frontlines

Remembering Jeff
For Raising The Bar

T

he "normal" thing for me to do in preparation for
this column is to think of something "humorous"
to share. Humor will always be a part of my life.
Normal, however, is no longer welcome. My family and
friends will be surprised by this declaration because they'd
be the first to tell you that I'm anything but normal.
It's been just three weeks since I lost my dear friend Jeff
Zaslow. It was that friendship and his subsequent loss that
has led to my decision to give up on normal.
You see, normal would mean that after a mere few weeks
I've allowed myself to drift back to where my life was before
Jeff's passing. Normal would mean that I'm doing the same
things necessary to be a good husband, father and friend.
Not exactly a bad path to follow. But not enough, I've come
to learn, in the somber but reflective days that have followed
Jeff's death.
I knew Jeff was an extraordinary
person, but after two hours of eulogies
and four days of overwhelming and
inspirational words by friends and
family during shivah, I learned just
how high Jeff had raised the bar for
being a truly good person. So high, in
fact, that my definition of what it takes
to be a normal good husband, father
and friend just doesn't cut it anymore.
Jeff gave so much of himself — to
Alan
his
family, his friends and to millions
Muskovitz
of
people
around the world. He gave
Jewish News
through
his
bestselling books, speech-
Columnist
es and columns that we would be wise
to use for our own introspection.
And when he wasn't giving through the written word, he
quietly and humbly gave through the way he conducted him-
self as a human being. So much so that Jeff accomplished a
lifetime of good in just 53 years. His legacy is a blueprint for

JN CONTENTS

A photo from 1993 shows Debbie and Al Muskovitz out to

dinner with Sherry Margolis and Jeff Zaslow.

all of us to follow, something to aspire to — not as a compe-
tition but as a commitment.
We've all experienced loss. We've all experienced or been
close enough to tragedy to know the impact it can have on
our lives. But how many of us could eloquently articulate and
share those raw human emotions for the rest of the world to
understand like Jeff did in Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture?
Ask Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger or Congresswoman
Gabby Giffords and they'll tell you they couldn't have shared
their dramatic stories without Jeffrey Zaslow. But Jeff didn't
choose their stories; the people that lived them chose Jeff.
No coincidence because those heroes needed more than an
exceptional writer, they needed an exceptional person who
could write.
Now, in what can only be described as a surreal twist of
fate, we must ask: Who writes the book about Jeff Zaslow? In
my mind's eye, it's already been written. But you won't find
it in hardcover or in paperback, nor will you find it in your
library or on your Kindle. It's already published where it can
do the most good, in the hearts and souls of those Jeff loved
and the millions who came to love him.
If you're not yet counted among those millions, go to
rememberingzazz.com and be prepared to be transformed.

❑

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, speaker, emcee and voiceover talent.
Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com .

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HFL. "I love this agency," Annie said,
"And I'm so proud of what we do.
Even if I wasn't on the Board, I would
want to be part of this. Anyone who
has a passion for people and keeping
our city strong should be interested
in what HFL does for our community."
Annie was introduced to HFL by
friends who were part of the Board
and staff, and was captivated by the
mission. "This is a hands-on group
where Board members interact
directly with the borrowers," Annie
said. "We talk to real people with
real faces and worries, from all walks
of life. I love the hugs, the hand-
shakes, being able to help others.
"Think about it: we all started
somewhere in life, and maybe had
some financial concern along the
way — paying for school, beginning
life after college, starting a family,
or changing jobs. Each story is dif-
ferent, yet they're the same, because
in the end, we're a community. We
need each other."

The Power of Recycling

March 1-7, 2012 I 7-12 Adar 5772 I Vol. CXLI, No. 4

Around Town
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Metro

Hebrew Free Loan Board member

Annie Cohen feels strongly about

Shabbat: Friday, March 2, 6:06 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 3, 7:08 p.m.

Fast of Esther: Wednesday, March 7,

5:45 a.m.-7:13 p.m.
Purim: Wednesday evening-Thursday, March 7-8.

Shabbat: Friday, March 9, 6:14 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 10, 7:16 p.m.

Times are according to the Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah calendar.

On The Cover:

Page design, Michelle Sheridan

Hebrew Free Loan gives interest-
free loans to members of our
community for a variety of
personal and small business
needs. HFL loans are funded
entirely through community
donations which continually
recycle to others, generating
many times the original value
to help maintain the lives of
local Jews.

www.hfldetroit.org
248.723.8184

HEBREW

hfidetroit.org

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We Provide Loans.
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13 c F i r a lliZ o k 'Lik e Hebrew Free Loan Othoit

Jewish Federation

OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT

March 1 2012

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