Rodeph Sholom would like to congratulate our own Lynn Mollett for receiving the TJFS Sofia Maisler Leadership Award. Thank you for your dedication to our congregation, and the larger Jewish community throughout Tampa.
Our Masters of Ceremonies for the evening will be the talented Rabbi Andres Kornworcel and the glamorous Lori Rabinowitz straight from their act at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN!
"We loved the show so much. We can't wait to see it again." Esther & Irwin Schiffman, Boca Raton, FL
"This show is a must see! Worth every penny." Syliva & Marty Weinstein, Brooklyn, NY
“The first time I saw my granddaughters, I was standing across the street, didn’t dare go any closer.“ That chilling statement opens the first page of the new novel, How To Love Your Daughter. The psychological drama by Israeli author Hila Blum mines the fragile relationship between mothers and daughters.
From the moment Yoella, a graphic artist living in Israel, saw baby Leah she felt unfettered love for her only child. Leah nicknamed Liki, eradicated Yoella’s every worry, every fear she felt during her difficult pregnancy and sixteen years of prior psychiatric intervention for depression. Leah’s birth brought an “island of serenity,” a purpose to life to both parents.
Daddy Meir snapped endless photos and videos of Leah as a toddler. Yoella took her to dance lessons where Leah had a leading role in the ballet class, excelled in school and celebrated birthdays enveloped in family love, almost adoration.
Liki was “such a good girl”. She went on vacations just the three of them, Mommy Daddy and Liki bonding as a family. Sometimes Liki dressed like Mommy. The family played board games and when little Liki tried to cheat Meir gently taught her, “telling the truth is more important than wining.” It was a sweet family with hugs and cuddles and daily assurances and acceptance.
Yet something was off kilter. Yoella often eavesdropped when Leah had a friend over for a play date. She almost resented the time Leah spent with anyone but her. And when Yoella wanted to have another child Meir did not support her. Yoella opted for an abortion. Meir had extramarital affairs.
In high school “the perilous years” Leah proved to be a bright happy teenager falling in and out of love weekly. She shared everything with her mother. Unsurprisingly, she revealed her strong attraction for Dennis, a new boy in her high-school class. Dennis rejected Leah’s overtures to couple. He frequently removed himself from Leah’s presence. When Dennis was temporarily expelled from school the principal questioned Leah about him. Yoella supported her daughter absolving Leah of any responsibility in the boy’s three-week suspension.
At 18, Leah left home. She travelled in Europe for two years. leaving no forwarding address. Leah returned only to attend her father’s funeral and shiva. She left again shutting her mother out of her life for several years. Yoella did not know Leah had married, had two children and lived in Holland. It was only by chance that Yoella received news about her daughter’s whereabouts that began a journey to uncover the quagmire of their relationship.
Winner of the prestigious Sapir Prize for Hebrew literature in 2022, How To Love Your Daughter explores the vexing dilemma of a mother blinded by unbridled love for her child.
December 8 Pamela Blustein
December 9 Mitchell Billing
December 10 Lester Solin Ben Linsky Jane Starr
December 11 Albert Waksman
December 12 Benjamin Leeds
December 14 Stephanie Buchman
YAHRZEIT OBSERVANCES
Hilda Weinman Maria Waksman Donald Marks Sophia Geller Gertrude Berg Marshall Chernin Stefanie Verkauf Anne Dickman Raymond Ponoroff Hazel Kreitzer Benjamin Freeman
Myra Wolf Marilyn Janice Morse Belle S. Lutz Melva J Case Clara Berkman Betty Shayman Annette Stella Ramer Lilyan Schonbrun Bertha Don Harold Kass Rose Wolf
If you would like to honor your loved one with a Yahrzeit Plaque, please click on the link below.
Tampa Jewish Memorial Gardens Plot space is available at the Tampa Jewish Memorial Gardens operated by Congregation Rodeph Sholom (formerly the New Rodeph Sholom Cemetery). Rodeph Sholom Members $3,000 and Non-Members $3,500 per plot. Price includes perpetual care. Interfaith family section available. Payment plans may be arranged. Please contact the synagogue office at 813-837-1911 or email at info@rsholom.org.
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