Yahrzeit Siyum

Alan and I went to the first Yahrzeit Siyum in memory of Harav Asher Naftali Freed Z"L, a good friend who was niftar last January 1st (7th day of Chanukah, 6 months after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. Asher and I had an interesting relationship. He was the only Orthodox Chaplain at UMMC for the last 3 years of his life. At the same time he was studying for a degree in pastoral counseling. He needed a typist, to weekly type his verbatims for class. These were actual verbatim conversations he had with the patients he visited. He was very caring and spiritual in these visits.

For me it was something more -- Asher provided me with a link to my father A"H. Aba also was a hospital chaplain (joke was...when I was in H.S. he left prison chaplaincy and became a hospital chaplain - a friend asked across a crowded NYC subway car: "Is you father still in jail?" I answered, "Nah, he's in the hospital now, he likes it much better." You can imagine the horrified looks which were aimed at me.)

Anyway, back to Asher, A"H. My father also took a degree in pastoral counseling while I was in college. Everytime I typed one of these verbatims for Asher, (some weeks there were 2)which I did over a two year period, I thought of Aba. I thought of his discussions with us, on how he treated dying patients, or unbelieving patients, how he comforted them, counseled them, just held their hand without saying a word. I was reminded of how Aba used to insist on taking us to hospitals (where we waited in the lobby while he did a quick visit with congregants) so that we could go on a family outing afterwards.

I thank you Asher for bringing my Aba back to life for me over those 2+ years that we worked together. I hope that Asher and Aba are enjoying each other's company in Olam haba, rehashing hospital chaplaincy stories. Yehi zichram baruch!!

More Nachas

Today's nachas came from Daniella and Gila. Both are in Bais Yaakov. Daniella is 4 and in Nursery and Gila, 5 is in Kindergarten. Today's Chanukah performances were precious. They were very similar, having been directed by the same music teacher. I did, though, feel like I was back in NY on the corner of Herald Square near Macy's where the Salvation Army people were ringing their bells. At one point the girls rang their bells while the music teacher played "I have a little dreidel" on her keyboard. Tomorrow I head back to Rambam for Ezra's Chumash play. Happy Chanukah to all.

Bar B Q on Chanukah

How wierd was it that on Chanukah, yesterday, it was 72 degrees in Baltimore, and we celebrated our family Chanukah party with a barbecue?? It was lovely. The kids are definitely growing older, minimum of fights, arguments...they all looked so cute on the floor bentching together. Wow...what nachas. It was beautiful. Much thanks to the niece and nephew who hosted!! (and all others who helped in every way!!).

Grandparents' Day at Yeshivat Rambam

Had a lovely time at Grandparents' Day at Rambam. They served a lovely lunch followed by the third grade play. Then off to class with the grandsons. I spent first period with Zevi in Morah Caela's class making a keara page for their Haggadot. They start on their Haggadah in September when they start learning Sefer Shmot. Interesting idea. Then I was in Ezra's Hebrew class where they made plaques for their grandparents and wrote little compositions on Saba V'savta. I spent only a few minutes in first grade with Netani, because he had the most guests: Eliana and Aunt Pessie were with him too. All in all it was a lovely, nachasdik day with the boys.

We're home

We're back in Baltimore. But this title is deceiving. I felt "at home" in Israel too. It was a wonderful trip. Recap of what we did since I wrote last. Tuesday the baby was born. Her name is Batsheva Yocheved. They liked the name Batsheva and Yocheved is for my mother a"H, Shendel Yocheved. Since there are 3 Shendels and Yaffas in the family already they opted for Yocheved which is beautiful. My grandson Netani woke up Thursday morning and announced to the family, before they had heard: "Esther's baby's name is going to be Batsheva." None of us can figure out where he pulled that one out of, but he was right!

Wednesday we went into Yerushalayim, spent a little time in Geula-Meah Shearim after spending a delightful bus ride with Bubby Minni. We were going to go to Hadassah Ein Kerem to visit Esther, but the bus took too long in coming and we would have been late, going to Susan and Danny's for dinner. One thing about taking buses in Israel. We felt totally safe, but (and it's a big but) it takes forever to get places!! Another but..you really get to see the people that way. I love the sign next to the seat behind the nehag (driver): "mipnay saiva takum" (please get up for the elderly). Wow, only in Israel. We spent Wednesday evening at Danny and Susan's house, with Mumsie (Susan's mom) and the Myers: Gadi, Miriam, Yonatan and Rachel, Susan's brother , sister in law, and nephew and niece. We had a nice time (and ate too much!!)Wednesday was also a little nerve wracking as there was a strike of municipal workers which closed the airport. We didn't know if we were leaving Sunday morning or not.

Thursday Alan opted to spend in RBS and I went to J-lem. The strike was over so no more worry about that. I did go to Hadassah and saw Mark and Esther but not Batsheva Yocheved. It was a long trip for too short a time to visit. Then I went and met Debbie, an old friend of 46 years. We were in Camp Moshava together in 1960, Morasha for many years, and Central and STern. We reconnected about 15-16 years ago when our daughters were in Camp Yedid together. We lost track about 8 years ago when she moved to Israel to remarry. Well after much searching I found Debbie (it helped that at the OU convention someone else from our sTern days said: Guess who I saw at a wedding this week: Debbie A. Wow - I called her and we met Thursday. It was like peeling away all those years. it was Great!! Then I went into Geula/Meah Shearim to do my shopping for school, MS, gifts etc. Every night at about 10 we spent about an hour or two with Rashie and Asher which was very special. It's the only time I am so close with my sister, (physically I mean) We are neighbors around the corner from each other.

Friday we went to the Merkaz in RBS, bank, shopping, supermarket etc. Then back to apt to pack, clean for Shabbos and prepare for our Shabbat guests, Danny and Susan and a friend of Yaakov's who stayed with us.

Shabbos (or Shabbat in Israel) was lovely. We ate with the Reicherts all the meals. Met everyone's special friends and extended family (Elly and Josh). Saw the Mel REicherts who made aliyah. Davened in the new Rav Soleveitchik shul, which they conveniently built right behind our apt. (it's lovely). Shabbos was over too soon and we packed entertained the Chazons, old friends from LIC and before we knew it ...4 AM Sunday morning came and we were picked up to go to airport. Definitely too short a trip and hopefully we'll be back soon.

Got home, read the WWW and realized how wonderful Baltimore is as a Jewish community. It's really wonderful that our lives include these two wonderful places. Baruch Hashem.