Dear Jody,
Happy Birthday dear friend! Happy, happy to you, always! May you live to 120…isn’t that the wish?! May you live long, prosper and be healthy, happy and surrounded by family and friends who love you…just like the ones in this book!
A project like this calls for some recollection and reminiscence! As I think back on our history….we met in Arad at WUJS in 1984. Then we both got to go to the magical and mystical town of Safed. We lived in the absorption apartments for new olim….I worked with the physical therapist at the Bet Avot. At different times Andrea and Margie also lived in the building. We used to go folk dancing with “Baldy” (David).
Later I came back to San Francisco and you and Brian moved to Berkeley. We’d go to the Ashkenaz for the weekly folk dancing there. I remember many wonderful meals of baked potato with hummus and tahini at your apt! You started the MSW program at UC Berkeley the year before I did. We had one year overlapping…the year of the earthquake when the Bay Bridge went down, so once a week I’d sleep over with your family. Lots of good memories there…at your cozy apt and going to the gym at UCB. Gosh…at some point you got engaged…we had a shower for you at my SF apt…then your wedding.
There was a time when we both had our social work jobs in SF…you at the indep living and me at Family Service Agency. Some years later you and Andrea threw me a lovely wedding shower in the hills somewhere…and you and Brian and Margie and Jeff ‘really got the party started’ at my wedding to Len! I remember visiting a few times with little Merav and Sarah in SF and maybe even Sac going to Funderland….not sure. Anyway it all mushes together at this point…I’m sure if we were together, we could sort it out! I know we have ended up in very different ends of the earth, but have also had a lot of parallels.
More than anything, I remember my warm, insightful, outrageous, courageous, loving and beautiful friend. I remember you as a person I could connect with and relate to on a deep and honest level. I feel like we went thru some formative years together. Then, there were years of letter writing (until I finally got email!). In recent years, it’s been fun to follow some of your life on FB and in Brian’s blog. I hope someday to visit you in Jerusalem…chances are that with my daughter’s wanderlust, she will bring us to visit her sooner rather than later!
It looks like you have an incredible and lovely family and sounds like you have made a very meaningful life for yourself. I am so happy for you, Jody. I wish you many more rich experiences in your full and happy life. Have a wonderful 50th birthday celebration…and post some pics on FB!!
Love you! ♥
Laura
My friend Jody…
…is not one for praise, so an abundance of that, however apt, wouldn’t be the right way to go. Rather, I’ll put in the less fawning negative how grand and precious I hold her…
Jody is NOT unkind, uncaring, un-sparkling, uncommitted to what’s important in life – the inner and the outer – or insensitive, dull, immature, disarrayed, incompetent, inhospitable, lazy, cold, dumb, unattractive, proud, self-centered, unresourceful, uncreative, irresponsible, petty, humorless, brash, unempathetic, a lousy cook…I could go on and on.
I’ve watched with delight these middot emerge and flourish over how long – 25 years? – often from the vantage point of a seat at her Shabbos table, when she was a young mother of one, then two, three – in Berkeley and in Israel. And I single, married, going through a divorce, or a divorcee – a neighbor or a visitor – always welcome, my own greater years never felt.
So…I send gratitude, and brachas at the half-century mark for another half-century + a score, filled with the nachas and joy you so merit (see above).
Love,
Jane
Dear Jody,
Mazel tov on turning 50. You have been an important friend to us for many years. When Michael was first building a Jewish life in Berkeley, you were generous and welcoming, opening your home for Shabbat meals and sleepovers. Dancing at your wedding is a memory that Michael still enjoys. When we were all in Jerusalem, you trusted us to get close to your children and let us let us play wild run-around games in our apartment on Wedgewood! And since Sam was born, you have hosted us in Israel every time we come to visit and you always show him a special kind of love and respect.
Jody, you are a truly loving and caring woman. You are generous with your time, your attention and your affection. You are interested in the people and the world around you. You model bravery for us in always striving for a bigger and more honest life. We are honored to have shared part of your first 50 years and can’t wait to join in the next 50.
We love you,
Michael, Julie and Sam
Jody:
Happy, Sweet, and Joyous 50th!
To me you are the kindest, most caring, and most courageous of my friends. I have always admired your commitment to Israel, Judaism, family, and to helping others.
I feel over the years we have built a deep connection, one filled with trust, love, and compassion.
I have enjoyed our moments of conversation together, or deep admiration for each other, and our ability to quickly continue where we left off.
You are truly a treasure to Israel, to your family, and to me, your friend.
It was without any hesitation that I jumped at the chance to celebrate your birthday with you in July. I love your friends, your community, and whatever you are up to. It was so special for me to be there for you.
You know how much I wish I could be there with you on your actual 50th. I do look forward to our next time together. I treasure our moments of friendship.
I love you and celebrate you on your 50th.
