Itty, my dear friend…

Some people appear in your life when you need them most. They love you and lift you up, reminding you of the best in you, even when you’re going through the worst. These people are not just friends, they are G-d’s angels.

One of the most striking signs is their boundless kindness. These individuals go out of their way to help others, even when they gain nothing in return. Their hearts are full of empathy and compassion, and they make the world a better place through their actions.

Truer words couldn’t be said about dear Itty. It’s been 3 long years since G-d took you and Tzvi to Heaven. I was sure you would have put up quite a fuss to G-d to bring Moshiach. I know, I know the problem is, once you get to heaven you see the world differently than we do. Still, I ask you, please don’t forget us while you’re basking in the glory of Hashem in Gan Eden.

Let me catch you up to my life. Baruch Hashem I am happily married. You told me it was a good idea and you were right! My husband is bH a wonderful man!

My daughter got married this year too, but more about that later.

Last Succos, we spent some time in Israel with your beautiful children Sara and Nussen.
We ate together, ab-sailed down the old city walls, went to a “Modi-live” comedy show and laughed our heads off. You would have loved to hear every detail of our wonderful experiences. Then October 7th happened and we did not know what hit us. The next day, I bought some Bamba in a Kiosk (no other store was open) and we spent the day together just trying to figure out what was going on. The reality was too hard to believe. We did not even really know what had fully occurred. What we did know was that it was bad and we were all quite scared.

You would have been proud of me. Despite my fears, every day that I was in Israel I would go visit my mum and bring her some basic necessities for the house. Those were hard days. Israel declared war and we were in limbo. We stayed in Israel another two weeks and helped where we could. Then we had to leave.

I left my heart in Israel and think constantly about the hostages that have been taken by Hamas and the soldiers who are fighting for the very existence of our holy land. You would be crying if you were here. The world has gone mad. You would have seen the silver lining, too. The unity, love and dedication of the Jews worldwide. You would be beaming with joy and nachas over the kindness, charity and volunteering that is being done for Israel.

Talking about joy, I missed you at Chanale’s wedding. Remember how you and Wendy partied at Chayale’s wedding…

This time I would have made the band stop when you entered (I did not give you the grand entrance you so deserved last time for making the effort to come!) Baruch Hashem the wedding was amazing! It was a really beautiful affair. You would have loved my gown. Turquoise. The color of the ocean. And the flowers at the wedding were beyond! It looked like the garden of Eden!

I missed discussing the wedding with you but was reminded from my previous chats with you about how to deal with it all. “Not worth getting into fights!” You would tell me. And I did not.

I don’t really feel like I have asked you all the questions I would have liked to ask you.
Issues keep coming up in my life. But when I dig deep, really deep, I feel like I know what you would say to me each time.

I miss your voice. I miss your wit but most of all I miss your wisdom. Why did G-d have to take you? I will never understand. Didn’t He realize that we still need you here on earth?

In my mind, I know you had finished your mission on earth but my heart does not agree. I simply can’t replace you with anyone. No one seems to have your depth of understanding of human emotions. No one is as non-judgmental as you. And no one has your great sense of humor.

I miss you every day. I have a teddy called Itty that I talk to sometimes. He looks back at me with his big puppy dog eyes and I see your eyes laughing at me. “Sori, don’t take everything so serious!” Good point, Itty.

Did I tell you Nussen lives down my street so I visit him and Sara every Shabbas morning? Sometimes I see bits of you in him. It gives me some comfort.

The greatest comfort I have is having had the opportunity to have met you.

To have learned from you.

Watched how you lived your life.

Your relationships, with your children, your husband and your friends. How you cared about each individuals needs, down to the last detail.

I remember how after a particularly hard week physically and emotionally (especially as I was a single mum then) you sent over a lady to come and give me a manicure. What a treat!

Your attention to detail was unbelievable. I treasure each note and card from you. Each full of cute and loving words and wisdom.

We are each a special messenger from G-d, human “angels of light” with only one wing allowing us to fly only by embracing one another.

Thank you for coming into my life and being my friend, my teacher, my confidant, someone who would always love me-the imperfect me, the confused me, the one who needed guidance.

And now I pass it forward.

I try to be there for my friends, acquaintances and anybody that needs a lift like you were there for me.

Miss you to the sky and back and can’t wait to dance with you together with Moshiach now.