Number 64: I write this on the evening of Wednesday 15th April 2020. It is towards the end of Pesach and we lit a Yahrtzeit candle this evening to remember our loved ones who have passed on.

During Pesach we reflect on all the generations that have come before us, and we commit to regard ourselves, “myself”, in my generation, as having personally come out of Egypt with all that that implies and requires.

Sheryl somehow found the CD video of Maya’s Bat Mitzvah this morning and we watched it during the day. Very moving in many ways. One aspect that struck me is how many of the people in the Video – especially Sheryl and my parents generation, have passed away since the Bat Mitzvah on 7th January 2001, almost 20 years ago.   

A lot happens over a twenty year period!

This photograph reflects my parents table at the Bat Mitzvah. Only one person – Uncle Hillel Goodman, my parents close friend from Port Elizabeth, is still alive today!

The people in the Photograph are:

In the back row: Mercy Goodman (close friend from Port Elizabeth days); Marcelle Schkolne (Raymond’s mother); Abie Schkolne (Solly’s brother); Bill Seddon (Greta’s husband) Sitting around the table: Greta Seddon (Marcelle’s sister); Sarah Schkolne (Abie’s wife); Leonie Kropman (Gielie’s wife); Gielie Kropman (Solly’s cousin); Solly Schkolne (Raymond’s father); Hillel Goodman (close friend).

Mercy, z”l, passed away only some days ago. As it was during the COVID-19 lockdown period only 10 men were allowed at the funeral. Hillel phoned me to make the minyan, but I was still in quarantine and not allowed to participate.

Over the last period, and quite intensively the last few days, I have been researching our family history and the generations whose progeny include Sheryl and I, Maya and Yair. In some cases we are able to trace back over forty generations of direct ancestors.  This work and watching the Video of Maya’s Bat Mitzvah reinforced for me how fleeting life is and how vital it is that we make the most of our time while we are alive and healthy.