Today would have been MY MOM’s 70th birthday. I am so grateful that MY SISTER and I had a professional photographer take these photos at her 65th birthday celebration. We knew they woudl be a treasure, we could never have imagined how invaluabe they are today.
A quick story.
A few weeks ago I attended my first Shabbat service at TBH. It was wonderful meeting people and I was standing with a group of Friday night regulars and they were asking the basic get-to-know you questions. It was a pleasant conversation and then, somehow the subject of where my parents grew up arose.
“My parents went to rival high schools,” I said, “so our family roots are deep in Los Angeles.”
“Oh, which high schools?” asked a congregant.
“MY DAD went to high school #1 and MY MOM went to high school #2,” I answered.
“Oh, how old are your parents?”
“MY MOM passed away a few years ago. She would have been 70 this year,” I said.
“I just turned 70 this year,” said a congregant, “and I also went to high school #2. What was your mother’s maiden name?”
“Her last name was XXXXXX [I’m leaving out some of the detail information for privacy reasons.]”
“You’re kidding! I knew your mom! She was in all of the musicals and had a beautiful voice just like you!”
We both had the chills after this chance encounter.
Fast forward to this past Shabbat…
My new congregant brought her high school yearbook with her and showed me the pictures of my mom, as well as her own senior photo. Thank goodness we live in such a small world.
I love you and miss you every day, Mom.
Rabbi Eleanor Steinman 
Thank you for sharing Eli. I miss your mom very much. She was so fun, warm, loving, always willing to try our hole-in-the-wall Univ Ave restaurants. I miss our Lex lunch time chopped salads and how she loved their lavash. And of course, I’ll always remember how her face would light up when you or Jessie would call, she exuded so much love and tenderness for you. XO