| October 2025
L’chayim! To life! What a special gift we are given to live on this beautiful planet for as many years as we are allotted. To play in its oceans, hike among its trees, picnic in its open grassy spaces, and marvel at its night sky. Add to it our relationships with our parents, children, and grandchildren, to brighten every moment. Then add in those friends that become part of our family, because we just love them that much. I have been blessed with many friends and the majority of them I met here at Emanu-El. Some I have known for a short time and some it feels like a lifetime. Two of my best friends, as many of you know, are Marc and Terri Goldsmith. The three of us went everywhere and called ourselves the Three Musketeers. Lots of laughs, great food, supporting and caring for each other. Terri was a sister to me and left too soon. And as I write this article, Marc is in hospice care and will join his soul mate, Terri, maybe before this Bulletin comes out. I will miss his friendship, humor, singing, musicianship, and his never ending support. We ask these questions on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, How many will pass from this world? How many will be born into it? How many will live and how many shall die? Who shall reach the ripeness of old age? I’m glad that Marc made it to the ripeness of old age, that he was a part of our Cabaret, and even sang in the choir from a brief time. I’m glad, and so was he, that many people cooked for him, visited, and chatted with him. In the end I hope he realized that this was just a fraction of the people whose lives he had touched. I hope he understood how much of a difference he made in our lives and the lives of his students. We don’t talk much about death until we are faced with it. Maybe we think that if we don’t talk about it that we won’t have to think about it, or we will deal with it until later. I used to feel that way, but now I feel talking about it helps us to understand how precious every moment is in our lives, and in the lives of those we love. Yes, it is sad for us that our loved ones are physically not with us anymore, and we grieve until their memory brings a smile back to our face as we remember the good things about them, and the good times and laughter we shared. Remembering will forever keep their memory alive in our hearts and minds and that is a beautiful blessing. From life, to death, and then back again to life. We continue on our path changed by those who have touched our lives. At Yizkor on Simchat Torah, the last prayer of the Yizkor section in our Mishkan T’filah for Festivals, ends, “So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.” In the end, memories are all we have left, so in 5786, make sure to make wonderful memories with those you love. Hebrew classes will resume in November. 12:00, Tuesday, November 4, Beginning Hebrew 10:00, Wednesday, November 5, Trope Class 11:00, Wednesday, November 5, Intermediate Prayerbook Hebrew 11:00, Thursday, November 5, Translating the Torah
A big thank you to everyone who helped elevate our High Holy Days this year. Todah rabbah, Hazzan Sherry |