Dearest Big Brother Marty,
I flew in from Israel and tried and tried to no avail to get to your memorial service that was so beautifully planned by your loving children, Sharon and Josh.
You were blessed with an interesting life. From Broolyn boy to Green Baret to nuclear engineer, sailing all the way.
You married a spectacular woman Tina (& you two were the first shidduch that I made!). What a loving wife and amazing mother, and she still is.
You were blessed with children and grandchildren, those you knew and those who will be born in the future, your living memorials. And did you ever love them. I don't remember your being more proud of anything than who your children have become.
We four siblings were always and in many ways quite different, I'd say, polar opposites. Looking back, you, the oldest and unwavering, as is true of true magnetic North; so Mitch the younger, warmer South; Lisa the West--and here she is in California; and me the East, now having lived most of my life in Israel --and waiting for you to follow Sharon and visit us.
Yet, while each of us, and all of us have gone our separate ways, like we each are meant to do, I know that you yearned for us to become closer, to know that, no matter how tumultuous our paths have been, that we are connected at a warm vibrant center, heart and soul, and we will always be so, ad infinitum....
I feel as if you are here, Marty. And now you can be in each of our 'nows' a personal and up-front reminder to be the best we could be, and aim for the better, kinder, and more decent.
I love you, my brother, and I know that I am one among many who will remember you and be better for it.
You were blessed to die on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, marking the New Year of the Melakhim, the Kings. While I sit shiva in Berkeley in these next few days, we will gather in minyan in your honor and ilui nishmah--the raising up of your spirit/soul, and so you will have a place of honor at our Pesach celebration, mostly populated by Sandy's family and friends.
Next year in Jerusalem.
Your loving sister,
Chelley