Hear (O Israel)

While of course deeply saddening and upsetting, my dad's funeral provided an uplifting opportunity to see the wide impact he'd had on his loved ones and the larger area community. Family, friends, veterinary clients and staff, staff and family from his incredible care facility, people from hospice, and many others attended, and we were so thankful to see so many come out in memory of my dad and in support of our family and each other.

For those who were unable to attend, the funeral chapel generously recorded the service (impressively quickly generating 2 CDs and a cassette in time to join a package containing other pertinent shiva/yahrtzeit information, all as we left for the procession to the cemetery), and is now offering it online here. (Oddly, the link doesn't work from my laptop, though this link does.) The rabbi provided a nice amalgamation of my dad's character from a discussion he had with us a few days earlier, and my brother's and mom's words were extremely moving and heartfelt. Many people who spoke with us afterwards, as well as in the next few days at our home, said that they felt the service had very effectively conveyed the nature of the man, his character, and his many gifts.

Sitting shiva has given us a good opportunity to reminisce and remember the man that my father was, as well as hear stories that had been long forgotten or never known to me. Meh and my brother's fiancee both got to learn a bit more about the man they didn't get an opportunity to know. It's also been a good opportunity to dust off old photo albums and recall more about our family and friends through 'history', with the dated 80s/90s-ness of our bar mitzvah albums (a few pictures might be good candidates if they ever publish a sequel to this great book I've got at home) joining with some truly 70s lapels and hairdos in our parents' wedding album.

We'd like to thank everyone who has been able to visit us at the shiva house (I've re-edited the directions in the previous post to correct for yet another unanticipated road named Commerce), and especially those who travelled great distances to be there with us. Also, a very heartfelt thank you to all of those who have sent these tremendous food trays (the hallmark of all Jewish occasions, whether sad or happy), desserts, fruits, flowers, cards, and other forms of condolence and support. The evening services have been a nice chance to assembly with family and friends, and the stories we've told and heard have continued to reinforce and expand our knowledge of my kind, compassionate, and loving father.