Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 January 2003 — Page 11

January 22. 2003 IN 11

Continued from prev. pnge thought of cleaning up a bit, but then decided to just drive right over to the home she shared with her mother and stepfather. Her mother came to the door, and I could sense immediately that the woman liked me. In fact, she couldn't get enough of me. She was extremely inquisitive, wanting to know details about my family and business activities. "My mother just likes you because you're from Europe and not an Israeli. It takes more than that to impress me," Simona said, giving me the once over. I found out later that she thought I was rather arrogant and cocky, which I probably was. "Well, to tell the truth, the only reason I called you is because Dreyfus said I should Weddings

Continued from page 9 takes into account the whole of life. There is no unalloyed happiness, nor unmixed sorrow; each partakes of the other. In philosophical terms, Judaism understands the ambiguity of human existence. Life itself is yoked to the inevitability of death - and, though this may have its tragic overtones, it also expresses a sense of the grandeur of existence itself and the continuity of our history. Though individuals die, the Jewish People live. All of which leads to the famous custom at Jewish weddings performed by the groom. In the midst of the jollity, he steps on a glass, crushing it under his heel. This is not, as some people think, a superstitious ritual to invite good luck. The custom is a reminder of the destruction of the Temple and of the wholesale misfortunes that have afflicted the Jewish people. It is a sobering moment, and it's characteristically Jewish. In the Talmud, there is reference to a sage at a marriage feast who, observing the gaiety of the rabbis, suddenly grabbed a highly prized goblet and broke it before them, thus shocking the celebrants to sobriety. Thus, we are adjured to remember life in its wholeness, the tragic with the joyous, and to retain Jewish history in our hearts.

meet you, since you used to live in Israel," I admitted. "Tell Dreyfus that I'm used to men shaving before they go out on a date with me." She was letting me have it, but I kind of liked it. I walked her home and said goodbye, figuring that we would not be in touch again. But then a funny thing happened. The next day, April 23, was my 30th birthday. I phoned Simona and asked her to join me for dinner and dancing at a posh spot on Sunset Boulevard. It was a splendid evening. We began to warm up to each other, and it was becoming clear to me that I would rather be with Simona than with any of my other friends, male or female. We were slated to leave LA

on Thursday, and 1 knew I wanted to see her again before going back to Minnesota. I picked her up on Wednesday, and we began to relive the wonderful evening we had shared a few nights before. But before long, we were quarreling about some silly subjects. So, we said goodbye, both of us thinking that this was undoubtedly our last encounter. The following day I hit the highway back to the Midwest. During those long, all-night driving stretches, I found I could not erase the memory of Simona from my mind. Somewhere past Denver I decided to try and put my feelings down on paper. 1 wasn't too happy with the way it turned out, but I mailed my thoughts off to Simona in a let-

ter. As soon as I reached home, I decided to follow up with a present. I had concluded that she was probably right in that squabble that had marred our last day together. 1 wrote her an apology and asked that she accept it, along with a bracelet I had purchased as a peace offering. Simona and I corresponded over the next few weeks, and it appeared that she had forgiven my transgressions. Soon she began sounding more affectionate. Over Memorial Day weekend, I was sent to a management seminar in St. Louis. The seminar ended on Friday morning, and I had three days remaining before I had to report back to work. 1 decided to look up my old friends and "landsmen" (countrymen), the

Hipschmans. After bringing Sam up to date about my parents, my brother, and myself, I revealed to him my feelings about Simona — that I thought I was falling in love with her. He hunched over and said seriously, "Hetche, it's obvious how you feel about this girl. You've got a few days off right now. Why not go pay her a visit?" "I have to be back at work on Tuesday in Minneapolis," I explained. "So take a plane," offered Sam. I rushed back to my hotel and made the travel arrangements. I then phoned Simona and told her I would be in LA that evening and asked her to Continued on page 73

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