Friday, September 22, 2006

Shana Tova

To all,

May the current year with its problems be gone and the new year with its promise begin.


Martha

Sunday, September 17, 2006

September 17,2006 Unveiling Day

Judah’s Unveiling
Who does Judah belong to?

At first I thought that just the family would come to consecrate his marker. Its been a year since Judah died. His birthday and the end of the eleven months formal mourning period ended on August 22, coinciding with Judah’s 40th birthday. Sept 3rd came the anniversary in the Julien calendar of his passing.

I have watched Alissa and Benjie in their struggles with grief. They have watched me in my struggles with grieving. Grieving is very solitary, it comes when you least expect it, Its like a old friend who envelopes you, and in some way comforts you. It’s a constant companion, some times it makes its presence known, some times its more like a shadow or a fog surrounding you.


Making the marker was difficult , because how do you encapsulate some one’s life into a few lines written in stone. How do you say I love you? How do you edit all that Judah was, and I use the past tense, because the pain of not having a future for him is the reality. How do you put down for all to see and for all generations to come the essence of Judah and the meaning of his life ?

It’s the meaning of his life that leads to all of us being here; Family, family by blood , family by choice, friends. Judah was a wonderfully complex fellow. He had many aspects of his life, and in each arena he touched lives. He was a supporter, a scientists, a doctor, a lawyer, a card player, a lover, an artist, scuba diver,writer, baseball player, each of us can fill in another descriptor of Judah.


I see Judah in each one of you. He continues on if not in body in spirit. A scholarship in his memory is enabling a young man from Tanzania to attend medical school. A rock climbing wall was built in the elementary school Judah attended. Project Judah will be launched this year.

Judah belongs, present tense, to all of us, We all have a share in him. It is fitting that we all are here to honor a friend, a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew and cousin. He is next to his father, Seymour, also a man of many talents and interests, and also a man who belonged to his family and friends. May both of their memories be a blessing.