Mossmans in Atlanta by Larry Hample

Grandma Ethel in Atlanta

by Larry Hample

Hi Joy, and everyone else,

On New Years Eve, literally, I realized the significance of this year for all us first cousins, and many of our second cousins. Thank you, Joy, for actually doing something about it to help us remember!

Rosie Fitterman was kind enough to welcome myself and Jula Bell into her home last Passover to help Jula understand her grandfather Oscar Bells's roots.

I **think** Rosie is the eldest member of her generation still with us. She provided a lot of the details and identifications I share below and hope to add in the future. (Rosie: I love you!)

[ Joy note: Any notes I add to clarify story are in italics and surrounded by these brackets. ]

[ Rosie would be same generation as Uncle Israel and Aunt Perle, and are her first cousins. ]

(I have attached four photos that I just scanned. Please keep in mind that I only recently got this scanner (from Sharon for Hannukah), so I hope to improve on the quality of these scans in the future. 

[Personal story deleted.]

This message is all about Grandma and she adored Jimmy Carter, for many things like overturning the racial policies of his predecessor as governor, and more so for the Camp David Accords. If Grandma loved him, then that's good enough for me.

Now the story... I mentioned to Jason Carter [President Carter’s grandson] that my family has now lived in his current state senate district for exactly 100 years. Actually, that was a bit of a fib, as aunt Perle Mossman recounted to me last night.  (…Jason Carter was duly impressed at the very abbreviated version of our family's history that I told him.)

Prior to moving to Decatur: When Great Grandparents Israel & Perle Balmazie/Bell first moved to Atlanta, they lived in what was then the Jewish neighborhood around Hunter St (now MLK, Jr. Blvd), where our synagogue Congregation Shearith Israel was originally located. That is in the general vicinity of the traditionally African-American schools Morehouse College (MLK's Alma Mater), Spelman College (Coretta Scott King) and what is now Clark Atlanta University. 

Leo Frank was lynched in 1915--a landmark event. 

[ Joy note:  Grandma said they moved out of Atlanta along with many other Jews because they were very scared for their Jewish lives because of the lynching. ]

Some of the family moved to New Haven around that time. Grandma & Grandpa [Mossman] got married in Atlanta in 1917 or 1918.  Libby was born 1919 in Atlanta. By the 1920 census, Grandma [temporarily] took Libby to New Haven, but Grandpa stayed behind (marital strife?). They came back to Atlanta and mom, Edith, was born in Atlanta in 1928. 

[ Joy note: Grandpa must have needed to earn the money and stayed behind. ] 

She/Rosie says that Grandma, Grandpa [G&G and their children], Libby, Edith and maybe (?) Israel moved to Decatur, GA around 1931 when they opened Mossman's Grocery at 346 N. McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030 -- in downtown Decatur. The family lived behind the store. (Look it up on Google Maps.) Later, G & G bought the house at 125 Patillo Way, Decatur, nearby. (Mom & Dad [Hample] eventually bought 117 and Grandma bought 121 as a rental property.)

[ Joy: Those houses were a few houses down from a slightly raised RR track. Do you have a photo of store?]

So Jason Carter's senate district basically stretches from downtown Decatur north to the neighborhood I grew up in (after we moved from Patillo Way in 1963) and then to the little piece of the City of Atlanta I currently live in that is in DeKalb, not Fulton, County. Mind you, I now live less than a mile from where Grandma lived after she and Pauline moved there just before Pauline got married [to Julian Jolkovsly]. Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Joe Landau (Ida, z’l, & Rosie's parents) lived around the corner. But they lived in Fulton, not that that matters to any of you except Scott.

[ Joy: I visited Grandma when I was in H.S., I’m sure in 1964 on 125 Patillo Way. Nephew Mark was there that summer and Dolphe  (now aka Arielle) came to visit from Texas. Were you all moved before then?]

Grandma Ethel had to toss her infant/toddler Edith out of the window of their burning apartment (tenement?). An African-American customer in Decatur returned the blanket mom was wrapped in MANY years later. That fire probably hastened their move to Decatur in the early 30's. That's where I started this story above.

[ Joy: I also heard the fire and Edith story several times from Grandma! ]

So, I will start sending out more of my recollections about Grandma. This one has gone on too long. 

[ Joy: Thanks for all these stories. Larry, do you prefer that I use * to clarify at the bottom, and not [ ] inside of your story?]

