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Rabbi Chaya Gusfield

Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, Jewish Renewal, rabbi, spiritual director, chaplain

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May 2, 2016
Filed Under: Cancer Reflections, Grief Writings, Kaddish Musings
3 Comments

Shalom, Eileen Hansen, our mentor, our friend

 

I am not one of the mourners.

  • I have no candle to light
  • No kaddish to recite
  • No shiva to sit

And yet the news of your death

There are no words, just the silence

Every candle I light brings memories

Images of you are woven into every Kaddish I respond to

Sitting, I speak of your aliveness, your dignity, your gentleness

Zichrona livracha, may her memory be a blessing.

 

I am not one of the mourners.

What do they call me?

Deeply touched

Changed

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. saludosdemexico says

    May 2, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    Todah, Chaya, this fills a need for losing a cherished loved one that isn’t an immediate relative! Something needs to be expressed even if it’s not kaddish!

    XO

    Reply
  2. Chasan Jalda Rebling says

    May 3, 2016 at 12:26 am

    Thank you Chayale for your comforting poetry For me its time to mourn, related to the Omer…and my back is “farkleymt” but i am blessed with a wonderfulpartner and a wonderful docter so it takes the time it takes…its a time for a new beginning Send you my blessings my friend you and Judith are in my daily t´filla B´ahavah Jalda Chasan Jalda Rebling spiritual leader of congregation Ohel HaChidusch Berlin Gethsemanestrasse 11, 10437 Berlin, Germany fon x49 (0) 30 44 55 969 / mobile x49 (0) 170 272 54 47 http://www.jalda-rebling.com / http://www.ohel-hachidusch.org http://www.aleph.org / http://www.eajl.org http://www.jalda-und-anna.de / http://www.happy-hippie-jew-bus.de

    Reply
  3. joan Heinsheimer says

    May 7, 2016 at 10:26 am

    Just got to reax this. Touched, held and pulled.to love. Thanks.

    With kindness Sent from my iPhone

    >

    Reply

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