Remembering Rena - We Will Remember You FOREVER

AT STONE MOUNTAIN, ATLANTA GA, NOVEMBER 2001

Mr. and Mrs. David and Rena Moyers, Ira and Vi Glickstein, and Rita and Sam Moyers
The carving behind us is the largest bas-relief in the world. It depicts three Confederate figures during the Civil War: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis, and is therefore controversial.

A week ago, September 11, 2016, we were sad to announce the passing of our beloved daughter Rena Moyers, age 49. In addition to being a special blessing to us as a daughter, Rena was also a devoted wife to her husband David; loving sister to Lisa and Sara; and doting aunt to Alex, Michaela, Samantha, Isaac, and Emerson; as well as a great friend to many others. 

This is the seventh, and last, of our virtual "sitting shiva" for Rena, a Jewish custom for especially remembering the deceased for a week after their passing. However, all who knew Rena will continue to remember her forever as [paraphrasing her obituary]:

... an exuberant personality who chose to live in the company of deep friendships and laughter. All who knew her, including family and friends, professional associates, and the many medical professionals and caretakers with whom she interacted over the years, will long enjoy the memory of her deep kindness and gratitude, brilliant wit, sense of humor and amazing dance moves. She was also a loving wife, and mother to many “fur children” including her beloved Lola, Charlie, Wally and Molly. She was a doting sister, aunt, and a most loyal friend.

SOME MEMORABLE PHOTOS OF DAVID AND RENA

It is hard to pick out a few photos as most memorable. Here are the pictures of Rena in her adult life that I find most revealing of her character and family life.

Enjoying life in Atlanta GA with David, David's parents (Rita and Sam) and Rena's parents (Vi and Ira).

TOP: Stone Mountain 

BOTTOM: Ira in the doghouse (as usual :^) with their dog Ranger,
and Rena and David's home decorated for Christmas 2001.

Rena and David in Their Early Years Together

With her mother Vi on the cruise and tour Rena led for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.

Rena and David with Vi and Ira in Delta Business on a flight to Europe for the Baltic Cruise we took to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in 2014.

The "dress up" dinner on the Baltic Cruise ship "Legend of the Seas".

STANDING: Vi, Ira (open your eyes!), Jerry, David, Lisa, Alex

SEATED: Samantha, Rena, Michaela.

Vi and I and our entire family THANK all of our friends and relatives who have personally or via telephone expressed their sympathy, sent us DOZENS of condolence cards, and posted so many emails and Facebook comments offering us support in this difficult time. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BEST WISHES AND PRAYERS FOR RENA. LOVE TO ALL.

Ira Glickstein

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NOTE:  This is the seventh of our virtual  "Sitting Shiva", the traditional Jewish custom of relatives and friends devoting seven days to specially remembering the deceased.

September 11, 2016 - Rena passed away
1) September 12, 2016 - Rest In Peace Rena Moyers, Our Adult Child Who Passed Before We Did
2) September 13, 2016 - Mr.and Mrs. David and Rena Moyers - Their Wedding (and Drama Afterwards)
3) September 14, 2016 - Remembering Rena - Growing Up in Rural Upstate New York
4) September 15, 2016 - Remembering Rena - Education and Professional Life - Tale of Three Shirts
5) September 16, 2016 - Mourner's Kaddish for Rena Moyers
6) September 17, 2016 - Remembering Auntie Rena - Five Nieces and Nephews
7) September 18, 2016 - Remembering Rena - We Will Remember You FOREVER

On November 11, 2017, in accordance with Jewish custom, we Unveiled Rena's Gravestone.

Remembering Auntie Rena - Five Nieces and Nephews

LOVING SISTERS AND  THEIR CHILDREN
LEFT: Auntie Rena pushing strollers for Michaela Hagler and Samantha Hagler,
along with Rena's Sister Lisa Glickstein pushing Alex Hagler.
RIGHT: Auntie Rena holding her nephew Isaac Bar-Zeev (with Sister Sara Glickstein Bar-Zeev)

As recounted here  our daughter Rena Moyers died on the morning of September 11, 2016, at the age of 49. As discussed here I am remembering Rena daily for a week in a virtual  "Sitting Shiva", the traditional Jewish custom of relatives and friends devoting seven days to specially remembering the deceased.  

This is the sixth posting in the series. Please join us in keeping Rena foremost in your thoughts this week, and, if you wish, posting your special memories in a Comment to this Blog. 

AUNTIE RENA'S FIVE NIECES AND NEPHEWS

Foremost among those remembering Rena are her nieces and nephews:

• Alex Hagler, Michaela Hagler, and Samantha Hagler  (children of Lisa Glickstein and Jerry Hagler)
• Isaac Bar-Zeev and Emerson Bar-Zeev (children of Sara Glickstein Bar-Zeev and Avi Bar-Zeev)

Of course they all love their Auntie Rena (and Uncle David). In addition, Alex, Michaela and Samantha love their Auntie Sara (and Uncle Avi); and Isaac and Emerson love their Auntie Lisa (and Uncle Jerry).

