Presence

I had the occasion to visit the cemetery where my great grandparents are buried. I had never been there before, and may never be there again, so I took some photos of their headstones with my cameraphone.

This is my great grandmother, Jennie (nee Gederman) Gershman.

This is my great grandfather, Isadore Meyer Gershman, whom I am named after. Although his middle name is not inscribed here, we have always called him Yitzchak Meyer. Also, Gershman is here spelled in Yiddish; I have always spelled it without the ayin and the alpeh.

I was in Rhode Island for my greant aunt Ruth's funeral; she died last Shabbos at the age of 95. She was buried with her husband on the other side of the same cemetery. After the burial, I went with my father, grandfather and great uncle George (98 years old) to visit the rest of the family. It was the first time I said El Maleh for anyone. I also took a picture of my father's mother's mother's headstone as well, but forgot to save the photo.