~

Larry sent the following to family at the time of cousin Louis Bell's, z"l, funeral 2018 in greater LA, CA.

Grandma said home was at or near the intersection of the main train lines, at the time, connecting the two largest cities in the area, Kiev and Odessa.

Grandma’s family were part of an organization [Arbiterring], that fought for social justice in the era of tenements and dangerous working conditions.

Notes from Larry 2.3.2019:
"...distinct memories of what grandma Ethel had told me- great grandfather Israel Belmazel was a custodian in the train station in Brailov-Podolsky.

"I meant to add that I remember Grandma telling me that great grandpa's boss at the train station helped pay for the exit papers and travel expenses for the family in 1912.

"One more quick clarifications, from everything I've read*, heard, and remember from what grandma and her Jewish immigrant friends from the old pale of settlement told me firsthand, Jews were not allowed to own or run stores in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Previously, they were money lenders and traders, but as restrictions became more severe and pogroms more frequent, Jews were almost all beneath even the status of serf or peasant during that period."

~ ~ ~ 

Note from JOY  2.3.2019: 

I am trying very hard to find more pieces of the Avram/Abe haKohen Mossman family tree. 

In Russia the names were:  Ismuzik, Ismasik and Ismosik but arriving the ship in Ellis Island these phonetic Russian names were changed to Mossman. Wish someone could give any deeper history of names and relatives. 

Who were Avram's parents and siblings? Greenwood Cemetery has no information because records were in fire. I've written to Abe and family's Atlanta synagogue rabbi, Congregation Shearith Israel and I'm waiting for archival reply.  Researched well Ellis Island ship manifest records. Wrote to people in Geneva from Russia with same name but they can't make connection. Abe's great nephews from his sibling Benjamin have no info.

- Joy Krauthammer

.

MAMA in Decatur & Art by Arielle

FAMILY NOTES

MAMA in Decatur
from Arielle 
Grandma Ethel's first grandchild

of stories Arielle heard, and experienced from 1941-1946.

transcribed by Joy Krauthammer

and 
ART by ARIELLE

Arielle, (born Dolphe and called 'Butch' and 'Smitty' and 'Rel'), had lived with Mama (Grandma Ethel Bell Mossman), and her husband Abe/Avram (13 years older) and the Mossman children, for the first few years of her young life, until age 5, while mother, Libby, divorced, was working for a General at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. during the war.

Until he died in 1947 and due to a stroke, Mama's husband Abe was housebound so Mama had to take care of family and the store. Mama took her children by trolley to Sunday school on her day off from work.  Although the family was orthodox in Russia, they assimilated as they became Americans. Mama and Abe spoke Yiddish. 

[Joy note: I recall until Grandma Ethel's last years that she read the Yiddish press.]

The Mossman Grocery store that Mama and Abe Mossman owned was an old run down wood building. The houses were raised on lumber up from the ground. There were wood stairs that led to the building probably in front as well as in back. The family lived in the rooms behind the store.  The bathroom was not quite an outhouse, but was separate from the house and reachable by the porch. While Mama's four children still living at home were at school, young 'Butch' could visit Mama in the store where she ate grilled and cold cheddar cheese sandwiches. Grandma sat on a chair when there were no customers. Grandma was at the store until late at night, maybe midnight. There was a nanny.

There were no other residential houses. Store was near Decatur High School. Next door to the house/store, there was a blacksmith who with big fires, made horseshoes for the horses.
The mischevous children, 'Butch' and twins Pauline and Perle, would throw light bulbs against an outdoor wall because they made a popping sound.

Grandma/Mama had to get large chunks of ice delivered or her store, and chop it, to keep food cold, including the soda, CocaCola. Earlier in Russia the family had ice to bury in ground and keep cold the food and that was also covered with hay.

Grandma in her store, did everything necessary, and was the butcher, needing to cut all the large meats for selling. Mama had to buy a new meat counter, and regretted that she had paid cash for the counter instead of getting a loan for it and still having the cash.

The first store was on McDonough Street in Atlanta.

Grandma Ethel/Mama, was never able to get a wheelchair for husband, Abe who had a stroke. That made life very difficult. Abe has an unpleasant personality (nasty) and that chased away the customers. Grandma had to build up her client base over and over because customers left. (Abe was 13 years older than Mama, and she was young when she married. In a harsh tone, Abe would tell the children, to 'gay shloffen.'

