Chapter Fifteen:
Boca Raton
Joyce’s mother, Freida Siegel, passed away in March 2006 of heart failure. A few weeks later, we spent Passover at the Doral with Joyce’s Dad. Joyce was always very close to her father. Upon her mother’s passing, Joyce decided that she wanted us to move close to her father for his last years. We made a plan that I would sell Al Safa and we would move to Boca Raton to be close to Joyce’s father.
In the summer of 2007, we moved to Boca Raton. Jacob had just finished high school in Toronto and was on his way to Israel for his gap year. We enrolled Rachel at the Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton. We enrolled Rebecca, Izy and Avi at Katz Hillel Day School in Boca Raton. Rachel was the most upset about leaving Thornhill, but when she moved to Florida, she settled right in and all was well.
Joyce’s Dad lived for another eleven years to the age of ninety-five. Joyce and her Dad spent every day together, talking, going out for frozen yogurt, watching Reds games. He came over to our house every Shabbas. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to watch Joyce and her father for those eleven years. It was a mutual lovefest. To say that Joyce paid him back for all the love he showered on her as a child is a great understatement. I can’t imagine a better example of filial devotion and love. There is no question that he lived so long and was so well because of the fact that we moved to Boca Raton.
For those readers who have had a chance to spend time with Joyce, what I have said is obvious. But as that person who has benefited most from her love, devotion, time and advice, I can truly say that I have more luck than I could possibly have ever prayed for. It is also amazing to be witness to the larger circle of people who benefit so greatly every day from her love, devotion, patience and time.
One of the greatest benefits of our move to Boca Raton has been the relationship that I have developed with my Rabbi. He undoubtedly has made me a better person. To have someone who helps set a spiritual balance in one’s life is truly a blessing. There is an expression in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers) 1:6 that says Aseh Lecha Rav, which loosely translated means “Find yourself a Rabbi”. The fact that I have had the benefit of guidance from Rabbi Efrem Goldberg for the last many years is a gift I do not take lightly. Unquestionably having him in my life has been a great contributor to making me the happy person I am.
