Uncle Ben

Ben Golub who passed away on Sunday at the age of 97 was Uncle Ben to me (insert “rice” joke here). He was also my Godfather - and he was there for me when my parents were gone – only it was long after I was a kid.

As he looked at the world through the eyes of a businessman, he might say our relationship was a barter arrangement. He’d give me a glimpse into the early 20th century, and I’d give a glimpse into the beginning of the 21st century.

As the Rabbi recounted during his funeral today, his life read like a Michner novel;
- He came to the U.S. from outside of Minsk, Russia at the age of 6
- Spent over 3 weeks traveling in the hull of a ship, where he was exposed to all aspects of the human condition, and as a result had to be quarantined on Ellis Island when he first arrived
- On that first night in a new land (I used to love having him tell me this story) he had ice cream for the first time. And he loved it so much; he only had ½ of it and put the other half under his pillow to save it for the next day. In that story, in that first day, were 2 themes that followed him throughout his life. He got presented to him what would end up sustaining his family (ice cream) and start his son-in-law on what would be his career. The story also reinforces how early and how ingrained in him was the importance of saving money
- Then, at the age of 10 after only completing 3rd grade, he went to work full-time hauling Seltzer bottles up tenement apartments as a delivery boy
- A couple of years later he started working in his brother’s butcher shop, first deliveries, then learning the craft
- In his late teens with the help of his family, he opened his own butcher shop, and whatever he didn’t sell he’d send to his brother’s shop – as he had a thriving business
- Things didn’t go as planned, so he started selling ice cream. At first he’d rent a horse by the day, and also had to feed it one meal a day while he peddled his ice cream
- And the rest is history

Speaking of history, as a kid he marveled at the gas lighters who would light the street lamps of New York before the city was electrified. He used to talk about how if you wanted light in your apartment you had to put a quarter in the meter and you’d get an hour of gaslight.

It’s hard for me to conceive of all the change he experienced during his lifetime. As a result, our time spent together has given me an even deeper appreciation for all I, and I would submit we, have – regardless of our station in life. There’s no way I’d ever get a sense of what he, and all our parents or grandparents or great grandparents went through coming to this foreign country to give us the opportunities and lifestyle that far exceed what life would have had in store for us if they hadn’t come to the United States.

But my gratitude for Uncle Ben doesn’t end there. He also gave me a roadmap for my future. I love learning new things, and I learn best by someone else demonstrating something so I can see how it’s done, it’s much clearer for me that way.
And Uncle Ben taught me two keys to growing old (in addition to good genes);
- He always kept busy doing things that were meaningful to him
- He was always inquisitive, always wanting to learn

After Aunt Ann passed away he started selling real estate and I believe he was showing properties into his late 80s. He also became fascinated by computers, took classes in them. I remember getting cryptic emails from him well into his 90s that read like they were from an older gentleman who was hard of hearing.

Hello?

Howard?

How are you?

He also used to complain about getting a lot of pornographic email. I’m sure it had nothing to do with his email address BigBen@hotmail.com (that goes under the category of truth is better than fiction). When he was around 90 he took a computer apart to try to figure out how it worked (no he didn't get it back together). And he would ask me questions like, "What is this thing...iPod? How does it work? How do they fit all that music into it?" Two weeks ago tomorrow on our way to Thanksgiving we were talking about how amazing GPSs are. “Look Uncle Ben, we’re 27.6 miles away from Roberta and Stan’s house, 27.5, .4…”. Always inquisitive. Like that 6 year old must have been having ice cream for the first time.

Unfortunately I don’t have his gene pool as he was my uncle by marriage, but as I never got to find out how old the men in the Fertig clan are when they die from natural causes, I’ll take the roadmap that my godfather has given me to map out that path, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that too.

