The Passing of Flory Jagoda
This past Shabbat, known as Shabbat Shira, we learned of the death of Flory Jagoda, a modern day Miriam who lead her people in song for decades. She was 97. Here are some of the words I spoke at her funeral this past Monday morning at King David Cemetery:
“I don’t recall the exact moment I met Flory. In the mid seventies, I remember hearing Folk and Baroque, her first band here, with Alex Gakner, Fred Ederer and Bob Sprecher. At the time I was launching the Jewish Folk Arts Society. I recall we invited Flory to perform Sephardic music at the 2nd Jewish Folk Arts Festival and at every festival in the coming years. She and Harry, her wonderful husband, hosted many July 4th picnics for members of the Society and others. The setting on Lake Barcroft was beautiful. We all felt like Mishpacha.
About Mishpacha...
She often mentioned her village....Vlacenitza... near Sarajevo and about her mishpacha. Mishpacha was everything to Flory. Her love of life, her love for Harry and her children, Betty, Lori, Andy and Elliot z’l and her nietos also included many of us. I liked it when she would call me Rabino David with a sparkle in her eye. She coefficiated at our marriage. She enjoyed when we called her Nona.
Flory passed on Shabbat, Friday night. Our sages teach us that when someone passes on the Shabbat or a holiday that person receives a special escort from the highest realms...an honor guard from HaYotzer.
We might imagine her-being surrounded by her Nona, her mother Rosa and her beloved tias...her aunts named in a song she composed...Mazalta, Gracia, Estreya, Luna. Paloma, and Sapira... We might imagine them lighting Shabbat candles with her and, in song and dance, with timbrel in hand like Miriam haN’via, accompanying her home. The photo of Flory in the Post with timbrel in hand was so perfect.
Flory was our Miriam. For forty years plus she nurtured us, loved us, fed us in song. If we were lucky enough to be in her home, pastelikos, too.
This beautiful, petit, elegant, down-to-earth blue eyed woman was a torch bearer of love and resilience for thousands of people. From out of the ashes of Europe she kept the flame of her heritage alive for generations to come.
She inspired countless cantors, folk singers and choral leaders to learn and perform Sephardic music. She put on many miles doing concerts and workshops. She transmitted her love for Sephardic culture and music to her children who she performed with her many years. Her protege, Susan Gaeta, with Howard Bass and Tina Chauncey carry her flame forward. She founded Las Vijitas de Alhad - monthly meetings on Sundays of Sephardim from the DC area. She inspired the revival of the Sephardic heritage throughout this country and world. We are so grateful! She will be sorely missed...”
This week’s Parsha, is named Yitro, in honor of Moses’ father-in-law. A Midianite, Yitro was also a monotheist and a mentor to Moses. He was also quite the management consultant, advising Moses in how to organize his judicial system.
The Parsha then proceeds to prepare us for receiving the Covenant. It describes in detail how the people “stood at Sinai.” The inner Parsha begs us to reflect upon how we “stand at Sinai” today. What does the Covenant mean to us today? In our times when we are witnessing the breakdown of social contracts and civil society we are called, once again, to bear witness and to remember our history and the values we cherish. Like the Israelites of old, our consciousness is witnessing a transformation. May we proceed in the right direction. As Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid, God only came to raise you up...”
No tengas miedo!
Kadimah, with hope, faith and strength,
Reb David