Sunday, June 26, 2016

My fear of eternity!

In the Book of Genesis,we read that the grieving Jacob set a pillar to mark the final resting place of his beloved Rachel. Today,I attended an unveiling,a ceremony where we continued that ancient tradition of our people. Earlier after picking Max up at the airport as he returned from his Birthright trip,I attended services where I once again said kaddish, the mourner's prayer, on this the day of my father's yahrzeit. As I sat in reflection as those around me were deep in prayer, my mind wandered to the day when I will be laid to my final rest. Until this morning, I have never ever thought about this. Given my observance of my father's yahzeit and the unveiling for my late friend, it is nt surprising that I found myself thinking about this.
Where will my final resting place be?Who will I be buried near? There is not enough room by my parent's grave sights for me and my family.I could start preparing for this and purchase a new family plot for ma and my family, even with my brother so that we can all be together.
And then , like a punch in the stomach, I was hit in the gut by something I had not ever considered. There is the real possibility that ,while Susan and I will most probably spend eternity side by side, I can not say that I will eventually be joined by my children.The odds are pretty good that there respective spouses might not all be Jewish. This would preclude us from all ending up in the same place, at least in the physical world.This made me very sad. I know,in the after life, if in fact there is one, we will always be tgether. I our hearts and souls I know this to be true as well. However, in the traditional sense of being laid to rest together, unless some very deliberate choices are made, I am all but certain, that death will separate us physically at some point in the future, with no chance of being together here on Earth again.
At the unveiling, as each member of the grieving family took turns reading and sharing thoughts, my eyes and mind began searching my surroundings. Family markers announced to all who passed by, "here lies" the family known as"....
Each grave stone told a story. Born-died, and often a bit about the person. Beloved mother, father sister, brother, friend.
I mourn the day when my marker will read "here lies David Spiegel.....who already misses his family too much!"

Shavua Tov!

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