« Washington Post | Main | Losing the News »
December 30, 2009
I Finally Met My Great-Grandfather (sort of…)
-
1) I visited my great-grandfather’s grave on the Mount of Olives. Abraham Isaac Edelman, grandfather of my father Dan Edelman, was born in 1840 in Minsk, Russia. He studied to be a rabbi, moving to the US in 1885, settling in Brooklyn. He toiled for two years until he could afford to bring his wife and four children (including my grandfather, Selig) to the US in 1887. After his wife’s death and the at the end of World War I, he informed his children that he intended to move to Palestine. He spent his final years in Jerusalem, as a teacher and rabbi, dying there in 1927. I quote from his tombstone, “Many students drank of his waters and he succeeded in spreading his teachings to see (-) with his own eyes.” I have been studying Hebrew for the past year so that I could say the Kaddish at his grave (mission accomplished). Here is a photo of yours truly at the site, plus a photo of Rabbi Edelman and the translation of the gravestone. Here is a question—do you think that I look like him? My father is convinced that I do.
2) I went to caves about an hour outside of Jerusalem where Judah Maccabee and his followers hatched the revolt against Antiochus, a Greek king (ultimately the Temple in Jerusalem was purified and the Kingdom of Israel was restored). We went below ground to do the usual rummaging around in loose earth. By complete chance, I dug right at the edge of the wall at the farthest extent of the cave and hit a cylindrical object. I did my best Fido imitation and unearthed a 2,000 year old wine jug almost completely intact. It will go to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. I may have a second career as an archaeologist but recognize beginner’s luck when I see it. I posed with the pedagogue for the dig with my trophy.
3) The fortress at Masada was conquered by the Roman army in 73 AD when 15,000 troops overwhelmed the Zealots who had been holding out for two years. The ramp constructed by the invading army is still intact in parts; so is the camp established within a half mile of the fortifications. The Snake Trail, aptly named, is a serious aerobic challenge for any of the fitness inclined. I pose here with my daughter, sweaty but unbowed, in awe of the eternal symbol of resistance against tyranny.
These three rich experiences reminded me how important it is to spend time with your family, get away and do things out of your comfort zone.
I wish you Happy New Year.
Posted by Edelman at December 30, 2009 12:53 PM |
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.edelman.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1021
Comments
Richard,
Thanks for sharing these "rich experiences" with your family in Israel. You may have a second career as a historian: I admire your ability to re-enact history in sites where the events occurred--from the Mount of Olives, to the Temple in Jerusalem and the fortress at Masada.
Welcome home. Here's to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2010 and new decade!
Cheers, Renee
Posted by: Renee Edelman at December 30, 2009 2:32 PM
Nice post, Rich. As to you looking like Rabbi Edelman, I would never argue with Dan!
Posted by: David Davis at December 31, 2009 12:25 PM
I thought that was you walking out of the hummus restaurant in Akko! I wasn't a big fan of their hummus...
(I'm a former Edelman Chicago Rep Man intern...I'm now Asst. Dir. of Comm. at American Jewish Cmte. in Chicago)
Posted by: Jon Schweitzer at January 5, 2010 4:34 PM