Grandma served Shabbat dinner to the "soldier boys" that came to her home from the local army Fort McPherson. Mama was like a USO in entertaining the soldiers for Shabbat and Pesach. She felt that she was expressing her patriotic duty by extending hospitality. Grandma would add a little water to the soup when more boys came.

Mama's daughter Libby had appendicitis at age 17 in Piedmont hospital. Mama had no 'car fare' trolley money and had to walk six miles home from hospital in the cold snowy weather during the hard depression, around 1936.

Grandma Ethel, when a child and too young, had worked in a millinery shop in spite of child labor laws. She would carry the 'glue pot' to the workers. Workers would hide her when inspectors came. She was afraid of being caught, so did not go to the ladies room. She 'held it in'.*

* [We know that is unhealthy. - Joy]

When Dolphe (now Arielle), was about 5 years, she was taken from Mama's home and the other children a few years older (twins, Perle and Pauline and older siblings Edith and Israel) and went to live with her mother, Libby, and new adoptive father, Joe, in the Bronx in their walkup apartment.

[Joy was born in the Bronx the next year, and Faye then born 3 years later in Queens.]

Arielle recalls that an Atlanta cousin Hank/Henry had yellow skin. He was son of 'big' Ida and he died young from heart problems.  There were "big" and "little Ida" and that was confusing because at some point in time, Big was little and Little was big.
[ Joy note: I think they were relatives of Uncle Joe Landau, married to Rebecca Bell Landau.]

~

[ Thank you, Arielle,

 for taking the time to go down memory lane 
and sharing your childhood Atlanta stories. - Joy ]

[ Joy note: Libby Mossman (who worked at the Pentagon for a General under her first married name) met Joseph Meltzer. (Joe worked at Walter Reed Hospital* also during WWII in the orthopedic department making prosthetic devices. Joe had served in the Army and was in the Drum and Bugle Corps playing trumpet. Growing up in Brooklyn, his friends were top musicians.) Libby and Joe married in 1944 and changed their last name to one sounding not so Jewish (a common practice) due to anti-Semitism, to find better employment and housing in NY. Their Ketubah/Hebrew wedding contract is in Libby's web site post on this blog site. (According to my birth certificate) I think that Libby and Joe moved to the Bronx in 1946, the year before I was born in the Bronx. Not sure what year Dolphe was taken away from Atlanta and to the Bronx before I was born, maybe 1946.

Libby had a high assistant position to a General during the war. In 1962 Libby traveled with her two youngest daughters and husband from NY to visit DC, and showed us the room where she had worked and a portrait of her boss. I assume it was a secretarial position.
Uncle Israel said that Libby was responsible for paying the pilots of WW II. Libby did have a book at home written by WW II pilots, "We Dropped the Atomic Bomb".

*[When I visited DC, I saw that Walter Reed Hospital shut down and relocated in 2011.]


PS 2017

Arielle's husband died Nov. 4, 2009 and Arielle sold her home (and her rental home) (gave both away) and moved into housing for Jewish seniors in Milwaukee, a city where she had lived with husband for many years. Arielle then moved in Nov. 2015 into 'assisted living' a year before she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in Oct. 2016 to live with her Aunt Perle, whom she had lived with as a little girl in Atlanta, Georgia for the first years of her life before mother Libby remarried to Joe and brought Arielle back to the Bronx, NY to join what would be a new to be unfolding family.
When Arielle moved to Albuquerque she expressed that she wanted to go back to college and finish, and also to paint. Arielle in Albuquerque only three months before death, had both cataracts removed so she could again read and see.

With great sadness 

I share news of the passing over of my older sister 

Arielle bat Yosef v’Lieba, z”l

a talented artist and healer. 

Arielle bat Yosef v'Lieba died July 12, 2017,  18 Tamuz 2017

"T'hay nishmata tzrura bitzror hachayim"

May her soul be bound in bonds of Eternal life

תהא נפשו/ה צרורה בצרור החיים 

.ת.נ.צ.ב.ה

Arielle had very dear friends in Milwaukee, Gloria, Rhonda, Miriam and Tyler and young Wren.
For a few days, Faye and I visited Arielle two weeks before Arielle died. While Faye and I were present, we took phone calls from Arielle's famiy and friends to share their love.  Friend Rhonda sent overnight an angel montage she made for Arielle. We hung art on wall that Arielle faced from her hospice hospital bed. I added to wall the greeting cards sent to Arielle. When Faye and I departed, Arielle's friend Tyler came to visit Arielle for 4 days. With love, Tyler sat by her side holding her hand. Arielle must have waited for these visits before releasing her neshama/ her soul to The Compassionate One, in addition to the visits by Aunt Perle and friend Kathy, an honorary aunt.

