Thank you Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for your weekly commitment and passion. Thank you Roger Bultot for this week’s photo. I’m grateful for the time each of you takes to read my work. I’m moving slowly, but do my best to return that kindness. As always I welcome honest, constructive feedback.
© Roger Bultot
Next Year In Israel
Lori gathered her long auburn hair, securing it under her favorite hat. Prepared for final Passover celebrations, she glanced in the mirror, grabbed her prayer book, and left with her family for services.
“Shabbat Shalom; chag sameach!” she sang out to Rabbi Goldstein, as she entered the hall. Mutual respect for their faith forbade any physical contact, but twenty years of friendship sparkled between them.
A loud crack filled the synagogue. A second one sent searing pain down the Rabbi’s hand and arm.
“Lori, run! I’ll get the children!”
Lori lay in her beautiful Pesach dress, her eyes watching God.
(100 Words of grief)
Lori Kaye, age 60
** This week, my story shares a moment of the horror at Chabad of Poway in CA. Lori Gilbert Kaye was murdered by an anti-Semite, despite her husband’s efforts to save her. זכרונה לברכה May her memory forever be a blessing.
Rabbi Goldstein lost 3 fingers, and ushered a room full of children to safety–– including his four-year old granddaughter. Two Israelis, who came to the US to be free of violence, were injured, including a nine year old girl.
Each year in our Passover/Pesach Seder, we utter the words: “This year we celebrate here, next year in Israel,” for all Jews call Israel their home.
* * *
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©2011-2019 All content and images on this site are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland, unless specifically noted otherwise. If you want to share my work, I’m grateful, but please give proper credit and Link back to my work; plagiarism sucks!
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Unfortunately it’s a fairly common story
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Increasingly so. It’s horrific. Thanks for taking the time Larry.
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Lovely tribute. Saying it’s a good tribute is appallingly inadequate in the face of what happened, but it reminds us of this nearly daily truth. Thanks for this.
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Thanks so much Lynn! I almost waited to post, to get my favorite editor to take a looksy. I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback. xo
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An important and worthy tribute. Thank you, Dawn.
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Thanks Na’ama!
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You handled a difficult topic well Dawn. Another tragedy to be added to a very long list.
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No doubt, Lain. What is very hard about this kind of tragedy, is knowing that these people were targeted for being one thing vs another… just like at Pulse night club. There are bigger terrorist attacks that are random, but when people are targeted because they are Black, Jewish, Gay, Muslim, any particular group… then the hate (in my mind) amplifies the tragedy. Thanks for taking the time; my response is another 100 words! 😉
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No words. Only tears. Tears for a family. Tears for a community. Tears for the fact that humanity still can’t stop killing itself.
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Oh Susan, I love your tender heart. Thanks for sharing it. xo
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A moving tribute. Everything I’ve read about Lori tells me she was a beautiful person.
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Yes; she’s sounds remarkable. That much harder that she was murdered by such a hateful energy. Thanks for reading, Marian; I’m always grateful for your time.
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Your sensitive writing/re-imagining of that horrible crime makes the tragedy even more heartbreaking. A beautiful tribute.
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Thanks Gabi. I read a lot about Lori, and the events of that day. I thought this was a church at first and had another story all set (2 submissions? Hmmm), but then saw the Jewish star, and this event was much on my mind. Thanks for your kind words!
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I wish there were words that could bring comfort. Very difficult reality to face, what humans are capable of against each other.
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Your words bring comfort; thanks for sharing them.
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A beautiful tribute to a remarkable woman. Your final few words are so moving.
My story – ‘This way that way’
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Thanks so much Keith. Your kind feedback means a lot.
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Potent tale, Dawn, but sadly just another example of man’s inhumanity to man.
There are no winners, only losers, in this endless cycle of grief.
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So very true, C.E. I won’t go off on a ramble here (read earlier comments for that), but it’s the focus of this inhumanity that jars me so. It does feel hopeless sometimes.
Did you see my comment on last week’s thread? I hope we are on the same page now. 😉
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Dear Dawn,
From start to chilling finish, this sent shivers of anger and grief through me. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle, we both know that this kind of thing hits too close to home. But then, hate is hate and lands in everyone’s back yard eventually. Shalom.
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Sensitively written tribute to a beautiful soul. A million tears for our world and loss of life at the hands of others who cannot tolerate, to the point of violence, those who are different. Will we ever be better? 😓
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I once thought we would; that we could be better, but now I’m not so sure, Brenda. It’s a sobering thought for sure.
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Your writing was vivid and sensitive, especially the last line. Horribly tragic, and it is happening too often. The rise of anti-Semitism is terrifying to me.
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As the mother of Jewish children, as a woman who has lived a Jewish life for 35 years, it terrifies me too. That these terrorists are all right in our own back yard, at our movie theaters, grocery stores, churches, mosques and synagogues… it is just horrific, and tragic beyond words. Thanks for your feedback!
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Well written, Dawn. A loving tribute to a woman who did nothing wrong but try to celebrate Passover. No amount of wishing can stop this senseless hate. So, I shall just keep in spreading love where I can. Right to you and yours! xo
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Yes, love is all we need (I’ve got Beatle’itis this week, apparently)! There is no sense in any of this, but I like your approach, Dale! xo
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xoxo
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I still have a lump in my throat as I write this.
Wow, what a powerful retelling.
Randy
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Wow, thanks so much Randy; that really makes my day!
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Just a remark on the last statement in this price. Not all Jews call Israel home. Many, many Jews do not. Jerusalem comes from the root word “shalom” which not only means peace, but also “wholeness.” So at the end of the Seder, when we say “next year in Jerusalem,” many Jews believe we are not calling for a literal return to Jerusalem but to a place of wholeness. The myth of Tikuun olam, the repair of the world, is that in the beginning of time there were vessels formed to hold the divine light, but the vessels shattered. tikuun Olam is finding all the pieces of the broken vessels and putting them back together i.e working towards a place of wholeness. That does not in any way need to be a literal return to Israel, and does not necessitate any Jew considering Israel to be their home. Some of us believe there is more power in living stateless within the diaspora.
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Thanks for adding this, Batya. I am aware of these things, but did not intend to draw too much focus away from the story. My intention was metaphorical, as I know that not all Jews call it their literal home (or metaphorical). Thanks for adding to the conversation!
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A powerful remembrance and tribute, Dawn. I get CNN and BBC on cable here so keep up with the news. This was another horrific attack that shouldn’t have happened. The haters seem emboldened these days. Too many guns and too much hate. —- Suzanne
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We all seem to be vulnerable no matter where we go! Thanks for your comment, Susanne.
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So very true, Suzanne! Thanks so much for your feedback.
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Thank you for this. I thought a lot about how she got up in the morning just like another shabbat, getting ready for shul, maybe thinking about her lunch guests…. May her memory be a blessing.
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Thanks Evelyn, I thought those same things… such a horrible event, on every level. I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback.
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This is so chilling.. how all around the world this type of hatred is growing.
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Chilling, indeed! Yeah thanks I always appreciate your feedback, Bjorn
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It really is a horribly chilling thing. Random violence is always horrible, but when it’s targeted it does seem so much harder to me.
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A sensitive tribute and you captured the horror of that moment. May peace prevail.
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Yes, May peace prevail!
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Thanks Subroto; it’s wonderful to hear from you, and your feedback is really appreciated.
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Very unfortunate these horrific race killings. Man may master the mystery of minute atoms, but cannot remove hate from his heart. God bless the departed.
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What thoughtful feedback; thank you Abhijit!
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SO very true, Abhijit.
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