Shalom My Gantseh Megillah Family and Friends,

I often write about how the Megillah enriches my life by putting me in touch with so many interesting people. This is the greatest gift the Megillah project has given me, and I cherish it. Although, I won’t ever meet everyone in my Megillah family face-to-face, I do my best to reach out and get to know many of you, and this has created very close feelings between us.

Sadly, one of our Megillah family left us in late August. Katherine Schaffstein and I bonded after she wrote me a particularly lovely email regarding her feelings about the Megillah. Her words were warm, friendly and sincere and we bonded immediately. After exchanging emails a few times a week I picked up the phone so I could finally hear her voice and create a closer connection between us. I was not disappointed.

My friendship with Kathy continued to grow with the exchange of frequent emails and occasional phone calls. I knew she was having difficulties with her health, and yet she was for the most part concerned about her husband Bill who was undergoing heart surgery. Although the hospital was located over an hour away from their home, she traveled every day to sit by his bedside and offer her loving support and assistance.

Soon after Bill returned from the hospital hale and hearty, Kathy’s health began to take a turn for the worse. Her diabetes was getting the better of her, and she was determined to get it back under control. I remember talking to her one day and hearing her express such pride and delight in the fact that she had begun losing weight on a medically approved diet she had started several weeks earlier. Kathy was not going to let her disease rule her life.

In early August Kathy telephoned to inform me she was in the hospital. She explained she would be there for a few weeks for tests and treatment and that she was looking forward to the day she would return home. Now it was Bill’s turn to travel to the hospital every day and offer his loving support to the woman he adored.

I spoke to Kathy a couple of times while she was in the hospital, and she always maintained the usual cheerful, positive attitude I had come to expect from her. However, as many of you know, Arnold’s Aunt suffered a fall and we were called upon to spend a great deal of time assisting her in Seneca Falls, New York. This kept me away from my computer for days or weeks at a time, so it did not seem strange that I had not heard from Kathy for a while.

After our routine settled down a bit, I was going through my email when it suddenly occurred to me that I had not heard from Kathy. I immediately sent off an email asking her if she had forgotten me. The next morning a message appeared in my inbox. It was from Bill asking me to call him.

I picked up the phone with great trepidation as I pushed each button. Bill answered and informed me that our dear Kathy had passed away several weeks earlier. She had succumbed to complications of her Diabetes. Naturally, Bill’s heart was broken, and yet realizing how close Kathy and I had become, he put his own feelings aside so he could offer comfort to me.

I did indeed need comforting. For even though I had never met Kathy or Bill in person, the connection we had made was strong and true. The tears began flowing down my face uncontrollably as I heard about her final days in the hospital and how she remained strong and determined right to the last minute of her life. I felt as if a life-long, close and dear friend had passed away. And yes, Kathy was a close and dear friend even though there was never a physical connection between us. Kathy used the email handle of Kathy Goodheart. This is one email name that truly fit the person to whom it was attached. I shall miss Kathy for a very long time.

Her passing makes me feel even closer to all of my Megillah friends and family, for it has made me more aware than ever of how much all of you have come to mean in my life. It was always my goal to make the Megillah a community unto itself, and I believe this goal is being realized.

It is my fondest wish for us all to share in this feeling of community and friendship, and I always invite you to write to me or call whenever you wish. You have given me the greatest Chanukah gift imaginable; the gift of friendship and spirituality.

Happy Chanukah!

Much love to all of you,
Michael