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Good Out Of Evil
Koby Mandell's mother bares her soul in book about martyred son.
AARON LEIBEL
Washington Jewish Week
I
found The Blessing of a Broken
Heart by Sherri Mandell (The
Toby Press; ‘$1.9.95) unbelievably
difficult, even painful, to read.
No, it is neither poorly written nor
boring. Author Sherri Mandell taught
writing at the University of Maryland a
few years ago, and her obvious talent is
on display throughout.
Rather, it is the subject that is so vex-
ing. It touches on what may be the
greatest catastrophe that can befall a par-
ent: outliving one's child.
But Mandell's pain is much worse, for
her child did not fall victim to some
incurable disease or die in an accident,
calamities that are, unfortunately, part of
everyday life.
Rather, her 13-year-old son, Koby,
and his friend were viciously murdered
in a cave not far from their homes in
Tekoa in the West Bank, a few miles
south of Jerusalem, by Palestinian terror-
ists.
And, naturally, the former Silver
Spring, Md., resident feels guilty.
"The guilt of bringing him here,
where it was unsafe — that pain may
kill me if I don't fight .it," she writes.
last year with other children who had
But she knows she is not to blame and lost siblings or parents to terrorism. The
prays to God "to give her the strength
youngster says she enjoyed the experi-
and wisdom" to understand that truth.
ence because it was as if the children had
"I did not kill my son; terrorists did.
"touched each other's hearts," and thus
Let me hold on to that so
"made a new heart."
that I don't die from guilt
Many people live with
each day,"- she concludes.
broken hearts, the author
Struggling not to blame
writes. "But when you
herself is one of the
touch broken hearts
demons with which she
together, a new heart
tries to come to grips.
emerges, one that is more
Another is reconciling the
open and compassionate,
evil of her Koby's death
able to touch others, a
with her faith in God.
heart that seeks God."
"How could he let her
Their son's death has
son be killed in such a
brought her husband and
brutal manner?" she asks.
her "together in a kind of
The answer, she
tenderness that we haven't
determines, is
felt in years, perhaps never.
that the
We are fully present for
Almighty has a
each other."
plan — one
The Mandells also have
that we cannot
created the Koby Mandell
comprehend.
Foundation, which runs a
But it's more
camp and retreats for Israeli
Sh erri
than that as the
victims of terrorism, anoth-
Ma ndell
book's title sug-
er beneficial outcome of
gests. Her mes-
their unspeakable loss.
sage is that good can come from evil.
But obviously, none of those positive
Mandell's daughter attended a camp
developments can compensate her for
Call 248-358-1911
or visit www.musashi-intl.com
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4
at
West
131oOrnrield,
free; and 7 p.m.
the same day, at
the JCC in Oak
Park, free.
10/24
2003
78
con is o
body, work and leisure.
Rabbi Firestone speaks
1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.
11, at the JCC in West Bloomfteld;. free.
Preceding her talk is the Hadassah-spon-
sored luncheon, $18, which begins at
11:45 a.m.; reservations: (248) 683-
5030.
-
cant to
e
Schreiber
speaks 7
Wednesday.
Nov. 12, at the
JCC in Oak
Park; $5.