Faye and I, Joy, buried our older sister Arielle at a cemetery founded 6 months earlier founded for 'green' more natural burials. Faye and I had met the fine ecologically conscious, caring owners on our previous visit.
Arielle had Tahara by Chevre Kadisha. Arielle looked peaceful and beautiful in her tachrichim/shroud.
There is no massive 'vault' surrounding the coffin.
Coffin made by "Fathers With Futures", former prisoners being given training in a trade, to make Kosher plain pine caskets, made with wood pegs, not metal nails. Mogen Dovid on top.  (See photo below.)

Highway 47, Belen, Valencia County, New Mexico,
Latitude       34.467379
Longitude  106.528016
Row 11  #36

When we set the matzeivah, the grave marker for Arielle,  the blessing recited is:

Baruch ata adonai Elo-kenu melech ha-olam asher yatzar etchem badin, v'dan v'chilkail etchem badin, v'hemit etchem badin, v'yode-ah mispar koolchem badin, v'atid l'ha-chazir ul-ha-chayot etchem badin. Baruch ate adonai-m'chayeh hemetim.

"Praised be the Eternal, our God, the Ruler of the Universe who created you in judgment, who maintained and sustained you in judgment, and brought death upon you in judgment; who knows the deeds of everyone of you in judgment, and who will hereafter restore you to life in judgment. Praised be the Eternal who will restore life to the dead."

WE LOVE YOU, ARIELLE.

Arielle 

Mossman family reunion, 

Ziona Bat Mitzvah, June 2011, Maryland

 © Aviva Bell

Arielle

2015 by dear friend Tyler

Arielle aka Dolphe when young,  11 months, 1942

Arielle had red hair, just like her cousins Allen and Michael.

Dolphe, the eldest, first born of Ethel Mossman's beloved grandchildren.

Dolphe, holding Joy, Grandma Ethel and Libby

Dolphe and Joy in crab apple tree, Queens

Dolphe, Joy and Faye

More young Dolphe photos below at end.

 Arielle learned to crochet from Mama/grandma Ethel. 

Arielle made this beret decades after learning.

She lovingly made berets for her sisters, husband and others.

Arielle enjoyed making tissue paper flowers and sharing them.

Gave paper flowers to Faye and Joy

Arielle hand-made Angel dolls. 

This is angel made for Joy many years ago. 

The colorful quilted wings are behind.  I treasure my angel from Arielle.

© Joy Krauthammer 

Angel hand made by Arielle for Faye.

© Faye Melton

Arielle in living room with ART

3 paintings, dolls and flowers created by Arielle.

© Faye Melton

edited by Joy

Girl in Red Hat

by Arielle 

(blue dove card sent by Joy)

Arielle found Indian doll.

© Faye Melton

Angel painting on top shelf

by Arielle

Travel chess set I had given to Arielle on shelf, had belonged to my husband, z"l.

photos by Faye Melton

Daphne Turning into a Laurel Tree to Escape Apollo's Advances

painting by Arielle ©

Gift to sister Faye, in Collection of Faye

Trees Before Spring

Painting by Arielle ©

JOY & Pansies

gift to Joy

painting by Arielle  ©

JOY

Gift to Joy

Painting by Arielle ©

JOY

Brown paper bag

Painting by Arielle ©

 Pansies

gift to Joy

painting by Arielle ©

Arielle painted these joyous images for me. 

She was so talented.  I hope she knew that I appreciated and loved her paintings.

These 2, Arielle sent to me in summer 2005 to cheer me when my husband, z"l, went onto life support. I see them constantly as they face me on the wall opposite where I work all day. 

As I write this for Omer Counting week of Chesed, it is the first Pesach that my sister is not here on earth.  For the prior couple Pesachs, I made sure that matzoh was brought to her in her assisted living home before she left for Aunt Perle's home.

- Joy 2018  5778

JOYous JOY

timbrel player   12"x16"

gift to Joy painting received © July 2005

Collection of artist and sister Joy.

painting by Arielle ©

JOY Banners

gift to Joy   16"x20"

painting by Arielle © July 2005

Collection of artist and sister Joy.

