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Someone you probably don’t know died on Shabbat. “Beto” was in his 60’s. A kind and brilliant man who loved his family and did his best to contribute to a better world. Why should you care?
Because at the end of his life, “Beto” started getting in touch with his Jewish-ness. Specifically, he wanted a Jewish funeral. We started working through the details – we made a plan and bought a plot. We talked about his Hebrew name.
Now the time has come… and his family doesn’t have enough money to pay for the funeral. And we are going to have trouble making minyan for kaddish at his burial.
So… why should you care? Because caring for the deceased is called “true kindness.” It is true kindness because it will not be paid back. The deceased cannot do you a favor. And true kindness is doing someone a favor with true benevolence, when you cannot be paid back. And isn’t it even truer when you don’t know the person? This is ultimate kindness.
So, if you can find your way toward contributing to the burial fund, please contact me at rabbi@boulderaishkodesh.org . And if you can make the time, please come to the funeral, at Mountain View Cemetery next to the BJCC at 12:30 PM on Monday. If you have any questions, you can reach me at that address.
Thanks so much. May Hashem bless us all with truly open hearts.
You might have met Beto if you visited his shop "Hangouts" on Pearl St, across from the Court House, next to the old Art Cinema for many years.
No doubt, he invited you to relax in one of his colorful hammocks, taking the care to show how to enjoy the experience. Beto truly believed that the world would be a better place if more people hung out in hammocks.
His family continues to run the business at http//:hangouts.com