10 Comments
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Melinda, I'm so glad Howard chose this. The Tree of Life was my own childhood synagogue. I had my bat mitzvah there. This essay is dear to my heart. Thank you for letting us run it.

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I’m humbled by the personal connections both you and Howard had to my story, but then again, I also can’t be surprised. We are all family—mishpacha.

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Sep 15Liked by Howard Lovy, Elissa Wald

I was in Pittsburgh that weekend, visiting my son, who was a student at Pitt. It was surreal.

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Sep 15Liked by Howard Lovy, Elissa Wald

Here I am too! Thank you!

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Sep 15Liked by Howard Lovy, Elissa Wald

Gorgeous and remarkably insightful. I remember the first time i comprehended that without the holocaust I would not have existed. I was very young. Already then I was struck with how statistically unlikely my life was. But it has taken me time to come to gratitude more so than the weight and guilt that I am here (hineni). Thank you for the wisdom 🙏

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Sep 17Liked by Howard Lovy

I loved this piece, it’s a wonderful choice for the first nonfiction essay.

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Hineni. My grandparents were married at the Tree of Life synagogue. Also Hungarian Jews. Wonderful Jewish community in squirrel hill Pittsburgh.

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Hineni! Melinda, your writing is always so on point and gorgeous!

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Here we are. Thank you, Melinda, Howard, Elissa.

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So beautifully done; thank you for sharing Melinda!

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