(I love Arielle's gifts of paintings to me that hang in my home. - Joy)

Fantasy Birds

art by Arielle

photo by Faye Melton

Calgary + Death of Carlos Casagemas

painting translation by Arielle ©

Picasso in Blue Period had painted his friend who committed suicide over a love lost.

48"x36"  in Milwaukee

photo by Rhonda

Face of G*d 

painting by Arielle

collection of Milwaukee artist friend Rhonda Gatlin Hayes

photo from Rhonda

Bowl of Vegetables

11"x14"

painting by Arielle ©

Vegetable in Bowl

Detail painting by Arielle ©

clear signature

Trees Before Spring

untitled 5 painting by Arielle © 30"x40" ?

photo by Rhonda

Trees, barren branches

untitled painting by Arielle ©

photo by Rhonda

Arielle's signature on back

photo by Rhonda

Abstract painting 

16"x20"

untitled ? by Arielle ©  4.4.2008

photo by Rhonda

Abstract painting  of Purple Door

Untitled 4  24"x36"   by Arielle ©

Last painting on easel before Arielle left Golda Meir. 

photo by Rhonda

Abstract painting 

Untitled 3  24"x36"  by Arielle ©

photo by Rhonda

Abstract painting 

by Arielle ©

Untitled 18"x24"

photo by Rhonda

Untitled paintings

Can't differentiate the individual sizes sent separately

18x24,  16x20,   30x40

Angel painting 1

24"x30"

by Arielle ©

photo by Rhonda

Angel painting 2

24"x30"

by Arielle ©

photo by Rhonda

--

2 more Arielle paintings sent to me by Rhonda

Painting by Arielle - face and fire

Painting by Arielle - hidden faces

Arielle photographed and herself developed, enlarged and printed in darkroom 

to 16x20", 

images of original paintings of a Rav by an artist Pinchas 

that hung in Grandma Ethel's Atlanta home.

Both hang in Joy's home.

photos by Joy

Arielle clearly inherited the artistic talents of her matriarchal ancestors, 

mom Libby and Grandma Ethel, z". 

and as her ancestors did, gifted her arts for others to enjoy.  - Joy

Arielle, Grandma Ethel Mossman and sister, Aunt Rebecca Landau

Rebecca lived around corner from Grandma Ethel.

Family enjoys hydrangeas and day lilies.

Favorite Photo

Arielle and family, Joy, Faye and Aunt Perle

Adult Bat Mitvzah of Ziona Mossman, Maryland June 2011.

photo by AvivaBell

Arielle celebrates her 70th birthday in Maryland 2011

cousin Lyla age 1. (Great granddaughter of Ethel Mossman)

© Joy Krauthammer 

Joy and Faye receive art gifts made by Arielle and shipped to CA July 2005

Art gifts sent while Marcel, z"l, was on 'life-support' and Arielle realized we needed some cheer.

Arielle made crocheted berets for Faye and Joy. 

I'm wearing my beautiful purple beret.  - Joy

For Arielle's pleasure, Faye gave her's back to Arielle not long before Arielle moved to ABQ and died.

Two paintings Arielle made especially for me are hanging in my living room. I love them.

Arielle and Joy, Aviva, Faye, Aunt Perle, Uncle Israel  (siblings of mom, Libby, z"l)

Family in Maryland 2011

Arielle, z"l died 2017

Uncle Israel, z"l died 2018

Arielle wears the crocheted beret that she had made for Faye.

When Arielle moved into her new home, Nov. 2015, 

Faye brought back to Arielle the crocheted blue and white beret to contribute extra warmth to her

because her city is not sunny as is LA.

© Faye Melton

Arielle with Faye visiting in Arielle's new home

Arielle wears the crocheted beret that she had made for Faye a decade ago.

© Tyler (friend)

Faye visits Arielle

© Gloria Krasno

Arielle/Dolphe , z"l with aunts, twins Perle and Pauline, z"l, and uncle Israel.

Eating watermelon, Atlanta, GA

Libby/mom and Arielle/Dolphe, 4 years 

Adoring.

DC Natural History Museum summer 1945

Libby, Dolphe and Joy

N.Y. Botanical Garden by Joe

Arielle/Dolphe with mom, Libby, z"l, and new father, Joseph, z"l.

Joe made the little leather circular purse for Arielle. Later filled with marbles.

