Rodeph Weekly Newsletter

KNIT & CROCHET WITH SISTERHOOD

Knit and Crochet with Sisterhood
in the Chapel at Rodeph Sholom!
Tuesday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m.

FROM THE BOOKSHELVES OF ETTA DONNELL

“Attention must be paid,” an imperative demanded by a fictitious character in Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, echoes  author Brian Morton’s memoir, Tasha. Therein, Morton acknowledges his  lack of enthusiasm to become the caregiver for his 85-year-old mother until an incident welds them together.    

Having experienced too many years of his mother’s ‘my-way- or-the -highway' parenting style, Brian Morton, devoted husband and father,  was also  an obliging son to his mother Tasha. Brought up to be a good boy, Morton always responded “Yes” to his mother’s demands.  As an adult, he wished to be distanced from her.    
 
A beloved, creative teacher implementing innovative ideas in her classroom, Tasha was an outspoken voice in her Teaneck Community.  After her husband’s death Tasha remained in  her large comfortable home repeatedly “meaning to fix it or sell it.” Bright, decisive, she happily drove her friends to social events but didn’t tolerate yentas or “nudniks”. Tasha had “everything under control” especially her independence.  

Morton was content never to butt-in Tasha’s busy life until the day  she jumped off a moving train taking too long to say good-bye to visiting  friends.  After a hospital examination, Tasha was diagnosed with a stroke. Hoping her friends would “band together to help” Morton soon discovered Tasha’s friends were “mysteriously vanishing.”  Once confident, opinionated and stubborn Tasha would quickly transform into an acerbic bellicose tyrant. Where would Tasha fit in?   
 
A guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-account of a son’s frustrating six- year struggle to make Tasha’s life meaningful,  Morton experiences the dilemma to find adequate help amid underpaid, undertrained and at times cruel caregivers or ill-equipped nursing homes. In a culture when the elderly are told’ “you’re on your own” Morton’s first challenge was taking Tasha’s driver’s license away “a death knoll to her social life.” Tasha belligerently rebuffed Morton’s offer to pay for any of  her Uber rides. 
 
She also refused to clear her home of unsafe debris accumulating over thirty-five years; Morton could not remove one “swizzle stick”. After exhaustive interviews for the best caregiver, Morton discovered two had orally abused her. Amid unrelenting protestations, Morton took Tasha to live with his family.  It didn’t last.   Nor did her stay at the “Five Star Residence” nursing home where Tasha’s dementia progressed to the point she needed care with personal hygiene. She ran away. Picked up by the police she insisted her son had kidnapped her.   

Over time, Morton began to relate to Tasha not only as a caricature, or an annoying parent but as an complex woman who needed his attention. When Morton found Tasha’s diary after her death  Tasha’s overarching motto “take me seriously,” became the cynosure of his memoir. A cautionary tale, Tasha brims with tenderness, humor, respect and love… somewhat too late for Tasha Morton. 

March 29
Miriam Zack

March 30
Ralph Sam Bobo
Phyllis Fishman
Heather McDonald

March 31
Jodi Jacolow
Ari Weitzman

​​​​​​​April 1
Isabella Weinstein
Meyer Weitzman
Simon Sinnreich

April 2
Jared Haubenstock

April 3
Shelbi Dominguez
Brett McDonald
Jeffrey Simon
Rebecca Turkel
Roger Weisberg

April 4
Benjamin Mallin

March 30
Marilyn and Steven Silverman

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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