The Sound of the New Year

As I’ve had the honor and privilege of blowing Shofar on Rosh Hashanah at my Synagogue Shomrei Torah the last few years (thanks to the tutelage of Bruce Leff), I thought you might be interested in knowing what I think about when I’m blowing;

1-Don’t mess up

2-Realize that when Peter Sklar times me on Tekiah Godolah his watch runs just a little fast

3-Tekiah – the first in the series. I know the literal translation is “blast” but for me this sounds more like, “Hello, is there anybody out there? Anybody home? It’s time to wake up team Shomrei Torah, the end of the year is here (of course it also sounds a lot like my other team - the Minnesota Viking’s horn blast that they play at the Metrodome during football games http://www.kansasviking.com/downloads.html - but I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to go deep on my other allegiance during high holiday services…)

4-Shevarim – the 3 blasts. Again I understand the literal translation means “broken”, but to me this is all about repetition. This repeating is a reminder to think back on the year. What did I do? Where did I meet my goals? Where did I screw up? (It also sounds a little like the blasts you used to hear about 5 years ago during those Ricola cough drop commercials – but I might be alone on that one) http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=ricolah+cough+drop+commercials&ei=UTF-8&fr=chr-greentree_ff&type=302398

5-Teruah - this stands for "alarm" the nine staccato blasts that denote urgency. To me this means – ok so what am I gonna do about it? What actions am I going to take to make this year better for me and those I touch, family and otherwise? How am I going to spread the love? Pick your metaphor; the clock is ticking, the sand is falling through the hourglass, the train’s leaving the station, we’re chasing daylight, and my personal favorite, act as if your hair’s on fire (and no, that’s not how I lost it). And…

6-Tekiah Godolah – “the great blast“ or as I think about it – the money blast. It seems that’s what everyone mentions the most, but to me it symbolizes that my goal is to put every last breath into trying to be the best person I can be. For me, my family, and my community; large and small. And the reason I do a 360 while I blow it, is so everyone can hear a portion of the blast directly in their ear.

So that’s it; Wake up. What did I do with this year? How am I going to act to make next year better! And represent the congregation to show the strength we all have to get whatever it is that’s important to us - done…

My Review of Mens New Balance 993 Running Shoe

Originally submitted at Road Runner Sports

Men's NEW BALANCE® 993 :: For years, this running shoe has given you reliable support, resilient cushioning, and maximum durability. Now the men's New Balance® 993 gives you all that in fresh design that's over an 1 ounce lighter! Made in USA in 76 size and width combinations....

Mens New Balance 993 Running Shoe

I buy a pair of 993s every 3 months!

By Hank from Wayne, NJ on 6/4/2010

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Width: Feels true to width

Arch Type: Average Arch

Pros: Comfortable, Durable, Pronation Control, Cushions Impact

Cons: Heavy

Best Uses: With Orthotics/Inserts

Describe Yourself: Avid Athlete

I've got 235 lbs. that pound on these running 15 miles a week mostly on asphalt and they take a lick and keep on kicking. Great as a stability shoe as well. They're heavy but so am I. If you're a big lug that's not built for speed but you put in the miles so you can still eat whatever you want, these are the shoes for you. Best to have two pair, switch off every time you run and replace one pair every three months.

(legalese)

You Can’t Make This S&!t Up - 2

All dialogue reported verbatim on on January 17-18 2010;

From Queens Boy (based on the Minnesota Vikings 34-3 rout of the Dallas Cowboys) to a large distribution list of family and friends who are aware of his longstanding allegiance to the Vikes…

“GO VIKES! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Tommie A

“The big font doesn't fool us. It was a decent win against an inferior opponent. Too bad they won't be in the Big Game against the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!”

Lonnie H

“Boy! You guys are tough. And even if you didn't like the way Favre dissed the Jets, you must admit, aside from Queens Boy how many other guys you know who are forty could play 60 minutes like Favre.”

Jeff M

“I am 52 and I am better than all of them! I can still throw 70 yards and more importantly I can f#*k 4 times in a night and shoot 4 loads! Can Favre or Fertig say that?”

Dori K

“hey jeff m, what are you doing tonight?”

Len N

“I don't know who the f#*k you are, but your full of s&!t and I am not talking about throwing a football!!!!!!!!!!”

Jeff M

“If you knew me you wouldn't say that! Ask Tommie, Queens Boy & Lonnie! They each get a load from me and I save the 4th for new comers like you!”

Queens Boy

“WHOA NELLIE!

1 -Tom, Lonnie, Jeff, Len, and Dori: thanks so much for once again proving that real life is better than fiction!

2- I personally apologize to all that I've emailed on your work/corporate addresses - and to my Rabbi (oy) on the visceral nature of some of these responses ;-) Please send me your personal emails (for those of you that haven't already) and I will make the changes...”

Jeff M

“Rabbi I apologize if the language offended you but I thank your boss for endowing me with wonderful features and abilities!”