The Jewish community commemorated Yom HaShoah on April 16. Holocaust survivors, members of the second, third and fourth generations and others who lost loved ones in the Shoah lit candles, said Kaddish, attended Holocaust memorial events and shed tears. In addition to crying for those we lost, we should have positive and loving thoughts of our parents. Enough talk of suffering. We should speak of accomplishments. I am proud of my parents, Jacob and Rachel, who came to America with nothing, settled in Kansas City, could not speak English and created a safe and secure world for me, their only child. Like many of your parents, my father struggled through many business endeavors; eventually he did well in this, the Goldena Medina.
Most of our parents could not write English well and spoke with heavy accents. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}Yet through determination and the “never give up” spirit, they accomplished the impossible. I was always amazed at how my father never complained about how hard it was to make a living and start over. He always came up with solutions to his problems. He could add a myriad of numbers in his head without writing them on paper; while he was not educated past the second grade, he was a business genius. My mother who worked in the garment industry, toiled to support my father in his business ventures; she too never complained.
I grew up poor but never realized I wore clothes from Goodwill and played with used toys. All I knew was that my mother was a great cook.
This story I am certain is similar to many of yours. Be proud of your parents’ accomplishments who overcame impossible obstacles. Today we and our children complain about the smallest things. I don’t remember that attitude as part of my parents’ philosophy. So tomorrow please think about the positive things in your parents’ lives: the joy they gave you and how they made it possible for us to attend universities and become professionals. L’chaim! They created new life and spirit. Do not remember the sorrow, celebrate their accomplishments.{/mprestriction}