Rosh Hashanah Message: Flora Rosefsky
Flora Rosefsky shares her thoughts and inspiration for the Jewish New Year.
As I try to hear the Shofar’s piercing sound on many days during Elul, the month preceding the first day of Rosh Hashanah, it’s supposedly wakeup call affects me more this year than ever before. 5783 overflowed with health challenges for both me and my husband, where, from a Piedmont hospital bed, I fought hard to overcome my first of three Cliff bouts (Atlanta- a NJ rehab and NYC). Bernie (86) and I (82) agreed to son Steven and daughter Ellen, of NY, along with the blessing of Atlanta daughters Carrie and Mollie, to live our final life chapter in NYC.
A scheduled moving van November 3, 2022, shuttering up my Decatur studio, breaking up my treasured Judaic and art book collections, purging saved files, and photos, donating art in addition to declining health, we knew a change could no longer wait. Giving up our home base of Atlanta in fall of 2022, I realized how much I appreciated managing Metro Atlanta ‘s Jewish and arts community. In my 70s, I had begun a new career-writing for the AJT, mentored by Roni Robbins, Associate Editor, and encouraged by Kaylene Ladinsky, Executive Editor and Managing Publisher. I gained confidence to self-edit my assigned articles. To other AJT staff and writers, rabbis, community members whom I interviewed over 3 plus years – thank you.
I am so grateful today to be healthy once again, engaged in a new life in NYC, living two blocks from our son, and less than an hour from our daughter. I forgot how many families and friends surrounded me in metro NY and NJ and how many dear friends visit NYC for short trips where we see them again. Bernie, my loving husband of 61 years, has encouraged me to continue creating art and to write, even if my NYC studio was a small space carved out by our large bedroom window. At this year’s Neilah service when I hear the long blast Gondola Shofar sound, I pray for strength to deal with whatever comes my way. Recently, I started taking a few moments to look at the morning sunrise or evening stars to thank G-d for blessing me and our family another day – savoring those moments of quiet reflection and gratitude. May G-d bless you all with a good 5784.
Flora Rosefsky, visual artist and former AJT writer, now lives in NYC.
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