Love,
Mitch
Dear Jody,
We met in July of 1980, on our way to Israel. We became friends at Kibbutz Beit Zera working in the banana fields. We both went to UCLA and from there you became friendly with my entire family and me with yours. I remember the days when you were contemplating becoming religious. The dilemmas you had on Friday nights whether to come to my parents house for Shabbos or go out. It was a sad day when you left for Israel.
Years passed and we remained friends even though we actually had to pay for phone calls in those days and didn’t have computers to send email!
Remember when Jaymie and I called you on your birthday? Remember when Jaymie used to complain to me that you were crazy for becoming religious? Then Jaymie became religious. We kept our friendship going strong meeting in either Israel or Los Angeles whenever we had the opportunity. Meeting Brian for the first time is a strong memory along with hearing that you were getting married and then again when you announced you were pregnant. You met Claudia for the first time at our wedding, (which we are both still thankful you made it) and you flew to Israel the next day to make aliyah. We are so happy that we have stayed friends through the years and you and Claudia were able to spend time in Israel twice during the past two years. We look forward to many sharing more simchas together and wish you a yom huledet same’ach. And if you ever need a ride to San Diego, just ask!
Sending much love and the best of birthday wishes,
Claudia & Harold
Happy 50th birthday, my dear friend. You have always been the brave one…going after the adventure and pursuing your dreams. I admire you so much for that. You are truly an inspiration and I am lucky to have you in my life (even if it is a very long distance).
I have so many fond memories…our 3 way birthday party, trip to La Jolla, Hollywood Bowl night, Israeli dancing, so many late sorority heart to heart talks, even a few date nights with the various boys we met along the way and more recently our delicious Shabbat lunch at your beautiful home in Jerusalem.
I wish you a wonderful year and blessed next century of an adventurous and meaningful life.
Xoxo,
Maidy
Dear Jody,
Forever friends
Roommates at Alpha Epsilon Phi
Israeli dancing at BCI
Enduring friendship
Nice times
Dining at the pizza shop
Sharing clothes at UCLA
Happy memories
Interesting adventures
Plane to Las Vegas for our 21st birthdays
Sending you lots of love, best wishes, and fond memories on your 50th birthday!
Love,
Vicky
Dear Jody,
We first met 31 years ago. Wow!
You were a sophomore at UCLA and I was a freshman. I was going through sorority rush, and felt pretty nervous about it. But, when I went into Alpha Epsilon Phi and met you, I knew that I had made a friend for life! Through college boyfriends, difficult classes, late night girl talks and more, you became truly the “Big Sister” that I never had. Your family became like a second family to me, and we shared more and more wonderful experiences like BCI, traveling in Europe and experiences in Israel together
Your kindness, sensitivity, empathy and concern for others are just a few of the traits that have always made you a true and lasting friend.
Even though our lives have taken us apart geographically, in my heart, you are still my sister, my family, and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to have you in my life.
On this, your 50th birthday, I wish you love, happiness and joy, and another 50 years in which to celebrate life, and all it has to offer.
Happy Birthday Big Sis!
All my love,
Shelley
Dear Jody,
Over the course of our lives there will be a few people who touch us in a way that it is hard to find the right words to express those feelings.
Neither time nor distance has diminished this special bond between us. I am so excited that we are now 50 at the same time. From childhood to adulthood and eventually old age, I look forward to our ever-changing friendship.
Much love on your big day,
Aaron
The Edelberg Family met the Fox family in June of 1968. Adriane was the first neighbor to visit us with Jaymie and shortly after, we met the siblings. Jody was the same age as our daughter. We all recall Jody as a lovely, bright and sweet little girl. Over the years our families were brought together by the fact that the girls went to school together and were bat mitzvahs at the same temple.
For a number of years, we observed the High Holidays together celebrating with a Rosh Hashanah family lunch. It was wonderful watching Jody mature into a beautiful young woman and being able to celebrate her becoming a bride, wife, mother and daughter of Israel. She has truly fulfilled the dearest hope and wish of all our people and has become a woman of valor. In this her 50th year and forever after, we say l’chaim.
Love,
Sherwin, Bonita, Shoshana and Ben Edelberg.
Sending warm birthday wishes from Berkeley to Jerusalem! I remember meeting you through my cousin Judy (more than 20 years ago at least). Our friendship has spanned your life here in Berkeley with little kids, to your life in Jerusalem with almost all grown kids. You are a good listener, and I always enjoy our walks, talks, dinners, and even concerts together. May the coming year and decade find you in good health and spirits, and a few surprises!
Fondly,
Hope
Dear Jody,
You are the most optimistic person I know. Your faith in the goodness of people amazes me and you bring out the best in those around you. (That’s why people gravitate toward you!) Happy birthday and many, many more,
Love,
Chanan 