Baruch Dayan Emet

My mother died this morning in her sleep, with no pain. My brother tells me that Israelis say, when a person dies in this manner, that they were "kissed by angels." I am at least somewhat consoled by the fact that Mom had a relatively easy death.

Our mother was buried before Shabbat/Sabbath in Jerusalem, where she and our father have lived for many years. She was in her mid-eighties, and had been in declining health for several months.

When my Israeli brother spoke to me last Sunday, he made it clear that our mother didn't have long to live, but even he didn't know whether her remaining time would be measured in days, weeks, or months. I didn't really expect her to be gone last than a week later. It's hard to believe. I'll miss our weekly phone calls.


My brother in Israel has his children with whom to sit shiva. My sister and I will be sitting shiva together. Sadly, my brother in California has no family with whom to sit shiva.


As I understand the tradition, a mourner is not supposed to reply to a greeting, and, therefore, I'm not sure that I should be responding to comments (though I will be reading them). So I thank you in advance for your kind words.