.singwihafrica.com


To the family of Dr.Rene David Alkalay,.. 
I’m so very sorry for your loss.😪 My deepest condolences to you and your family. Dr.Alkalay will be truly missed. He was a wonderful man that wore many hats. Not only was he a great healer and professional Doctor but he was a kind, caring and generous person with a heart of gold that did everything to help and comfort his patients. He truly cared and had empathy. He alway took the time to listen and gave you such good advice. He went the extra mile to make you feel better. He’d sing to you and play his guitar then tell a few jokes to made you laugh to put a smile on your face. He was more of a friend to you than a doctor.  
I’m honored to have known him and so very grateful for his knowledge of what he has taught me. For his healing hands that took away my pain and the time I’ve spent with him as he has help me in so many avenues in my life. He was like family to me. I’m so very sad that he has passed but happy that he’s no longer suffering or in pain. Dr Alkalay was one of a kind. He was one of Gods angels 😇 that healed and touched many hearts. R.I.P..I hope you’re at peace now no longer suffering and you’re sitting on a cloud singing and playing your guitar 🎸and telling your jokes to all the other angels in heaven.😇 I’d like to say Thank You for all that you’ve done for me and for being you❤️You will be greatly missed.😪R.I.P..🙏 Until we meet again..❤️
Respectfully,
Christina Scola❤️

A Man for All Seasons. Say hello to Michael 🙏🏼

David was a huge inspiration in my life, always creating and trying something new even to the end God bless. He always had great advice to give with of course a joke thrown in to make it even extra special. He had a wonderful sense of community and served it well with extending an extra hand to local artists and musicians and anyone else who needed it. My condolences goes out to Rochelle and the family, David will be greatly missed, a little light when out in our world with his transition but now is shining brightly in Heaven.
Till we meet again David ❤️❤️❤️


It was a blessing to have met David. He had a tender soul. His music his talks were deep and touched the heart. Is inspiring how he had overcame strong difficulties and he still had a smile and and a calm attitude to life. 
May his memory be of a blessing  
Our  condolences to Rachel and his family.  

Abigail, Miriam and Yakov 

I am so sad to hear about my teacher David. I  had know him in Minneapolis  in july 2011. I was studing for ttp himalayan istitute.
I rimenber his lessons. And he has inveted me to teach yoga in your school for some days. I did not can i must to come back to italy.
My condolance to everybody . An hug Laura from tuscany italy

Dr. David was a special soul. I will also, remember his kindness, love and compassion. David was a teacher and humanitarian. I met him when I was very I'll. When he entered my room he gave me life. I pray his legacy with Genesis lives forever. His last conversation was Anthony I will be with you in spirit forever. And protect you forever.  I will always be with  Dr. David Renee. I 🙏

David was one of the most important people in my life. He shared his deep and wide understanding of yoga with me starting when I took pregnancy yoga with him almost 25 years ago. His teaching was the best I ever found, and the movements and practices ‘my guru’ passed to me guide me everyday. He presided over my mother’s funeral and gave great comfort in that time of need. He traveled with me in Rishikesh india where we spent time together at the Swami Rama ashram where my learning and great respect for him deepened. He was always there when I needed some health advice and just plain wisdom. Although we fell out of touch in recent years due to political differences, my love for him remained. My love for him shall always remain and also my love for his wife Rachelle who was always steadfast by his side. This very morning He came strongly to my mind,  how long it was since I’d seen him and how I had better reach out soon because life is so short. And there you have it. I hope his last days were peaceful. His loss will be felt by many people I’m sure. Very very few people contained the combination of knowledge, compassion, service and above all sharing as a teacher with so many people so that we could go forth and spread that learning beyond. I remember his stories of the camp and how his mother kept him alive by staying out in the cold, survivors! I remember the story of how he met a bear as he sat meditation out in the woods. And how he and the bear pondered each other for a time before the great creature ambled off. I remember his humor, his passion. All in the moment. Rest in peace my dear friend; the world, and I, shall miss you.

To Rene's Family, 

I met Rene in the early 2000's at his yoga center when he hosted Swami Veda Bharati.  This was a very important meeting for me, as I had recently moved to the East Coast and had not made many connections with other initiates of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition in the area.  Rene greeted me with such love and kindness that I felt instantly at home at "Genisis Tree of Life."  Rene continued to support us as we began developing Swami Veda's Yoga Teacher Training Program and often visited Swamiji in India.  He will be missed, but his beautiful spirit will stay with us always.

With Love,
Barb (Bowie) Aschettino

OBITUARY

René David Alkalay

4 March, 1941 – 10 March, 2022

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