39 Weeks

Dear Friends, Once again, I want to let folks know that if you want to be removed from this blog list, please let me know.  A few of you indicated you wish to stay on the list and a few of you  asked to be removed.. Please continue to know how much I appreciate ALL the support that many of you  are giving me with your  comments.  I write these blogs when I am in the midst of a challenging time. Back in the day, I would share things with my best friend but since that isn't possible in our physical world, I write and it helps.  Once again, thanks for accompanying me on this journey. Today it is actually 39  weeks since Sue passed away and I need to share some reflections about things that I have learned.  Sue would tell me that I have said much of this already, but as one would expect, the Holiday  season has been challenging so please forgive me.. First of all, when I went to see Fiddler on the Roof recently, I was particularly  moved by  the song which is sung under the chuppah (wedding canopy) "Sunrise Sunset"  . Please look at the lyrics at the conclusion of this blog.  It was a reminder that "swiftly fly  the years...one season following another laden with happiness and tears."  Certainly as I reflect there was far more happiness and in the midst of tears the song lyrics reminded me of the treasure of so many special moments which we treasured together. The song that was most poignant to me that night and was a reminder of how blessed we were, was "Now I Have Everything"  . I hope you will listen to the words and read the lyrics.  I hope we will be grateful for everything we have.  ( See below for the lyrics and here is the link ( I hope you can open it).  And if you  do  take the time to listen to it, I hope you  will verbalize how you feel to your loved ones.  I know that if Sue had been sitting next to me physically, she would have reached over for my hand, and it would have been a sacred reminder of how much we were grateful for each other.  I miss holding that hand physically, but held her in my heart.   Now I Have Everything - Fiddler on the RoofYouTube · commil1Feb 23, 2014 Finally, I am grateful  for the guidance of one of you who told me that after 39 weeks, it is okay to feel the joy I felt with  our family on my recent trip to see our kids, grandkids, brother, and nieces.  They told me that if I am able to move beyond my intense grief to begin again to enjoy special moments, that I will be channeling the joy  Sue would want me to experience and that I would provide a model of resilience, that we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and find the light on the other side. As always, thanks for listening to me and Shabbat Shalom and may we all find joy in the new year. Rabbi Bruce Aft Sunrise Sunset is this the little girl i carried, is this the little boy at play? (golde) i don't remember growing older, when did they? (tevye) when did she get to be a beauty, when did he grow to be so tall? (golde) wasn't it yesterday when they were small? (men) sunrise, sunset (x2), swiftly flow the days. (women) seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers, blossoming even as we gaze. (everyone) sunrise, sunset (x2), swiftly fly the years, one season following another, laiden with happiness and tears. (tevye) what words of wisdom can i give them, how can i help to ease their way? (golde) now they must learn from one another, day by day. (perchik) they look so natural together. (hodel) just like two newlyweds should be. (perchik and hodel) is there a canopy in store for me? (everyone) sunrise, sunset (x2), swiftly fly the years, one season following another, laiden with happiness, and tears Last Update: August, 09th 2025 Play "Sunrise, Sunset" on Amazon Music Unlimited (ad)  Now I Have Everything (Perchik) I used to tell myself, That i had everything, But that was only half true, I had an aim in life, And that was eveyrthing, But now i even have you. I have, Something that i would die for, Something that i would live for too- Yes! Now i have everything, Not only everything,  I have a little bit more Besides haviing everything, I know what everything's for. I used to wonder "could there be a wife?" To share such a difficult, Wand'ring kind of life. (hodel) I was only out of sight, Waiting right here. (perchik) Who knows tomorrow where our home will be. (hodel) I'll be with you and that's home enough for me. (perchik) Everything is right at hand. (both) Simple and clear. (perchik) I have something that i would die for, Someone that i would live for too! Yes! Now i have everyrthing! Not only everything, I have a little bit more Besides having everything, i know what everything's for  Last Update: February, 10th 2014 Play "Now I Have Everyt…" on Amazon Music Unlimited (ad) 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In Memory of My Beloved Wife

  Dear Friends, As we celebrate the conclusion of Passover, I am sharing with you some very sad news. Sue died two weeks ago when her aorta suddenly burst.  Our last days together were filled with joy, travel, humor, and we had no idea that this might occur. Honestly, I am incredibly sad but surrounded by hundreds of people who wish to support me.  I wish I knew what to ask for...I have been told that people get through this, but at this point it seems hard to imagine that this will occur. In honor of Sue, I hope you will learn from the following teaching by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks of blessed memory.  In a posting, he writes that at the Passover Seder we hold up a piece of matzah (unleavened bread) and declare that it is the bread of affliction.  We also open the door in order to invite those who are hungry to join us for our festive meal. It seems rude to offer guests a "bread of affliction."  But as we offer the matzah to others and invite them in, the matza...
Read more

What are We Willing to Do to Plant Seeds of Hope

 Dear Friends, As we approach the Jewish New Year of the Trees, Tu'B'Shevat next week, I wanted to share some thoughts about recent events.  Living in the Washington DC area and teaching at George Mason University, I encounter many people who are concerned about whether they are safe, whether their grants will be continued, whether their efforts to build a more peaceful world will be funded, whether they will have a job, and whether they will be able to stay in the United States.  We hear reports about a plan for Americans to take over Gaza and turn it into the "Rivieria of the Middle East." As we read Biblical texts that deal with the Exodus from Egypt in our weekly Torah readings at this time of the year, we remember that we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.  We endured plague after plague and in each case Pharaoh hardened his heart.  Our ancestors continued to have hope that there would be a better world and finally were able to escape and journey toward the p...
Read more

The Flames of Love and Anguish of Being Consumed

Image
 Dear Friends, It has now been five weeks since Sue passed away and I wanted to share a couple thoughts.   I was teaching a zoom session today about where we find holiness and we discussed the burning bush and how Moses had to turn away from the spot where it was burning because it was holy ground.  Please see the article below from My Jewish Learning.com about the flames which ignite within us passion and love.  May we share those with people we love and may we find causes where our passion and love will help us make a difference.  Sue certainly shared her love and light and ignited flames of love which will never die. I feel like I am a burning bush and the difference is that the bush Moses encountered was not consumed.  I try not to be consumed by tears and anguish but the waves of grief are strong and her passing is still so fresh. As I continue to miss Sue and write this blog through tears, I have to remember the holiness of our relationship ...
Read more