July 30, 2020 — The consensus around Cardthartic is that it’s high time we all rest and pull ourselves together again this weekend. And we thought we’d quick share with you one Cardie’s lovely way of looking at that …
Let’s back this wagon up and say that, a year or so ago, we received a kind email that read, “You and what you do are a blessing. Keep up the good work. Passing along a smile or a reason to feel good is a true Mitzvah (good deed)! Best wishes, Barbara Lazar”
Turns out, it was Barbara’s husband Jeffrey who sent the email. “Jeff wanted to write you because he knows how much your cards mean to me,” Barb explained. “We’ve been married for over 51 years, so we think a lot alike. I’m the quiet, anonymous type. Sending cards is very therapeutic for me, and I know they give joy to the recipients. He’s a friendly, kind, very nice man who loves to be around people, talk to people. He’s a rabbi/educator and tutors Bar/Bat Mitzvah students. We’re perfect together. I pick the cards and he orders them!”
We could devote an entire story to the charm, wisdom and kindness embedded in the many thoughtful emails we’ve received from the Lazars since that introduction, and one day we might! For now, we’ll just relate that, last Friday, Jeff read the fun Cardie Newsletter featuring all the wonderful writing by Cardie Judy Cortner, and emailed, “Thanks so much for your upbeat attitude. If you think back to 10 or 15 years ago, a lot of people, when they sent emails, often ended them with some kind of aphorism or thought for the day. Here is one I have been sharing with folks over the phone lately as a pick-me-up: ‘Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery; but today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.’”
We acknowledged Jeff late that afternoon, and so closed the email by wishing him good shabbos. Giving as ever came his reply, “A thought about when people wish each other a good shabbos or Shabbat shalom: One of the meanings of the word shalom (in addition to hello, goodbye, and peace) is ‘wholeness.’ So, when we wish someone Shabbat shalom, we are wishing them not just a peaceful Shabbat, but — because life takes a bite out of us all every day — one of restoration to wholeness, as well. Nice, huh?”
Nice, the Lazars certainly are. And may your weekend also be. Shabbat shalom, Cardies.
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