Memories of Devora by Elyse Bell

April 7, 2009 13 Nisan 5769

Dear Mrs. Radinsky,

I am so very blessed to have been hired by Devora to work in both Beth Yeshurun's Day School and Religious School this year. Devora was my mentor from whom I loved learning and with whom 1 loved working! She was very generous with her time--she always had time for me-- and with her resources. Devora was always encouraging to me, supportive of me, had much confidence in me, and always showed me respect, because, she said, "1 want to help you become the best teacher you can be." 1 miss her very much every day. Her absence at Beth Yeshurun, especially in my classroom in which she spent much time interacting with the students, is palpable.

I want to share some memories with you that 1 hope will offer some comfort.

I have three pictures of Devora which were taken on Sunday, February 8,2009, when the musical group Sababa performed for the Religious School. These photos show Devora doing what she loved­ singing, educating and inspiring Jewish hearts and minds. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to send you these photos of Devora, if you wish. In fact, it is because of her that these pictures exist. That Sunday, prior to the concert, Devora entered my classroom, smiled, and told me she needed me to take pictures. That was the fIrst time she asked me to photograph any event.

On Monday, February 9, 2009, Devora led a wonderful and moving Tu B'Shevat program for 5th grade students, their grandparents, and friends in the Day School. She talked about the symbolic foods eaten during a Tu B'Shevat seder, how the foods represent different personalities, how trees, like people, need to be flexible in order to survive, and then the participants were able to create their own trees. Devora did not have people use scissors when making their tree branches and leaves. They needed to tear the paper with their hands, because, she said, people aren't exactly one type or another. As participants worked on the project, Devora invited me to make one, too, even though I only went to watch, because she had asked me to have some students recite the mishnah they learned about the four new years in Judaism. (Devora was very proud of the mishnah curriculum she implemented this year!) She said that she, (like me), liked to give out the projects, but not do them.

Two days later, on Wednesday, February 11, Devora saw me in the hallway and mentioned that she thought the Tu B'Shevat projects that were displayed on the walls were "really nice." The 4th grade made leaves containing biblical verses expressing the sacredness of trees and nature and how people must treat nature. I think Devora liked seeing the Tu B'Shevat tree with the "biblical" leaves, because she often told wonderful stories during Monday morning services about the importance of taking care of oneself, others, the world, and of following rules. Devora was a master storyteller who captured everyone's attention. I really miss hearing her divrei Torah and hearing her lead tefillah each week.

I will never forget how encouraging Devora was on February 11, her last day at Beth Yeshurun. She had come into my classroom when I was working with a student to improve his Hebrew reading. The boy had been making progress, and Devora asked to hear him read. "Adam, that was terrific!" she said. As I continued to practice reading with him, Devora paused in the doorway to continue to hear us work together. She seemed very pleased.

Another memory I want to share pertains to a special 4th grade synagogue project. Devora LOVED this activity, and it was part of a unit on Judaism as a portable religion, a topic that was important to her. (She let me borrow some of her materials that she used to teach the unit on Judaism as a portable religion, in particular, her "fishbone" diagram, which was very helpful to me.) Devora spent many days in my classroom as the children, and some of their parents, worked on the project.

For the assignment, students imagined they were building synagogues and they needed to come up with a name for their synagogue, the materials used and colors of the building, stained glass window images of a biblical scene and a Jewish symbol, and a biblical quotation that they would put on a synagogue wall. The students needed to explain, in writing, the reasons behind their choices. They then transformed tissue boxes into beautiful shuls.

One morning, Devora asked a student, David Kleban, about the name of his synagogue. At first, David thought of calling his synagogue "Sea of ... " As Devora listened to him, she told David that she didn't think "sea" evoked a peaceful, tranquil image, so he should rethink his shul' s name. David came up with another name, Friendship with G-d. I gave Devora a copy of David's written explanation about his new name.

One day, as I was working with the 5th grade on their mishnah research project in the library, Devora came in and thanked me for showing her David's writing. She found it so meaningful, '"tremendous," she wrote in an e-mail, that she sent a copy of David's work to the Beth Yeshurun rabbis.

Here is some of David's work that Devora loved reading:

I think the name I chose is great because beingfriends with someone means you care about them, love them, and respect them. Beingfriends also means you want to be with them. If all Jewish people wanted to be with G-d and cared, loved and respected G-d, they would go to synagogue more and Judaism would continue to grow strong like a good friendship.

When people hear the name of my synagogue, they will want to come to it because it sounds friendly and nice. It sounds like a place where you will have a good relationship with G-d.
 
Devora enjoyed seeing what all the students were writing and doing. She was always so proud of them and loved to let others know of their accomplishments. Devora wanted to display all of their synagogues in the Beth Yeshurun lobby when they were completed. Beginning on Young Authors' Day, April 1, her goal was accomplished, and Beth Yeshurun visitors were able to see the creative work Devora adored.
fOn another occasion, Devora wanted to be sure that students knew not to call their synagogues a "House of Life" when one student had thought of calling his synagogue that name. Devora told me after class that a "house of life" was a cemetery. I, not being familiar with that euphemism, thought she was telling me it was the name of a cemetery, so I asked her, "Where is it?" which made her chuckle. Devora asked me if I wanted to explain the euphemism to the class, but I loved listening to her so I let her teach the children. In her explanation, she said that even though people aren't alive, we believe they are living in Heaven. Although that was the last time Devora taught about naming synagogues to the class, and she shared the name of the synagogue that she grew up in-Beit or B'nai Avraham I believe, the students remember what she said and feel that Devora is still with them and watching them from above.

Another event that I want to tell you about is the conversation Devora had with a group of 5th grade students about her illness. One day, around mid-October, students in my class began talking about G-d, and one boy asked, "Why do bad things happen to good people? Mrs. Urkowitz is a good person and she got cancer." Students began asking if her cancer had come back--she had not made that public at the time. I met with Devora the next day and informed her about their questions and concern for her. I could tell she was a bit choked up when I told her what the student asked. She wanted to know who said it, thanked me for telling her, and not only scheduled a time for Rabbi Rosen to speak to the 5th grade about why bad things happen to good people, but she also came to the class and let them know that she knew they were asking about her. Devora openly talked about how she learned that she had cancer, her treatment and its side-effects, and what her doctors told her. She told the class she would tell them anything they wanted to know. Devora, as usual, was very upbeat and optimistic.

I have many other wonderful and funny memories of her, but 1 would like to add one more humorous story that 1 hope will make you smile. In mid-February, after learning about Sephardic Jewry and the Golden Age of Spain, a topic dear to Devora's heart, I had some 4th graders choose a topic in Judaica they most enjoyed learning and then write thank-you's to Devora for teaching them.

Some students even wrote poems about what they loved about being Jewish. While they worked, one student said, "Wait, Ms. Bell taught us this." Another student then said, "Well, Mrs. Urkowitz taught Ms. Bell." Another student then asked, "Who taught Mrs. Urkowitz?" Someone then answered, "Mrs. Urkowitz watched videos."

I am fortunate to have been able to deliver these writings, which were compiled in booklets called Jewish Hearts, to Mrs. Urkowitz on March 9, while she was having a pedicure. As I left, I saw her pick up the yellow booklet and open it. My students were glad to know that.

Elyse Bell

P.S. I recently learned from my mother that my favorite kind of gefilte fish, the one with salsa sauce, was a recipe Devora gave her.

Also, today, Beth Yeshurun held its Model Seder. I think she would have been very proud to have seen all the students' enthusiasm when they sang her song, Who Knows One.