Our next guest is Sarah’s Hebrew School teacher. She is a former president of Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley. Together with Linda Gilmore, she and I have taken students to New York and Washington DC. Ask her about the signs we saw on the way home from New York.

I recently read Elul 9 and immediately thought about what my vision of peace is.  Just as quickly I remembered being at my father’s 60th birthday party at my parents’ house.  We were all in the dining room, and surrounding the table, closest to the food, were my father’s grandsons (his only granddaughter wasn’t born yet), great nieces, and great nephews.  The oldest was around 7 and the youngest around 2.  I looked at my father who was looking at all the little children, and he turned to me and said, “Look how beautiful they are.”  Yes, he was kvelling, (swelling with pride) and he was full of the peace and joy only family can give you.

I always hoped I would feel as he did at 60.  I’ve passed that milestone without any grandchildren, but just the thought of my great nieces and nephews gives me joy. And now that I’m thinking of it, they all fill me with peace and hope.  Hope that we’ll all see peace, and hope that we’ll all do what we can to help bring it about sooner.

My parents didn’t teach hate.  Mostly by their actions, they taught their children to accept differences and to try to understand why they exist.  My father told us at dinner one night, that we should never hate someone.  Hatred itself is bad; understanding is better.  It may be hard to do, but it’s the right thing to do.  I hope that all the generations touched by my parents will understand how Zayde/Uncle Sam felt about hatred and peace, will take it to heart, and will pass it forward.

Shabbat shalom,

Frada, (another name for Joy) also known as Marylin Gallant

With Joy is the best way to approach Shabbat.