MOST RECENT PHOTOS I HAVE OF AUNTIE RENA'S NIECES AND NEPHEWS

Lisa and Jerry's children, Alex, Michaela, and Samantha, graduated from Phillips Academy (Andover, MA) and started college this year at three different, highly distinguished universities, in three different states:

Alex at Bryn Mawr (Bryn Mawr, PA - in Philadelphia area)
"Finally! I have an archaeology shirt without Indiana Jones on it!"

Michaela (second from right) at Purdue University (Lafayette, Indiana - in Indianapolis area)
(To Michaela's left are three friends who we may call "the sweet 16's" and, on her right, a friend with a shirt that reads:
"KEEP CALM - TRUST ME - I'M AN ENGINEER" - "Undoubtedly true" says Michaela's Grandpa Ira who is a System Engineer and proud of it. And, her Grandma Vi is a Software Engineer!) 

Samantha (first row on left) at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY - in NY finger lakes area)
 - Our Junior Ornithologist -

Sara and Avi's children, Isaac and Emerson:

Avi with  Emerson and Isaac

Ira Glickstein

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NOTE:  This is the sixth of our virtual  "Sitting Shiva", the traditional Jewish custom of relatives and friends devoting seven days to specially remembering the deceased.

September 11, 2016 - Rena passed away
1) September 12, 2016 - Rest In Peace Rena Moyers, Our Adult Child Who Passed Before We Did
2) September 13, 2016 - Mr.and Mrs. David and Rena Moyers - Their Wedding (and Drama Afterwards)
3) September 14, 2016 - Remembering Rena - Growing Up in Rural Upstate New York
4) September 15, 2016 - Remembering Rena - Education and Professional Life - Tale of Three Shirts
5) September 16, 2016 - Mourner's Kaddish for Rena Moyers
6) September 17, 2016 - Remembering Auntie Rena - Five Nieces and Nephews
7) September 18, 2016 - Remembering Rena - We Will Remember You FOREVER

Mourner's Kaddish for Rena Moyers

Way back in 1980, Rena conducted the Friday Evening service in Hebrew and English for her own Bat Mitzvah.  She also chanted the Torah portion  for that week in Hebrew at both the Friday Evening and Saturday morning services.

Her Hebrew teacher and the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El (Endicott, NY) was Rabbi David Boros, proudly looking on  as she does the job flawlessly.

Today is the first Friday after the September 11, 2016 passing of our daughter Rena Moyers. Her name will be on the Shloshim (Hebrew: שלושים; "thirty") list, for those who have died in the past 30 days.

The congregation at Temple Shalom (Oxford and The Villages, FL) will say the Mourner's Kaddish, (קדיש, literally "holy"). The central theme of the Mourner's Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of  God's name. Mourners say  this prayer to show that despite the loss we still praise God. (In the spirit of "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the Lord".)

I have reproduced the Mourner's Kaddish in Gender-neutral English, transliteration, and Hebrew/Aramaic later in this posting (just below the following photos). You may wish to join us in the praises and read the words as you remember Rena this week and celebrate her life.  

LEFT: Proud daddy Ira chants the Kiddush (prayer of thanks for wine) at Rena's Bat Mitzvah.

RIGHT: Hardly any Jewish event can be celebrated without refreshments, in this case a specially decorated cake:
"Mazel Tov on your Bat Mitzvah Rena Susan"

We also had a great reception for friends and family at our Apalachin, NY home.

LEFT: Under the tarp in front of our Apalachin, NY home, Ira and Vi standing (Vi with  her hands on the shoulders of her dad, Gilbert Stark). In the background you can see a softball game taking place on our one-acre front lawn.

RIGHT: The front of our home with tarps and picnic tables loaded with food.

THE MOURNER’S KADDISH

[Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaddish, English modified by Ira for gender neutrality]

