2007-01-11—Thursday
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 Index
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Thursday, January 11, 2007
Goodbye to Raphael Levens,
a gentle man, book collaborator
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2007-01-11—Thursday |
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 SAN
DIEGO—Raphael Levens was buried today in a ceremony officiated by Rabbi Wayne
Dosick who knew him for over 30 years. The graveside service was under
suitably overcast skies, matching the moods of the many mourners there assembled
at Greenwood Memorial Park to pay him a last tribute. He and his brother,
Jerry Levens, worked together on the second chapter of the centennial book last
year of Tifereth Israel Synagogue—dealing with the congregation's second home
at 30th and Howard Street. That was the period that their father, Rabbi
Monroe Levens, served the congregation. Raphi's burial at the Shalom Lawn
of Greenwood Cemetery was close by the grave marker of his parents, Rabbi and
Lillian Monroe Levens. While others sat or stood close to a photograph of Raphi
near the gravesite as Rabbi Dosick and family members eulogized Raphi, brothers
Jerry and David, mourned together on the periphery of the crowd, sharing private
memories of their brother. Rest in peace Raphi, and may your
grieving family find comfort!* * In the morning before the 11 a.m. services for Raphi Levens, Sandi brought Shor over to our house, as she had agreed to fill in for the receptionist at Soille Hebrew Day School. Shor was borderline, and the day was cold and gloomy, so it was thought best to keep him at home for another day. Grandma worked with him on some homework, and following breakfast Shor pitched some bread crusts onto our back lawn for the birds to enjoy.    Shor works on some homework with Grandma Nancy. and pitches some bread crusts to the birds; Sasha seems dejected that all that food wasn't for her. (Of course, Sasha doesn't really like bread crusts) I decided to go to Greenwood Memorial Park an hour early or so to pay respects at the grave of my mother-in-law, Sydel Zeiden, and to look around, ever the sightseer.   
   The flag over the Veteran's Memorial was at half staff, both for the veterans buried there and because our nation still is in the official mourning period for former President Gerald R. Ford. A reflecting pool and a moose (or is it an elk) were among the sights of interest |