In G-d We Trust, In Selma Bacher We Always Trusted To Teach Our Children

בסייד

It has been a difficult week here in Israel with the loss of 45 precious souls in the Meron tragedy. It was equally difficult for all of us here who knew Selma Bacher to realize she no longer is with us. But the memories that come to mind thinking about all the good experiences we shared with Koppel and Selma while living there will never be erased.

One solid example suddenly appeared on social media when our daughter Miriam received the picture displayed above from her former classmate Rachel Leah showing our son Dovid Pinchas, who now lives in Rechovot with his family.

This is proof positive that Selma was so knowledgeable on such a wide range of subject matter, she was capable of teaching almost any class throughout the school. For me, it also was very nice to see that smile on her face that I remember so well while we lived in Johannesburg.

If My Assumption Is Correct, This Picture Was Taken Just Before We Made Aliyah

We made Aliyah in late October, 1996, on Parshat Lech Lecha. Therefore, if my assumption is correct, this picture would be nearly 25 years old. Dovid Pinchas was 10 years old, which seems correct looking more closely at the picture.

We felt bad having to take all our children out of school, because Torah Academy was a young school at the time and losing six children because of Aliyah was not easy for the school. But Selma was one of those people that understood that the time had come for us to leave.

I have always admired Selma for the kind and warm personality that she conveyed to all her students. That, together with the love she showed for each child, and the open-door policy Koppel and Selma had in their home is worth more than any sum of money can buy.