ABSTRACT

Oh, Lord, I thought, not another “mother” issue. As I began to think about Jackie’s mother, my thoughts were drawn once again to my own mother. This is a reaction that is, I am sure, shared by many. Whenever I officiate at the cemetery, those present inevitably begin to think back and recall the last time they were there, or they begin reminiscing about their own loved ones. Our minds are associative; we connect the present to the past, which is why we are often asked to chant El Malei1 for other relatives.