יהי זכרה ברוך

 

I was planning to write my next post about more of our train travels. However this weekend I learned some news that I really need to write about.

I was probably nine or ten the first time I met Lisa Fliegel. She went to Solomon Schechter along with some of my friends who had recently transferred to my school, I lived in a universe where one had to be contained and follow the rules. Lisa was a giant presence. I had never met a girl my age who was THAT funny, THAT outrageous. You just knew that if Lisa showed up in a room the PAR-TY had arrived.

 I knew that Lisa's mother had died when Lisa was in elementary school --and despite that  Lisa was always the most fun person in the room.

Lisa went to high school and was involved with Young Judaea with my closest friends. We attended some of the same parties. We hung out in the some of the same living rooms. She was the most essential friend of some of my dear friends.

When I went to college and during those early weeks when you try to figure out common ground with people you have never met before---knowing Lisa was just a good connector, because Lisa knew everyone and everyone adored her. 

After college when I was working at my synagogue, Ansche Chesed I once answered the phone after everyone else had gone home. It was Lisa. She was cold calling the synagogue to see if she could get some help navigation the Jewish social services system in New York. Her older sister, a mother of young children was dying of cancer ( just as their own mother had so many years before). I let Lisa know who I was. I did my best to connect Lisa with people who could help her sister and her family. She may have even stopped by in person. 

I knew that Lisa was mostly living in Israel during those years. I knew that she was such a gifted artist that her kibbutz sent her to art school. I knew she was involved with making a Fliegel's flight that was a charming overview of Jewish history. My kids LOVED this video and watched it over and over.

Lisa became a therapist and developed a specialty working with traumatized children. Right after October 7, Lisa returned to Israel and worked with children from the Gaza corridor area who were evacuated  to hotels in Eilat. You can read about her work here.

I learned the awful news of Lisa's sudden death from a stroke this weekend. I thought about the photo Lisa had posted of herself. She took the photo of my dear friend Rachel at her recent wedding. Rachel looked beautiful. Her face was full of so many emotions. It was such a moving photo. 

Perhaps in the comments of that post --I can no longer find that photo) Lisa posted a selfie. She posted that this was her feeling at the occasion of her beloved's Rachel's wedding. Lisa's photo had a tear rolling down her face. It wasn't a tear of sadness about the occasion but she was just so moved. So that is the last image I have of my dear Lisa..

יהי זכרה ברוך