The Redemption of Elie Cohen
At Touro Synagogue March 2, 2019
also on facebook
On Saturday the Cohen family sponsored a special Kiddush welcoming Marcia back to Newport from her trip to Arizona, in observance of the first yahrzeit of Dr. Elie Cohen, and in participation of Shabbat Across America. Hopefully, Marcia didn’t return for the weather.
I made an extreme effort to go, gritting my teeth as I drove thru a snowstorm. I expected good food and good vibes and was not disappointed.
I made an extreme effort to go, gritting my teeth as I drove thru a snowstorm. I expected good food and good vibes and was not disappointed.
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| National Museum of American Illustration |
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| National Museum of American Illustration |
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| National Museum of American Illustration |
spouses.
We had some visitors including Jack and Fern Eiferman from Brookline, Massachusetts. Jack left a brief review entitled “Haimish” on TripAdvisor, “Lovely Shabbat services on a snowy day. I don't usually daven in a shul with a mechitza, but the ability to gaze up and see the sun shining on my wife's punim made for a wonderful morning. People very warm, welcoming and friendly.” I suspect it was wife’s countenance that cast the light. As an attorney, he is used to writing briefs. Rabbi Mandel has a different training but also is brief.
At Kiddush Jack told us they had visited the Museum of American Illustration, which he enjoyed. He was curious about the mezuzah on the museum door, so I explained that the museum creators, Judy and Laurence Cutler, are Jewish and members of our congregation. In a message he wrote, “Please convey my thanks to your fellow congregants, the Cutlers, who brought warmth to my heart when I saw (and kissed) their mezuzah at the Museum of American Illustration.”
Sometimes a ritual or a ritual object can bring us together in unexpected ways.
“Today we blessed the new month. This year on the Jewish calendar it is a leap year and we have an extra month. We have two months of Adar.
“Purim is in on the 14th of Adar. Which Adar? the first Adar or the second Adar? The custom is to observe Purim during the second Adar.
“The question is, ‘Why do we observe Purim in the second Adar?’ Don’t we have a rule, אין מעבירין על המצוית Ain ma’avirin al hamitzvot “we don't pass up the opportunity to do mitzvot? As soon as we have an opportunity to do a mitzvah we do it - we don’t pass up the chance.
“So why don’t we observe Purim on the 14th of the first Adar? The Talmud teaches us that we want the redemption of Purim to be as close as possible to the redemption of Passover. Passover is in the month following Adar, in Nisan - so if we observe Purim in the fist Adar it would be too far from Nisan because the second Adar would be in the way.
“The two redemptions, the redemption of Purim and the redemption from Egypt on Passover, are related. The two redemptions are connected.
“Purim is the yahrzeit of Dr Elie Cohen. Eli had two redemptions in his life. The first redemption was when he was able to leave Egypt. Elie was at the top of his medical class, but the politics in Egypt at the time made it difficult for Elie to live, so he had his first redemption when he left Egypt.
“His second redemption is when he arrived in the states, met Marcia, and started his family: Today, Elie and Marcia have a great legacy of Larry and Christine, Audrey and Joe and their children and Renee. What a wonderful legacy!
“So Elie had two redemptions and the redemptions are connected just like Purim and Passover are connected. Elie lived the life of Passover and Purim.
“He was proud of his heritage and he helped people of all faiths to find a better life of health and success in the United States.
“We miss him very much and when we observe Purim and Passover, we will remember the great redemptions of Dr Elie Cohen.”
Rabbi Mandel also mentioned that Elie was the first orthopedic surgeon in Newport, that he was the first to perform many types of orthopedic surgeries here, always strove to be on the cutting edge of medicine, and spent his entire life studying.
At the kiddish rabbi addressed a difficult issue. He read a brief poem,
Elie
“I didn't get a chance to say goodbye
The rules of endings did not apply.
Should I feel guilty, sand and upset
That we were permanently separated as the sunset?
Your life was successful and we thought it would always be,
Never imaging that you we would never again see.
You were always there for us when we would call,
Whenever it is was winter, spring, summer or fall.
Goodby Eli - maybe now we can say it.
It’s not what we expected, but we must submit.”
Death is not something that we can schedule. Often we can’t say goodby when a loved one embarks on the final journey.
Good Shabbos from Jewish Newport!
And don’t forget to kiss both your mezuzah and your significant other. It’s all about connecting to each other and to Judaism.
Thanks to Rabbi Mandel and Jack Eiferman for sharing their words, to Judy Goffman Cutler and the National Museum of American Illustration for the photos, and to Beth Levine Ginsburg for editing. The National Museum of American Illustration
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