Maybe 3 years, 1944, Washington, DC

Dolphe/Arielle, great Aunt Rose Bell and her son Louis Bell

Arielle aka Dolphe age 6, Joy age 3 months, Joe Melton

Arielle and Chaplain/friend Gloria Krasnow

Arielle's Milwaukee home warming, mezuzah hanging, and reading Siddur, wearing tallit and kipa.

photo by friend Miriam Pat  2010

Arielle and for decades beloved Milwaukee Chaplain/friend Gloria Krasnow

by Faye Melton

Arielle paints for a friend

Arielle wears the colorful beret she crocheted for herself. 

Arielle celebrating big 75th birthday with dear friends Rhonda, Tyler and sister Faye. 

Gloria couldn't come.

(wearing scarf sent from Joy)

photo by Faye with a Joy edit

(Last birthday was spent on hospice...)

Arielle colors with friend Tyler's daughter

© Tyler  12.2015

Arielle and Wren by Tyler in Milwaukee

Arielle's ocean memorial by Wren

from video, sent by Tyler

Arielle always loved that Wren spelled her name REL .. 

This was from Coronado Island Beach yesterday ... all her idea... my ❤️ hugs to you all

Loving cards and photos and art for Arielle

in her last couple weeks where she faced.

by Tyler  7.2.2017

Thank you for printing and bringing with you from MI to Arielle in NM. 

Tyler visits Arielle  7.3.2017 the week before...

Note to Arielle from Tyler's daughter Wren.

Arielle's fave wearables.

Chai inherited from her husband and his father.

The Promise of G*d

"Arielle loved Angels. She would refer to herself as an Angel. "Angel Arielle"

That is why I created the piece of Angel art "Promise of G*d, to pay homage to Arielle." 

Angel art created with love for Arielle by Rhonda Gatlin Hayes ©

sent overnight to Arielle the week before Arielle died. 7.2017

© Joy Krauthammer 

Arielle

one year before Arielle died.

by dear friend Rhonda Gatlin Hayes 6.20.2016, Milwaukee

Arielle and Aunt Perle, New Mexico

Arielle, Aunt Perle and Kathy,  New Mexico 2016

Arielle in New Mexico

by friend Mark  12.2016

~  ~ ~

A blesSing that Milwaukee dear friend Tyler traveled to NM to visit Arielle a week before death and spent 4 days with Arielle, holding her hand, in conversation, playing music and teachings for her and showing photos and love. 

Tyler printed and brought photos and hung them on the medical wall for Arielle to see.

"Today went well.. lots of music, poetry and a cool podcast (Celaya/artist/philosopher) that she really seemed to follow."

"will go back in the morning with chocolate ice cream in hand" ❤️

Arielle's funeral:  Joy -officiant, Faye, Aunt Perle, Kathy

© Joy Krauthammer 

Arielle's funeral

© Joy Krauthammer 

Arielle's funeral

© Joy Krauthammer 

Arielle's funeral

Mogen Dovid, flower (from ABQ Rabbi Min) & purple fortune cookie filled with love and joy

© Joy Krauthammer 

Grave Stone engraved by Paul B.

Photo by Donal of La Puerta.

Where Arielle grew up in Decatur, a train track was at end of Grandma Ethel's street. 

Trains are at the end of cemetery and Arielle's grave.

La Puerta is bordered by the Manzano Mountains to the east. Trains cross that bridge which goes over Abo Canyon and the train tracks border our cemetery on the north side. (The BNSF train -Burilington Northern Santa Fe runs from LA to Fort Worth, TX and on to Chicago. It's there major line from east to west.) At least 30 trains per day pass through.

The Manzano Mountains are part of the National Forest. La Puerta borders 14,000 acres of conservation open space,preserved for generations to come. 

The desert grasses will grow back in the spring. There are literally thousands of starlings, butterflies, and several golden eagles that will help the wind deposit grass seed.

More photos and more information: www.naturalburialnewmexico.com

ARIELLE

BELOVED

Arielle's seminole gold flagstaff gravestone

designed by Joy & Faye

according to 'green burial' cemetery and engraver restrictions: 

stone type, not polished, size, no engraved borders, no standing stone

Matzeivah Unveiling held Thanksgiving 2017 weekend

with Aunt Perle, Kathy and cousin Larry Hample from Atlanta.

Arielle's gravestone

Family visit and leave stones. 

© Larry Hample

Flowers given to Faye and Joy at NM hotel following funeral.

