Snow Day

Hi, everyone! I feel so lucky to know so many caring, kind people in the "blogosphere." Your notes and condolences have meant so much to me over the past days.

SO, bringing you up to date: I was in Chicago for my grandmother's funeral. My doctors gave me permission to fly, as long as I took all possible precautions along the way. I made sure to arrange for a wheelchair on both ends of the flight, which was incredibly helpful. At Newark Airport, the man who pushed my wheelchair, I found out, used to be a college professor in philosophy and psychology in his home country of Egypt. However, now that he lived in America, he did not know enough English to continue his career. Thus, he was stuck pushing wheelchairs in the airport as he learned more English. How sad! I really enjoyed talking with him and seeing pictures of his adorable children.

The funeral and shiva (the traditional Jewish days of mourning, usually lasting a week) were.... complicated. My grandmother was kind to me throughout my life, but caused a lot of pain and misery for other relatives of mine. It was somewhat difficult to eulogize her and make her sound righteous. My aunt kept talking about my grandmother's "honesty and insistence on the truth," yet I kept thinking about how much her "honesty" hurt people close to me. Nevertheless, we got through it all, and I got to spend time with my family.

Once I came back to the NYC area, I prepared for a return to work. I can't really explain why, but I finally felt significantly better. I went back to work this week, as fully as possible, and it felt so good to be there. I missed the ins and outs of the rabbinate - preparing for this Shabbat's Torah study, submitting a piece of text for the pamphlet handed out during services, sending out congratulatory letters to new babies and weddings in our congregation... it is all so fulfilling. And, after two days back at the temple, I was tired but not in pain. Yay!

Which brings me to today - SNOW!!! I really planned on going in today (though not staying for services - too much right now), but there are six inches of snow on the ground!! And there will only be more on the way! It looks beautiful, but I am terrified of slipping and falling (again). Thus, I will work from home today on some projects and stay nice and warm :)

I hope you all had a good week, and I look forward to visiting your blogs to catch up. Take care! Have a lovely weekend!

Appreciating life

Well, dear friends, I officiated at a devastatingly difficult funeral today. The woman who died had two teenaged kids, and a husband who had been her honey since high school. She died in a tragic accident, and everyone was just completely crushed by the loss.

And, I, your trusty rabbi, needed to keep it together throughout the ceremony and burial. I mean, I have enough trouble with death as it is, and I struggle through your basic funeral (is there ever really such a thing??) of a 90 year old who had a full and celebrated life. However, this is the hardest funeral I have ever had to lead, and in all honesty, I am still recovering.

I can't believe how much energy and absolute will it took to keep from collapsing in tears. I looked out over the chapel, and every single person in attendance was crying. The speakers were all crying. The family was crying. And I, a sensitive and emotional human being, had to stay composed. Wow - it was so hard to get up and conclude the service after all the eulogies. I could barely speak.

Well, thanks for listening to my rabbinical ramblings (always with the alliteration, ah?). Hope all is well in your world, and that you find yourself feeling just a bit more grateful for the blessings, joy, and love in your life today.