Friday, June 12, 2009

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.

18 Comments:

Anonymous Miami Al said...

Baruch Dayan Emet. Sorry for your loss. May the certainty of your loss be less challenging than the uncertainty you've been facing. Shabbat Shalom, and may you have a meaningful Shiva.

Fri Jun 12, 02:52:00 PM 2009  
Blogger BrooklynWolf said...

Baruch Dayan HaEmes. May you and your family know no more sorrow.

The Wolf

Fri Jun 12, 03:11:00 PM 2009  
Anonymous jdub said...

Baruch Dayan Ha'emet. I'm so sorry for your loss. Consider this a virtual shiva visit. May Hashem comfort you among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.

Fri Jun 12, 04:18:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Tevel said...

Baruch Dayan Emet. May you be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Y'rushalayim.

Fri Jun 12, 04:40:00 PM 2009  
Blogger PsychoToddler said...

Baruch dayan emes. I'm so sorry for your loss. All of the PT clan is in Milwaukee this week, so we can't stop by. What were the odds of that?

Fri Jun 12, 06:24:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Steg (dos iz nit der šteg) said...

hamaqom yenahheim otakh betokh she’ar aveiley tziyon viyrushalayim.

Fri Jun 12, 06:29:00 PM 2009  
Blogger torontopearl said...

Baruch Dayan Ha-Emet. May you and your family not know from further sorrow.

Having lost my father in early March, I think I understand how you feel. It's never easy, but I hope that the week of shiva will help be a balm for you.

May you be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.

Fri Jun 12, 07:01:00 PM 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so sorry. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that your minyan will come through for you.
המקום ינחם אותך בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

Fri Jun 12, 07:44:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Irina Tsukerman said...

Baruch Dayan Ha'Emet. May Hashem comfort you among the mourners of Tzion.

Fri Jun 12, 08:44:00 PM 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So very sorry for your loss. I know you had been expecting this but, even so, when it's someone you love it's always too soon, isn't it? I hope you are successful in rounding up a daily minyan. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Faye from Harrisburg

Sat Jun 13, 10:47:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Larry Lennhoff said...

Baruch Dayan Haemet.

Sat Jun 13, 11:54:00 PM 2009  
Blogger rivkayael said...

I am so sorry. המקום ינחם אותך בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

Sun Jun 14, 10:31:00 AM 2009  
Anonymous Too Old to Jewschool Steve said...

Baruch Dayan Ha'Emet. May Hashem comfort you among the mourners of Zion.

Sun Jun 14, 11:18:00 AM 2009  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

I honestly don't know what the halachah is concerning "new media," but I guess that, since I've been responding to e-mailed condolences, it would be consistent for me to respond to comments, as well.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words. It means a lot to me to know that so many of you are thinking of me at this sad time. I will take Jdub's words to heart, and consider your comments "a virtual shiva visit."

I expect to have a minyan in my apartment every night through Wed. I plan to lead the minyan--I think my mother would have liked that idea, since my parents were members of a Masorti (Israel Conservative) synagogue in Jerusalem. As of Friday morning, I'll be leaving for the subway every weekday morning no longer than 6:15 AM to catch the nearest egalitarian minyan, since not only do I wish to be counted, but also I don't wish to give up wearing a tallit and tefillin for 11 months, and I don't think my mother would have wanted it either.

Again, thank you for your kind thoughs. I will continue to read the comments to this post and the next one (also shiva-related) whenever I don't have visitors.

Sun Jun 14, 12:09:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Ezzie said...

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem...

Sun Jun 14, 09:37:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

Thanks, Ezzie.

Sun Jun 14, 10:19:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Jack Steiner said...

Baruch Dayan Emet. Very sorry to hear about this.

Sat Jun 20, 09:22:00 PM 2009  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

Thanks, Jack.

Sat Jun 20, 11:58:00 PM 2009  

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