By Amy Wolff Sorter
As part of my Elul self-reflection, I recently read a book by Harold S. Kushner entitled “Living a Life that Matters.” Kushner (who wrote “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”) reminds us that the important focus in our lives needs to be friends and family, rather than things.
He certainly isn’t the first person to point this out, nor will he be the last. But he presents this insight in a way that makes good sense. What struck me was the afterward, during which he discusses the horrific attacks of 9/11. Those who knew they didn’t have much time remaining didn’t call business associates or brokers to check on sales or stock portfolios. Rather, they called family members with the same message — if I don’t make it out of here, remember I love you. The victims, sadly, ran the gamut from successful stockbrokers to kitchen staff, but their message to family was the same.
As we move into a reflection period of this High Holy Day season, it behooves all of us to remember that love of friends and family is more important than any fame or fortune. It shouldn’t take an awful event like 9/11 to drive this insight home.
Speaking of reflection
CAS member Paul Kessler writes that he participated in the 100-mile Hotter’N Hell Hundred Aug. 25. For those not in the know (like myself, who ended up Googling it), the Hotter’N Hell Hundred gathers bicycle riders and racers from across the United States and around the world to Wichita Falls, with the highlight being the HHH Endurance Race — the website describes this as an event featuring wind and heat on “routes up to 100 miles.”
The fact that Kessler participated in this endurance race — he’s in his 70s — is awesome enough. But during that long, hot and dusty ride, he said he began thinking about what was good in his life.
You see, Paul is a Holocaust survivor — he was fortunate enough to make it out alive, whereas others he knew, sadly, did not. In thinking about those others, he writes, “I was doing what many asked, ‘don’t forget us.’”
He also says that the six million rode with him, and in thinking about those who were gone, he didn’t focus on how tired or sore he might be. Paul volunteers at the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance, and he shares his story with schools and other groups.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us. And thank you for remembering, and enjoining the rest of us to remember as well.
Mazel tov, Sarah and Jay
Etta Korenman writes us some happy news — Sarah Korenman and Jay Sinofsky were wed July 1 at the Weston Gardens in Bloom in Fort Worth.
Sarah is the daughter of Etta and her husband, Michael Korenman, and granddaughter of Shirley Herman of Fort Worth, the late Sidney Korenman and the late Julian and Matilda Joseph.
Jay, meanwhile, is the son of Marcie Rogers Jump of Fort Worth and Steve Sinofsky, who resides in McKinney. The couple will reside in Fort Worth. May both families have continued happy events and celebrations.
An opportunity to give back
At this time of year, it’s suggested that we increase our dedication to community and charity. One such charitable endeavor is the upcoming 5K Brain Tumor Walk, sponsored by the National Brain Tumor Society.
This walk will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at Trinity Park in Fort Worth in memory of Amrita Shlachter, who died of a brain tumor last December.
Hollace Weiner has organized a team — “Amrita’s Army” — to participate in this event. For information, contact Hollace directly at hollaceava@gmail.com or log onto http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/.
Only one day left
Congregation Ahavath Sholom Ladies Auxiliary “honey” fundraiser is coming to an end — Friday, Sept. 7 is the last day you can order honey to give as a gift for the New Year.
A $10 donation gets you an 8-ounce jar of honey, a personalized card and notification that a donation has been made in the your recipient’s name to the Ladies Auxiliary.
For information, log onto www.ahavathsholom.org or contact Linda Lavi at 817-731-4721 or giftshop@ahavathsholom.org.
Save the date
B’nai B’rith’s Person of the Year award dinner will take place on Sunday, Oct. 28. We don’t have the specific details just yet, but we known enough to let you folks know that authentic Russian food will be served, with Klezmer music as the entertainment. Sounds like a really great time — stay tuned for more information.
And don’t forget
To send information about weddings, trips, the award your son or daughter received and so on. Again, this is “Around the Town” — meaning we need news from “the town.” In other words, readers. Send information (and photos) to me at awsorter@yahoo.com.