Chanukah
Today is the English anniversary of Seymour's passing. He died on the last day of Chanukah. Alissa, Benji and I lit the candles, sang the songs, ate the latkes, and felt the missing men in our lives.
Judah loved all the holidays. As a young child he identified with Judah the Macabee.He was named for my grandmother Yehudith, (Judith) and Daniel for the Biblical Daniel, who showed bravery and strength. Mehri named her son Danny Seymour for both Judah and Seymour. He will be a year old Dec 31.

We have a collection of Chanukah Menorah's. A very large bronze one that is probably 100 years old. My father found it at an auction of the Higgenson estate upstate New York. It was blackened and neglected. No one else in the area had a clue what it was so we were able to bid $25.00 for it. Another menorah is a wood base with brass circular holders no more than 1/8 of an inch in diameter. Judah made it in grade school. The newest addition to the memorah collection is a wire mesh sculpture of a lion with candle holders along its mane and back. Rounding out the collection is a small oil hanging memorah probably Moroccan, a modern glass and stainless with the Hebrew words forming the backdrop which holds the glass oil cups by the artist Wolpert and the most whimsical one is row of miniature ladies shoes. Missing is a wood menorah Alissa made in elementary . It probably is a victim of the earthquake move.

As I displayed each one, I remember watching the children's face as they watched the candles flicker, and trying to teach them to spin the dreidle. In adult years Judah's poker chips would double for pennies. Judah's favorite gift to give was lottery cards. He would be deliberate in choosing which lotto game to play, the highest amount any one won was two dollars. I am not sure they were cashed in year we are low keying the holidays, just wishing every one a good and meaningful holiday

Chanukah

Today is the anniversary of Seymour's passing. He died on the last day of Chanukah. Alissa, Benji and I lit the candles, sang the songs, ate the latkes, and felt the missing men in our lives.

Judah loved all the holidays. As a young child he identified with Judah the Macabee. His was named for my grandmother Yehudith, (Judith) and Daniel for the Biblical Daniel, who showed bravery and strength. Mehri named her son Danny Seymour for both Judah and Seymour. He will be a year old Dec 31.

We have a collection of Chanukah Menorah's. A very large bronze one that is probably 100 years old. My father found it at an auction of the Higgenson estate upstate New York. It was blackened and neglected. No one else in the area had a clue what it was so we were able to bid $25.00 for it. Another menorah is a wood base with brass holders no more than 1/8 of an inch in diameter. Judah made it in grade school. The addition to the memorah collection is a wire mesh sculpture of a lion with candle holders along its mane and back. Rounding out the collection is a small oil hanging memorah probably Moroccan, a modern glass and stainless with the Hebrew words forming the backdrop which holds the glass oil cups by the artist Wolpert and the most whimsical one is row of miniature ladies shoes.

As I displayed each one, I remember watching the children's face as they watched the candles flicker, and trying to teach them to spin the dreidle. In adult years Judah's poker chips would double for pennies.

Judah's favorite gift to give was lottery cards. He would be deliberate in choosing which lotto game to play, the highest amount any one won was two dollars. I am not sure they were cashed in.

This year we are low keying the holidays, just wishing every one a good and meaningful holiday.

Love
M

Fourteen and fifteen weeks

Today I am giving away Judah's Black Buick to Mehri. Its saying good by to a large part of my life.

The Buick Park Avenue was nick named the Mafia Mobile. It had dark tinted windows and gold rims. Its the kind of car you saluted as you looked to see who would emerge from it. Plush seating, sleek looks, the ultimate in driving comfort.
Seymour used his red Toyota until it finally said enough, and then the Buick became his car. Mehri would take him to his medical appointments, loading the wheel chair into the huge trunk and Seymour would direct her as she drove.

When Judah returned from Sackler and Israel, he needed a car. Seymour bought a Solara for himself and gave Judah the Mafia Mobile. Judah loved it. It was big and roomy, with space for his junk aka treasures. But, it too had some problems and was not reliable. At that time Seymour was sick and Judah was driving from Pasadena to LA frequently to see him. The cars were switched with Judah getting the Celica and Seymour using the Buick again. This worked fine for both of them.

Judah loved his Solara as he loved most of his cars. I have heard stories of his cars in Israel. The one I love the most is the story about the car that had a tree growing out of the floor boards.

The Buick has been sitting outside of our home and I am afraid it too will soon be growing trees out of the floor boards. Mehri's family are all mechanics and promise to restore the Buick to its proper status.

It was hard opening the trunk and finding Judah's medical journals, patient notes, old mail, postcards, cable jumpers, chains, drawings and many coins. My friend Judy Eber happened to come by and helped me through some very painful moments.

The Mafia Mobile will continue to live on, as will the Judah and Seymour stories.

M

THIRTEEN WEEKS

Each day brings new messages from friends, some Judah's, some mine, some Issi and Benji's. All are touching and deeply moving.

Judah touched so many people, not only in his life, but in is passing as well. We all struggle to make sense of this loss. One friend just send a letter reflecting on Judah's life and his potential, and ended by realizing "What this has meant for me has been a greater sensitizing to the reality that people are losing the understanding of the sanctity of each human being. We who live in a world of "Gigas" and "googles" however, cannot forget that it begins with ONE. Judah's life and death have helped to affirm my awareness of this principle and my commitment to sharing it with others. For this I am indebted to him".

Please keep writing,

Love,

M