In memory of my cousin Jeremy

My cousin Jeremy passed away last week at the age of 35 after a two and half year battle with cancer. He leaves behind his parents Ian and Margret (my aunt an Uncle), his wife Jen and a Lee (aged 1).

Words can not express the enormity of our loss. My mind reels over Jeremy’s absence. How can there be a world without Jeremy? Without his warm personality and smile? His love of art and of humanity?

The wording of the Torah when speaking about the death of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, provides some insight. The verse reads that Sarah lived for One Hundred and Twenty Seven Years - stressing her life and the time she spent here on earth - not her death - when recounting her passing.

This wording is specific. Our loved ones remain very much tied to this world and those that loved them - even after their passing. How? When we live their lives, when we continue in their legacy and do those things they were passionate about - then their lives remain manifest with us.

When we live as Jeremy would have wanted us to, involve ourselves in those things - and with those people - he held dear . . . then Jeremy lives on through each and every one of us.

Growing up, I always looked up to Jeremy. He was the big kid that knew it all, and while some times teasing - kept an eye out for me.

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A memory:

I was in Toronto at the time it must have been a 'Bar Mitzvah' for either Jeremy or a friend of his.

Sitting in a car I remember he set out the differences between our ages (I being 4 while Jeremy was 13) - 

"When you're older you'll see, " he told me. "That picking your nose isn't cool - and that girls aren't gross."

Over a decade later and a world apart, Jeremy came to LA. Visiting me in the Yeshivah, we spent some time speaking by the Shabbos Bereishes kiddush. Before leaving he encouraged me to continue in Yeshivah - to continue learning and exploring . . .

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I regret that our contact was not as consistent as it ought to have been. But when we did touch base - most recently by my wedding - Jeremy’s gentle spirit and pleasant humor touched deeply in my soul.  

Jeremy was my cousin, but he was also a friend.

My heart goes out to all of those feeling the loss of Jeremy - Ian and Margret, Jen and Lee, Jeremy’s friends and family . . .

Let us all resolve to take the time in our lives to become passionate about what Jeremy loved, to live on in those things Jeremy invested his life . . . and through that, to live with Jeremy.

My condolences and heartfelt prayers for comfort for all of those who have lost.
May we know no more sorrow.

(Photo: Jeremy at my wedding)