Monday, November 09, 2009

Rabbi William Cohen, z"l, together again

The rabbi emeritus of Beth David Synagogue, Rabbi William Cohen, died this past Shabbat, a few weeks short of his 90th birthday. He was buried today near where Avi is buried. They are now together again, about the same distance that they were at Beth David.

Rabbi Cohen knew Avi, who sat almost directly below Rabbi Cohen's seat each Shabbat. Even months after Avi's death, Rabbi Cohen could not talk about him without having to suppress a tear.

At the conclusion of the internment, I spotted a few people stopping by to view Avi's headstone. I kept my distance to allow them to reflect undistracted by my presence.

Whenever I visit the cemetery for Avi, I also stop by Mo Handler's grave. Mo was a gabbai and daily attendee who had first met the ten-year-old Avi in 2000, and celebrated Avi's bar mitzvah in 2003. Mo, a nonagenerian, died a half a year after Avi.

From now on, I'll be including Rabbi Cohen in my visits. Avi was separated from Mr. Handler and Rabbi Cohen by 75 years. They are separated no more.
Zichron Avraham Yehudah - Blogged