Jewish Affairs - South African Jewish Board of Deputies

JEWISH AFFAIRS ROSH HASHANAH 201210 WHOLE WEEKS!It would never happen to me!‘Pa’ would live forever.Then the reality – cancerPanic, self-pity then denial,Hebrew – no go, Kaddish – never.This was me – what next?10 whole weeks!Concern for his wife and familyFear of the great unknown.First nothing … then the pain …Uncontrollable – the circle had turnedFrom our ‘Pillar of Strength’ to helplessnessThat was ‘Pa’ – what now?10 whole weeks!Time we thought was too short.We discussed, spoke and learned.His sense of humour never wanedBut the pain … the fear … the helplessnessNot knowing nor understanding … Why?Was the time really so short?10 whole weeks!For some there are no goodbyes,No time to talk or make one’s peace.No time to say “Thank you” orTo express their love and respect.No time to learn, trying to understand.We had the time – “Thank You, HASHEM”,10 whole weeks.SHIVA – The first seven days,Numb – confusion, pain and tears,Fear – my Pillar has been removed.SHLOSHIM – The next three weeks.Reality – acceptance back into the community,Acknowledgement – my strength has gone.KADDISH – Eleven months, with DeRabanan,Three times daily – every night, morning andeveningFour seasons came and went, learning tounderstand.YORTZEIT – One year now the anniversary,Memories – the heart healed – but ‘Pa’ neverforgotten.Thank you one and all.YA HOODJeff FineIn memory of: TZAPHANYA ben YEHUDAH YOSEPHha KOHEIN.23 rd November, 1927 – 18 th October, 1998.DevotionGodly pure devotion,Deepest human emotion,Resides in the depth of the soul,And supplants your normal self-control,Tremendously powerful and strong,And pulls you mercilessly with magnetic pullalong’You fall prostrate shake and cry,I love you Lord and for you I will die,You long to embrace and touch,The one you love so much,You crawl and grovel like an obedient slave,Before the almighty you so desperately crave,You pray and sing G-d’s song,And wish to be near him where you belong.Israel SilberhaftBEGINNINGS & ENDINGSLife is a series ofBeginnings and endingsStarts and finishesCul de sacs and bendingsNot decades or years or months or daysThat is not the way that destiny playsChances and choicesCycles of seasonsEndlessly repeating its times and its reasonsWith you, without you; do’s and don’tsEvers and nevers; wills and won’tsNew and old; timid and boldWords preserved and stories untoldUp-to-date fashion and clothing well wornDeath and dying and the new-born.Old contests, new racesOld places, new facesA friendship finished – a relationship renewedForgive and forget; or acrimony accruedComing together or pulling apartA parting of ways or a brand-new startA broken promise – a reaffirmed vowFor the happily ever after; or for the ‘here andnow’Lose or win – again to beginHellos and goodbyes – congratulations and sighs“What could I have done? What should I havedone?”Questions and answers, ‘what ifs’ and why’sRemain where you landed …keep pushing aheadWork a new idea – or just stay in bedPick yourself up or want to lie down and dieWake with intent – or let the world go byLife is a continuum of giving and takingRepeating its patterns again and againA never-ending recurrence of beginningsand thenA continual closing and ending againCharlotte Cohen51