Thought for the Week: Rabbi Maurice Michaels  (Rabbi Maurice Michaels)

Written by Writings & Sermons by others — 4 February 2016

I’m writing this just after the consecration of the tombstone for my eldest grandson, Nadav Ezra.  It seemed very strange – as I guess it is to you – having the stone setting so quickly, but that’s the custom in Israel, to have the ceremony at the end of the sh’loshim, the first month of mourning.  Like the funeral and the shiv’a, it was an amazing experience, albeit one that I would not have wished.  Again, I was astounded by the numbers of people who came, particularly from the IDF, although from what had gone on over the past month I shouldn’t really have been surprised.  My son-in-law comes from a large Yemeni family, and they were there en mass, together with people from the school community, the Synagogue community and the many friends of my daughter and her three other children.  Again I was given the opportunity to speak by the Army Rabbi, whose was the epitome of respect and dignity.

But before continuing I really must tell you that Eileen and I have been taken aback by the numerous expressions of sympathy from across the whole community.  We have received letters, cards, emails, text messages and phone calls beyond count, not least from members of Alyth, whose leadership has been enormously supportive. In particular, I want to thank them for the special Ma’ariv Service and memorial prayers on Monday evening, and the opportunity to share with those of you who came some memories and thoughts about Nadav.  He really was something special and we were truly blessed to have him as a grandson.

I don’t intend repeating what I said last Monday but some of you have asked me about the funeral and shiv’a in Israel.  The levayah was extremely tough, although it was eased a little by the huge numbers, all sharing our grief and sorrow.  All the arrangements were made by the IDF, who were very sensitive to the family’s needs, and there were about 350 soldiers swelling the numbers of family and friends.  Nadav had served in five different units and each laid a wreath and that was followed by five soldiers giving a three-gun salute.  The Head of the Army in the West Bank, where Nadav was serving, spoke along with the Director of his former school, the teacher who had been his form teacher for three years, and members of the family.  With everyone wanting to put earth on the grave, the funeral lasted almost two לְThe shiv’a was, in some ways, cathartic, with people starting to arrive from 7.30am and others not leaving until 11.30pm each day, all wanting to talk about Nadav, and so we heard many stories of his all too short but immensely meaningful life.  He achieved far more than many do in 70 or 80 years!  Of course, we family knew he was exceptional, but it was so good to learn that he had been a special person to so many others, in both his personal and his professional life.  Common themes were his desire to help people and his ability to make people feel good.

I shall be returning to Israel with Eileen for the second half of February, a visit we had planned for some months, although now it will take on a different perspective.  But before that, I wanted to express our thanks and gratitude for Alyth’s wonderful support.