	English translation	Transliteration	Aramaic / Hebrew
1	May God’s great name be exalted and sanctified.	Yitgaddal veyitqaddash shmeh rabba	יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא
2	in the world that was created according to God’s will.	Beʻalma di vra khir'uteh	בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ
3	May God’s kingdom be established	veyamlikh malkhuteh	וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ
4	and may God’s salvation blossom and be near.	[veyatzmaḥ purqaneh viqarev (qetz) meshiḥeh]	וְיַצְמַח פֻּרְקָנֵהּ וִיקָרֵב(קיץ) מְשִׁיחֵהּ
5	during your lifetime and during your days	beḥayekhon uvyomekhon	בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן
6	and during the lifetimes of all the house of Israel,	uvḥaye dekhol [bet] yisrael	וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל [בֵּית] יִשְׂרָאֵל
7	speedily and very soon! And say, Amen.	beʻagala uvizman qariv veʼimru amen	בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
The next two lines are recited by the congregation and then the leader:
8	May God’s great name be blessed	yehe shmeh rabba mevarakh	יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ
9	forever, and to all eternity!	leʻalam ulʻalme ʻalmaya	לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא
10	Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted,	Yitbarakh veyishtabbaḥ veyitpaar veyitromam	יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם
11	extolled and honored, adored and lauded	veyitnasse veyithaddar veyitʻalleh veyithallal	וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל
12	be the name of the Holy One, blessed be God.	shmeh dequdsha berikh hu.	שְׁמֵהּ דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.
13	above and beyond all the blessings,	leʻella (lʻella mikkol) min kol birkhata	לְעֵלָּא (לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל) מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא
14	hymns, praises and consolations	veshirata tushbeḥata veneḥemata	וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא
15	that are uttered in the world! And say, Amen.	daamiran beʻalma veʼimru amen	דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
16	May the prayers and supplications	Titqabbal tzelotehon uvaʻutehon	תִּתְקַבַּל צְלוֹתְהוֹן וּבָעוּתְהוֹן
17	of all Israel	d'khol bet yisrael	דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל
18	be accepted by our Creator who is in Heaven; And say, Amen.	qodam avuhon di bishmayya, vʼimru amen	קֳדָם אֲבוּהוֹן דִּי בִשְׁמַיָּא וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

19	May there be abundant peace from heaven,	Yehe shelama rabba min shemayya	יְהֵא שְׁלָמָה רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא,
20	[and] [good] life	[ve]hayyim [tovim]	[וְ]חַיִּים [טוֹבִים]
21	satisfaction, help, comfort, refuge,	vesava vishuʻa veneḥama veshezava	וְשָֹבָע וִישׁוּעָה וְנֶחָמָה וְשֵׁיזָבָה
22	healing, redemption, forgiveness, atonement,	urfuʼa ugʼulla usliha v'khappara	וּרְפוּאָה וּגְאֻלָּה וּסְלִיחָה וְכַפָּרָה,
23	relief and salvation	verevaḥ vehatzala	וְרֵוַח וְהַצָּלָה
24	for us and for all God's people [upon us and upon all] Israel; and say, Amen.	lanu ulkhol ʻammo [ʻalainu v'al kol] yisrael v'ʼimru amen	לָנוּ וּלְכָל עַמּוֹ [עׇלֵינוּ וְעַל כׇּל] יִשְֹרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.
25	May The One who makes peace in high places	ʻoseh shalom bimromav	עוֹשֶֹה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו,
26	grant [in his mercy] peace upon us	hu [berakhamav] yaʻase shalom ʻalenu	הוּא [בְּרַחֲמָיו] יַעֲשֶֹה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ,
27	all Israel, and all who dwell on earth; and let us say: Amen.	v'al kol isra'el, v'al kol yoshvei teiveil; v'imru: Amen.	וְעַל כָּל יִשְֹרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל יוֺשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

[Further information adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaddish,]

  The opening words of this prayer are inspired by Ezekiel 38:23, a vision of God becoming great in the eyes of all the nations.

The central line of the Kaddish in Jewish tradition is the congregation's response: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא (Yehei shmëh rabba mevarakh lealam ulalmey almaya, "May God's great name be blessed for ever, and to all eternity"), a public declaration of the Creator's greatness and eternality.

This response is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew "ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד" (Blessed be God's name, whose glorious kingdom is forever), which is to be found in the Jerusalem Targum (יְהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא מְבָרֵךְ לְעָלְמֵי עַלְמִין) (Genesis 49:2 and Deuteronomy 6:4), and is similar to the wording of Daniel 2:20.

The Kaddish ends with a supplication for peace ("Oseh Shalom..."), which is in Hebrew, and is somewhat similar to the Bible Job 25:2.

Along with the Shema and Amidah, the Kaddish is one of the most important and central elements in the Jewish liturgy.

Ira Glickstein

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NOTE:  This is the fifth of our virtual  "Sitting Shiva", the traditional Jewish custom of relatives and friends devoting seven days to specially remembering the deceased.

September 11, 2016 - Rena passed away
1) September 12, 2016 - Rest In Peace Rena Moyers, Our Adult Child Who Passed Before We Did
2) September 13, 2016 - Mr.and Mrs. David and Rena Moyers - Their Wedding (and Drama Afterwards)
3) September 14, 2016 - Remembering Rena - Growing Up in Rural Upstate New York
4) September 15, 2016 - Remembering Rena - Education and Professional Life - Tale of Three Shirts
5) September 16, 2016 - Mourner's Kaddish for Rena Moyers
6) September 17, 2016 - Remembering Auntie Rena - Five Nieces and Nephews
7) September 18, 2016 - Remembering Rena - We Will Remember You FOREVER