TWO ENDINGS

Except for her nose that is slightly bent from the break her father caused years ago, Elly could be a movie star or a Georgia peach, she’s luscious. Her figure is flawless. It moves slowly like melting glass. Wide awake blue eyes, blond arched eyebrows, grabbed my attention the first time I saw her. Wait. She couldn’t be a movie star because she can’t sing on key, loves dancing but only likes ‘hold me close’ music. Act? She’s too darn honest to act.

I first became aware of her at the funeral of a long time friend of mine. Barrie, was simply walking to the supermarket, when a speeding motorcycle got out of control, ran up on the pavement, into and over Barrie. I try to believe he never knew what hit him and died instantly, but I don’t know. Mourners filled the sanctuary. The line to sign the Friendship Book reached thru the lobby into the gardens. By the time I put my name down, there was not a moment to spare as the service was about to start.

Barrie’s Uncle Marty, asked me to sit with him but I found a single seat directly behind the family and was comfortable, feeling like I belonged there. As I waited for the service to begin, I heard sobs, saw women wrenching their handkerchiefs and heard their tears fall on the prayer books. Most men wore yalmakas, a few pulled old felt hats out of basement boxes. Small lace kerchiefs covered the women’s heads. A hush came over the center as Rabbi Elly Schwartz walked to the podium.

Her white robe was traditional, her face angelic. In a moment she was more than the rabbi, she was one of us, feeling our pain, wanting to help us understand the terrible tragedy. She stood still, had no book, no paper to read to us. Instead she recited a sad and tender poem, honestly getting choked up when the little boy in the poem tells his mother goodbye, closes his eyes and is gone. I was unable to concentrate on the words but felt them. It was of love, all kinds of love, familial, sexual, country, god. It was all there in 3 or 4 stanzas, coming directly from her heart. Barrie’s mother lost control, cried so hard, the Rabbi asked us to remain seated as she left the podium, gathered the distraught mother in a warm embrace and walked her back to a private room. They weren’t gone long.

Together they returned, Mrs. Blaustein trying hard to keep control. Her eyes were bloodshot, still leaking but she had a clean white handkerchief tucked in her sleeve, and wiped the tears away for a bit.The service tore hearts out but inserted tranquility, understanding. Which moment was the most tragic? Rabbi Schwartz pulled no punches. It was time to call the pallbearers forward. Before the procession to the waiting hearse and limos began, the Rabbi came outside to say the Shamah. It was a simple heart felt gesture. Eyes reddened again, even mine. It was sad, all of it. It was over.

Rabbi Schwartz had awakened something in me, something I had as a young man, that vanished when women came into my life, religion. Her calm control, her soft voice, her love of Torah squirmed back into my veins, my mind, my groin like a new viper breaking thru its shell. I did some homework and learned she is unattached, as am I, at Shomrei Emanuel Congregation in Abington. Friday evenings there is always a Oneg Shabbat after service, tea, cookies, sometimes hot cheese kugel. Hell, I’ll try it, meet new people, relax, maybe get to like it.

My first Oneg Shabbat I met an old high school friend who was anxious to rope me in as a new congregant, by making a big deal out of his knowing the rabbi very well. He took me over to meet Rabbi Schwartz. I gave her the biggest smile I could manage without cracking my face. She gave me her hand. It was warm and welcoming. Was it God standing behind me or Cupid? I didn’t know but was instantly in love with the Rabbi. By the time we finished our cookies, I was calling her Elly. By the following Friday, I was phoning her daily. By the third Friday I found out why her father broke her nose. After that it was smooth sailing.

WE stopped counting days, counted nights, and Elly and I will have Rabbi Lerner perform our wedding ceremony in May 2011.