My Mother's Birthday

The following was written on March 2, 2011:

Today would have been my mother's, your mother-in-law's and your Bobi's 94th birthday (born March 2, 1917) and therefore, it is a good time to remember her and to celebrate her life.

If she were here in more than spirit and memories, I think that she would want to remind all of us that she loved us. Indeed, one of her favorite sayings (in addition to describing special events and feelings as "delicious") was to tell me that she loved me and each of you "with all of her life". Easy words, but she really meant them.

She loved many other things deeply and showed that with her actions and dedication. For her, it was her extended family, her Jewish community and her civic community. Though you (my children) may not remember this, your Bobi was honored by countless organizations - both Jewish and civic. She was honored not simply because she was an extraordinary leader - which she was - but because she gave of herself in every way she could - from her vision for what could be to doing what was necessary to bring that vision to a reality.

And through it all, she loved all of us and I hope that you will carry that with you always, and that you find people and causes that you "love with your life".

Let me end with a couple of coincidences.

Today, the Temple Beth Avodah community hopefully will pass an amendment to the By-Laws that govern the Temple so that Mom and I can be co-presidents. It is both a coincidence and fitting that this should happen on my mom's birthday.

Also, every July 4th, one of the local TV channels in Omaha would play "Yankee Doodle Dandy - The Story of George M. Cohan". You have heard me sing the songs "Yankee Doodle Dandy", "It's A Grand Old Flag" and "Over There" for years. When I went downstairs to exercise today, I found that today, of all days, one of the channels was playing the movie. After exercising, I went upstairs to show Mom what was on and, when I turned it on, the song that was being sung was "Mary - Grand As Any Name Can Be". Now, as I end this message to you, the movie is at the point where Cohan receives the Congressional Medal of Honor for his "contributions to the American spirit" and he says that he does not deserve it. Then, President Roosevelt says that a person can give his life to others in many different ways and quite often he is not the best judge of how much he has given. Those words make me think of Mary Arbitman Fellman, and the love and lessons that she gave to all of us - probably without ever fully knowing her legacy.

So, as we celebrate her life today, I want you to be assured that she would be celebrating our lives and would be so proud of each of us.

I love you with my life.