"As time goes by, you must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just as sigh. The world will always remember mothers, as time goes by...."My mother Edna...beautiful, gracious, hospitable, loving, caring......I could go on with platitudes forever.As time goes by I think of her much more with each passing year..  My dad, Rabbi Abraham I. Cutler, had such an overpowering persona that, more often than not, my mother was overlooked as his brilliance and humor captivated everyone around him. She was so proud of her "Abe" that she kvelled at the abundant attention and praise heaped upon him. 

 

I never told her how impressively supportive of him I thought she was.

 

She was satisfied being out of the limelight and happy to be the homemaker in charge of the house, its furnishings ("Don't take off the plastic couch covers") and chief cook. Her homemade gefilte fish literally melted in your mouth.  It was so good that it was considered a cardinal sin to put any horseradish on it. She made a meat loaf like no other meat loaf with a hardboiled egg smack in the middle.  For years I wondered how she got the egg in the middle of the loaf.

 

I never did ask her.

 

Then there was Shabbos cholent , the quintessential Jewish stew made with kishka, flanken, carrots, onions, potatoes, parsnip, chick peas, carrots, dried lima beans, celery, cloves of garlic, salt, pepper and put into a large pot and placed on a slow burning fire for 24 hours. It was the most remarkable, scrumptious, delectable stew I have ever eaten.        

 

When I took ill, she hovered around my bed morning and night assuring me that I was going to be all right. She made sure that I finished the gogl mogl (a glass of tea with honey, nutmeg, milk, raw egg, and a secret ingredient I suspected to be a tiny drop of whiskey) that cured me of all my ills. Every night, she would tip toe into my room to make sure that I was covered. On cold New York wintry days, before shipping me off to school, "Jerry, make sure you are wearing the wool sweater Cousin Gloria knit for you, the heavy mackinaw your uncle Louis gave to you and the galoshes your father and I bought for you." "Ma, it isn't snowing." "It might. Better safe than sorry." 

 

One day, when leaving school I ran across the street just as a huge army truck was barreling down. The driver's reaction was immediate and he slammed on the brakes. The screeching sound turned everyone's heads. I was to center of attention with everyone shaking they're heads...including the traffic cop who called me over."Don't ever cross the street without looking to the left and right. You could have gotten killed if that soldier didn't stop so fast!"  I was too scared to answer.  I just nodded my head and went home. My mother was sitting and knitting something.  She looked at me and asked if I was all right. I shook my head and then rushed into her open arms. She held me for a few minutes, her caring and warmth calming me down.

 

Without a word I walked quietly to my room. 

 

Now that Mother's Day is upon us, I'm trying to remember if, during all of those years being nurtured and cared for if I actually told my mother that I loved her. Did I ever utter those three words or did I take it for granted that she knew?  My god, it's only three words and would have made her feel so good. So, did I? Dammit, I can't remember.  Was I, even at a young age, too ashamed to utter those words to someone who meant so much to me? I must have, but did I? I continue to miss her very much and I hope that during the tumultuous days of my youth, I took time out to tell her that I loved her.

 

             10475 Wilshire Blvd  
 

There won't be services in April due to Passover, but join us Friday, May 1 at the Belmont Village!

What better way to celebrate Shabbat than at our trustworthy go-to deli Lenny's? None, you say? We agree!

Join us Friday, May 22 at 6:30 pm as we partake in the holy Sabbath (no service or sermon). Enjoy good food, good times and good company!

Lenny's Deli

2379 Westwood Blvd

$18 CAT members/ $22 non-members

Call the CAT office to RSVP at (310) 473-3100!

10508 W Pico Blvd

 

April 18 - June 6 

(Bagels, cream cheese, coffee and tea are included) 

 

Saturdays 10am to Noon 

 

Price for the 8 weeks: $150 

Whether you're Jewish or considering conversion, this 8-week course is a swan-dive into Judaism. (This class qualifies as the one segment of our 16-week conversion class!)

 

Call the temple office now at (310) 473-3100 to find out more about our classes!

 

Usually we have services in the Peters Auditorium at The Beverly Hills High School, but due to earthquake regulations, BHUSD is renovating the auditorium, fortifying the ceilings to prevent a collapse during an earthquake.

As a precautionary measure, we have reserved the 445 seat Beverly Vista auditorium between Crescent and Rexford Drive which means that it's necessary to make those seats available to our membership first.

You will be receiving your 2015 membership/seat reservation form in the mail shortly. If we don't receive your renewals or new memberships by June 15, we  will make seats available on a first come first serve basis. Thank you!