----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Mazzella
To: [email protected]
Cc: joseph mazzella
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 10:43 AM
Subject: reformatted story: The Watch
The Watch
By: Cynthia Groopman
About a year ago, my good friend, Julian gave me a talking watch as a
gift. I have so many of them and at that time the watch was just one of many.
It had an ordinary leather band on it and I just postponed having a bracelet
band replace it since it would make my wrist feel more comfortable. Time passed.
On Jan 8, 2010, Julian passed away and there was a large turnout memorial
service at our Synagogue.
Although I was not asked to give a speech to honor him, the next Sabbath
service when his familly arrived and as co/president, I did give an outstanding
speech memorializng him. Julie as he was called was a City college Graduate and
a store owner in Astoria Queens NY. He became so involved with the civic
associations and political parties and was well known. He also became business
manager of the local paper, the gazette of Queens. In the year 2000, he was in
an accident and became wheelchair bound and paralyzed. That did not stop him
and he was active and would run in his motorized chair. He was beloved by all
who knew him.
I began contributing letters to the editor to the Gazette in 2000 and he
would open my typed letters each week.
He asked one of our mutual congregational friends about me. He wanted to know
me. He was unable to attend services due to the lack of a ramp and when I
became co/president, it was my doing to get a ramp so the entrance would be
accessible to wheelchair bound people. I called Julie on the phone and in his
affable warm voice he was glad to know me and I welcomed him back to God's
house to pray and to take part in worship services. In 2006, he did come for
the Jewish New Year services and day of atonement Services and he immediately
recognized me and we embraced and shook hands. That began a friendship that
would last until God took him.
He was present when I was awarded the President's service at work award
and he felt as though he were my own uncle so happy and proud. When our new
Rabbi arrived on the scene, the Torah scrolls were taken down to Julie so he
can touch the spot where the portion was read and he said the prayers before
and after the Rabbi read the scripture.
That was wonderful since never before was that done and again, praying and
touching the holy word of God Torah was accessible to a wonderful man. Then,
Julie became ill and did not attend services for a long time.
I called him weekly and then he did not answer.The Rabbi said that he was
in the hospital but did not say more.
Then, one Saturday morning Julie came in the wheelchair saying he is battling a
war but he will overcome. He gave me a talking watch as a gesture of
friendship. I accpeted it and thought nothing of it.
Julie never returned to services and when God called him home, he had a
memorial service of 500 people at our Synagogue, so many dignitaries, and all
of the people whom he touched with his smile and sense of humor and courage.
On April 8, I heard a voice like Julie's calling me and asking me the time.
That was a dream and immediately I woke up fetched for the watch and had a band
that was like a bracelet put on. I now wear the watch and it is a gift from a
dear friend, from a man who never gave up and from a person who brightened
lives. I feel as though Julie is neart to my heart since I wear the watch on my
left wrist. It speaks in a clear voice and I remember Julie's sweet voice of
love, of friendshp and of wit and laughter and sunshine and smiles.
It is wonderful that I knew Julie only for a short time but quality is
much more valuable than quantity. He is in my heart and memory and whenever I
hear the watch talk and tell me the time, I hear Julie's smiling voice and my
heart sings a memorial prayer song. Julie touched my life in a special way and
will forever be in my thoughts.
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