And Thus We Triumph

There is a contest at Stern College for a creative writing award. One submits a story, essay, or poem without one's name. Someone collects all of them, and then assembles them before the judging panel, who chooses the winner(s). It is obviously completely based on the submission, because the texts are submitted without names. I found out just before Shabbat that I won the award. It was for a story I've never showed any of you. In any case, you can be proud of me.

I also want to congratulate Estee Goldschmidt on her amazing mastery of different ideas and the shiur she presented to us over Shabbat. It was very beautiful and creative. Mazal Tov, Estee, and may you go on to present many more shiurim and wonderful chaburot. I will tell you a secret. I have never officially given any shiurim (divrei torah, yes, a shiur, no, except maybe to NCSYers.) In this you have surpassed me, and I am very happy for you.

And now I want to acknowledge one of the lovely children who never fails to make me happy. She is almost 7 years old. She was at the Shabbaton today. We will call her Violet. We were speaking about many things, and one of the things we spoke about was the following:

Violet: It was a very sad letter.
Me: Why was it so sad?
Violet: It was a very sad letter because it said her brother died.
Me: Do you know what it means when somebody dies?
Violet: Not exactly.
Me: Do you want to know what it means?
Violet: Hashem misses them.
[I pause to assess this answer, which strikes me as beautiful.]
Me: Yes, Hashem misses them, and He takes them to Him. But we are sad, because we miss them, too. Do you know anyone who died?
Violet: Not so much.

I love Violet. If only I were surrounded by children all the time, I think I would be happy.