Inches to Metric: Forever Young

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I’m writing a tribute/eulogy about my friend Marc Bennett who recently lost his life to cancer, hoping to capture his essence.

How was I lucky enough to have had this magnificent being in my life? Marc Bennett was the director of our three generational family film The Tattooed Torah, based on the book written by my mother Marvell Ginsburg, illustrated by Martin Lemelman.

I recently wrote a blog The Tattooed Torah 5th Anniversary. Marc read my piece a month before his passing. He always enjoyed my blogs and gave me a shout out after reading each one. At the time I had no idea how close he was to the end, nor did he. Just writing this makes me tear up, breathlessly. Grief is personal and devastating. I have not properly processed his death, I’m not sure I ever will.

Who was Marc?

Marc came from humble beginnings. He was raised by a single Jewish mom. He hung with a group of boys from “the hood”. They became a family as they raised each other on the streets of Brooklyn. He and his buddies/entourage decided to make their way/future in LA. One of his friends relocated to Aspen. Marc fell in love with Aspen while visiting and eventually moved there. It was Aspen where his art life/career took off.

Marc listened to his inner voice. His passion was film making and art. He was insatiably curious, especially hungry to learn about his Jewish heritage. Marc created a commissioned masterpiece for Chabad of Aspen, the Star of David. The piece represents the Jewish Star throughout our People’s history.

The Star of David became a business venture.

Marc began getting additional request for the Star of David. He produced them in various sizes and formats. He sold/hung them in homes and institutions throughout the world, including Aspen Chabad, USC Shoah Foundation, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, and Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, Israel. The Star of David brought him to Israel where he fell in love with the land and her story.

The Star of David brought me to Marc.

Marc was displaying/selling a large metal version of the Star of David at the Moriah Art Fair in Deerfield. A friend of mine saw his work and introduced herself. She discovered he was an artist and film maker, knew I was looking for a film maker and called me.

The rest is details/history…But then life is all about the details.

I listen to my inner voice. I drove over. My friend introduced us and I began pitching my concept to Marc. I barely spoke before Marc said he would do it. I knew he was the one. It was love at first sight. I since learned most people felt that way about him. Then I got nervous.

My primary concern/desire was for our son Brett to be the co-screenwriter. Not only did Marc agree, he embraced the three generational aspect of the project. He intuitively understood the intimate connection between me, Brett and Marvell (his Bubby). Marc gave Brett a chance/opportunity of a lifetime.

They spent months writing/revising the screenplay while working from cities around the US and Israel. Marc loved working with Brett while learning about Judaism and the Holocaust (Brett was a Rabbinical student). Marc always gave his utmost respect to the script and the book which was sacred to our family. It became a very special friendship. Marc was an extraordinary mentor. I am eternally grateful.

When it came time to record the script for the film, we were all nervous and excited. We spent a half day in the studio recording (click) Ed Asner Z”L. It was a highlight of my life.

Marc wore many hats: director, co-screenwriter, artist. He had a unique ability to connect/collaborate continuously with all team members, making everyone feel important and included. We became a family. This project changed all our lives.

It took nearly five years to produce, promote, and screen the film. During that time we had many fun adventures. Brett and I stayed with Marc in Aspen. Marc stayed at our homes in Highland Park and Jerusalem. We traveled to Israel together, chatted/laughed in both of my gardens, and went to the Western/Wailing Wall, placing notes in the cracks of “The Wall” hoping our film would be blessed. It was!

We had meals in Israel, Aspen, Chicago, LA. We did sound checks and Q +A’s for numerous screenings live and on Zoom, and celebrated each others successes. Marc’s favorite line was “This is just the beginning…” It was magic. Laughing through it all.

I was able to see the installation of Marc’s greatest achievement The Star of David at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, Israel. My husband and I drove down to see it. We Face Timed Marc to let him know we were there. Miracle, it was untouched by the bombings from a few months ago, Marc knew it survived the blast.

Marc was commissioned to do an art installation of butterflies at Shalva in Jerusalem, a unique center for children with special needs. He had the students paint butterflies with their parents on metal, then had the butterflies processed at a specialized factory. We went to the factory to oversee the production. Here is the time lapse of the butterfly installation. I accompanied him to the dedication of his installation at Shalva. He gave me three butterflies. We have them in our Jerusalem garden.

Friendship is a Gift

To know Marc was to love him. He had a unique way of making everyone feel special. He was as charming with men as he was with women. He loved to collaborate, to poke fun at himself, always knew/admitted what he did not know but was hungry to learn about, and voraciously ate my brisket and deli. He adored both of my gardens, the mountains of Colorado and the hills of Jerusalem. He had a great laugh and relished mine. He loved to dress well. His image was his brand. Marc Bennet was a master of his craft, a great friend and a blessing.

It’s appropriate that my final gift from Marc was butterflies. The symbol of the butterfly represents transformation, rebirth and renewal due to its cycle of from caterpillar to butterfly. It’s short beautiful life represents impermanence.

Brett, Jeff and I flew to Aspen for his memorial. We all hugged and cried, told hilarious stories and toasted him. Hats were given to all the friends who attended Marc’s memorial. His very stylized signature was emblazoned on the hat, I wear it proudly when I walk by the beach we visited many times.

On the way to the Aspen airport we drove to Marc’s favorite spot Independence Pass, to say Kaddish (memorial prayer). See the scattering of  Marc’s ashes artfully done by our esteemed producer Lisa Effress of 11DollarBill. 

I’ve had a few people close to me die young. When thinking of them I smile knowing they will remain in my heart Forever Young.

Marc on team recording.

View entire film, The Tattooed Torah.