What follows is a beautifully written azkara and notice of the death of a young boy I only met once. I am connected to his mother almost exclusively through online connections and the fact that their family is friends with my sisters' family. I am sharing it because it is beautiful and in case any of you are connected to Sam's family and did not get the information.
Goodbye Sam. You left an indelible mark on the people who loved you and on those of us who knew of you.
Rebecca, thank you for sharing your words. So many of us have none.
Ira
Sorrow
And Samuel died; and all Israel gathered together and lamented him
(1 Samuel 25:1)
Died.
Sammy. Sweet Sammy has died.
He is dead.
His parents haven’t “lost” a child.
They would never…could never…be so careless.
He didn’t “pass” or “pass away.”
We pass a driving test or a kidney stone.
We don’t just pass through life.
Sammy didn’t just pass through life.
Va-y’chi.
He lived.
And at 12:33am, in the still solitude and with his beloved parents surrounding him with their love, Samuel Asher died.
And on Monday, December 16, 2013, all Israel will gather together and lament him.
Funeral services will be held at Am Shalom, Glencoe, IL at 1:00pm.
Tenderly, we will return his body to the earth and tuck him in for his eternal rest following the service at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights.
Shiva will be observed in The Crown Room at Am Shalom: Monday through Wednesday, 5-8:00pm, with a minyan service each night at 7:00pm.
We will not celebrate; we will mourn. Together. As we always have.
He is not in a better place because how could there be any place better than in his parents’ embrace?
And God didn’t want Sammy with Him; God weeps with us in our time of sorrow.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet.
Blessed is the Eternal Judge of Truth.
