After Shiva

Shiva is complete. I am now in a period called shloshim.

Emerging from shiva is something of a shock. For the seven days of mourning I neither watched TV news nor read newspapers. My daily TCM fix was terminated. And politics was a blessedly distant shore. Not talking about things Obama is a huge relief.

My time on the computer was limited to e-mail. Instead, I was surrounded by friends and relatives. I talked about my father’s full and varied life, and his remarkable accomplishments.

I received dozens of phone calls and emails offering consolation. There were scores of precious anecdotes from those who knew my father as a Rabbi, an administrator at Yeshiva University, a Chaplain in the U.S. Army, and quite a few admiring golf partners.

I want to express my gratitude to all those Seraphic Secret readers who contacted me privately and in the comments section offering comfort.

Your kindness has softened the sting of tragedy.