“… His smile will be missed! …”

August began with a bang. Mason Copeland’s Bar Mitzvah. He did a great job! It was wonderful to see a large turnout. As president of the congregation, one of my responsibilities is to award the gifts to the Bar Mitzvah. It is one of the neatest things I get to do as president. Mason and I had a lot in common. We were both the youngest of three children, both played a string instrument, both played baseball and soccer and both are rabid New York Yankee fans. I mentioned how I could relate to his situation. Sometimes my two older brothers would get in trouble and then point the finger at me, and I would serve the punishment. But the reality of the situation was that mothers always loved their babies the most. As I said this, I looked at Tracy for confirmation. Three people came up to me that night at the party who agreed, as they were the youngest of three in their family.

The party was a blast, and it reminded me of my own Bat Mitzvah. Mine, however, was in December and I remember two things that have stood out after almost 56 years. First was the snowstorm the night before. It was the deepest snowfall we had on Long Island for years. It was more than a foot. It didn’t affect the attendance of all my friends and local family, but all my relations from upstate who were planning on driving in Saturday morning did not make it. I was lucky my grandparents came down early to help my mother set up for the reception. The second memory etched in my brain was my Nanny (grandmother) standing on an apple box on stage to reach the microphone (she was only 4’ 10”) and singing a love song dedicated to me. Her voice was beautiful and I still tear up. I wish we had iPhones back then so we would have a record of her performance! Just a side note, as she was growing up as a new immigrant from Russia in Albany, NY, she learned to sing by standing on the bar of her father’s saloon singing to patrons.

On a sad note, we buried one of my favorite persons I have met through Temple Judah, Jary Siegel. He always had a kind word and was always interested in others well-being. His smile was infectious and he will be missed!

One thing I always keep in the back of my mind as a member of Temple Judah is we are all one large family. We come together to celebrate wonderful occasions like the outdoor services, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs, a baby naming, conversions, high school graduations and marriages. But we also support those who are ill and sit shiva with our members who have lost loved ones.

Please join the Temple Judah family and do your part and contribute to keeping the flame alive and burning bright. Don’t sit on the outside, looking in. Donate! Participate!

Shalom.
Brian D. Cohen
President