Today marks one year since my paternal grandmother ‘Phaga bas Kalman,’ past away. Time has gone bye yet it feels like only yesterday she was in the room smiling with us. There is something incredibly special and beautiful about a Jewish mother that even inspired the famous song ‘a yidishe Mama.’ The sweetness, the love and the caring displayed by a women who spends her life looking after her children and grandchildren while staying strong to G-d and her faith.

I have met many old ladies in the world, some in nursing homes and others on a bus or in a shop. It’s sad how many old people become bitter and angry as they continue to age.

To the women who is beautiful on the inside, she will grow more beautiful with every passing day. This was Grandma.

We love you and miss you, and hope you have found resting place in eternity.

As Jews we believe in the afterlife and that after the should has served its time here on earth it returns to its maker. Every year from after its transition from earth to heaven it moves up a level to a more refind spritual place. We celebrate on the anniversary of the day of the passing becaouse we know the soul is progressing.

The common Jewish custom and practice is to make a L’cahinm, a toast to the departed one and make some blessings over food. We will use the name of the departed and toast that their soul should have an elevation.

To celebrate Jewish mothers I thought to share the following:

“What their Jewish Mothers might have said”

MONA LISA’S JEWISH MOTHER:
“After all that money your father and I
spent on braces, that’s the biggest smile
you can give us?”

COLUMBUS’ JEWISH MOTHER:
“I don’t care what you’ve discovered, you
still could have written!”

MICHELANGELO’S JEWISH MOTHER:
“Can’t you paint on walls like other children?
Do you have any idea how hard it is to get
that stuff off the ceiling?”

NAPOLEON’S JEWISH MOTHER:
“All right, if you aren’t hiding your report
card inside your jacket, take your hand
out of there and show me.”

ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S JEWISH MOTHER:
“Again with the hat? Can’t you just wear
a baseball cap like the other kids?”

“The best & most beautiful things cannot be seen or heard, they must be felt with the heart!”

~Helen Keller