Farewell Memory Ruth Reidbord

Twenty-one years ago this month my first grandchild was born in California. I was there, as was my husband, Marvin, prior to, during the delivery (in a waiting room) and afterwords for the Brit Milah. The day before the Brit my son-in-law, Andrew Cherenson, asked me to give a short talk on the biblical Daniel, since they decided to name their son Daniel. Here I was in their home in California without my sources and no way to get to a library or temple. So I called my rabbi, James Gibson. In about two minutes he gave me the direction I needed. He told me to consult (online) the first few chapters of the book of Daniel when he chooses not to eat food forbidden to Jews and yet also chooses to serve the king. Jamie said that this is a good prescription for a person who wants to live a Jewish life and yet wants to be part of the total community in whatever country he lives in. I would like to think that my Daniel is doing just what Jamie laid out 21 years ago.