Gift of Best Western manager Yahima, Amber and April

© Joy Krauthammer 

Nahalat Shalom, NM

Joy said Kaddish on Shabbat following funeral for Arielle, z"l

© Joy Krauthammer 

Nahalat Shalom, NM

Joy said Kaddish for Arielle, z"l

© Joy Krauthammer 

Grapes at Nahalat Shalom, NM

Kaddish said for Arielle, z"l

© Joy Krauthammer 

CONDOLENCES IN SYMPATHY

To my very dear​ friend of so many years, Joy,

My heart is full of gratitude. Your letter of today was so sweet and complete and thoughtful 'to the moon'.

I could feel the burial scene and my own participation. I offer you my hugs and blessings in return.

I will miss sister Arielle of blessed memory.

Do stay in my life, Joy and sister Faye, and Aunt Perle. There are exquisite memories, remarkable, an exotic lifetime, completed with a return to family, homeless to home, and now Home.

Condolences,

 GL♥RIA

 (galorYa)

~

Dear Joy

First, thanks for the word

Then, heart and tears for you, sister Faye, Auntie, all family members ​and Milwaukee friends.

The visit here last summer and its treasured fotos, the first meeting with you, Joy, the years of witnessing Arielle's healing hands, her creative hand-work,  paintings, writings - stories of her life shared

 at Grand Ave. Club .... all come to mind. 

They sanctify this moment in the cycle of the soul. 

Your entry has marks of your knowing loving relationship, completed on this plane,

still intact and forever one with the indomitable Arielle bat Liebe.

Please accept my sadness and joy in Arielle's release of body and entering into the world of her Spiritual desire.

May we all find good memories.

Baruch Dyan, galorYa

Gloria Krasno

~

Joy,

Reading this with tears.  I am thankful she is no longer in pain and anguish.  My heartfelt condolences to you and the rest of the family.

Yes, may Arielle, paint, dance, see and rest peacefully.

In sadness and sympathy,

Rhonda

~

Arielle always loved that Wren spelled her name REL .. This video was from Coronado Island Beach yesterday ... all her idea... my ❤️ hugs to you all

Tyler

~

Greetings ladies,

  In this life Arielle was small in stature but she was a giant.  Heart was full of love and creativity. 

She possessed many talents. She was brilliant.   She loved to play scrabble, chess, read, cook, write poetry,  crochet, knit, paint and use her magical hands to add beauty to this world with her fantastic and one of a kind artistic creations.  She was caring and often times thoughtful of others.  She sometimes would be sassy, but sassy was good for Arielle.  Arielle has not died but passed over to take her place in the Angelic Army of  יהוה‎.  She was my sweet little friend and I loved her very much.  She will forever be alive because she is always in my heart.

Arielle was a true Artist. She created from her heart, mind and soul.  All Arielle’s works are done free hand.

One of Arielle’s deepest desires was to share her love of art and creating art with her family and the rest of the world.  What better way to do that is spread her artwork amongst your family members and friends. In conjunction with your family blog, the world can enjoy her artwork as well. 

Much love, peace and many blessings to your Family.

- Rhonda Gatlin-Hayes

RLGHAYES

~

Thank you again for allowing us to be present with you and Faye, Perle and Kathy, at the beautiful and meaningful ceremony for your dear sister, Arielle. Also, we are so pleased that you, too, feel the connection with the Spirit of the high desert surrounded by mountains. Arielle has a very peaceful resting place and we appreciate that you are sharing La Puerta with your community.

Blessings,

Linda and Donal

~

Wed, Jul 12, 2017 at 1:13 PM, Joy Krauthammer 

Baruch Dayan HaEmet, Blessed is the True Judge

Arielle

Arielle bat Yosef v’Leba passed over this morning.

May she play and rest in PEACE.

My condolences to you all, her beloved friends.

Now trying to make plans for burial.

in sympathy,

joy 

Tue, Jul 18, 2017  by Joy Krauthammer 

Hello dear friends, 

Finally this morning I feel that the cloud I have felt in my brain, is lifting away a little. 

Been hard to focus. 

Want you to know that when Faye and I were at Arielle’s, z”l / obm, funeral in the desert, we followed our Jewish tradition. Faye and I together said the prayers as we officiated.  

Once the beautiful kosher plain pine wood coffin with wood pegs (not nails) with a Jewish star on top was lowered in the very deep ground in the far off desert of Belen, New Mexico, Faye and I were each given a shovel to place dirt to begin to fill the grave.

Out loud I said each of your names as I lifted long shovels of desert dirt and dropped the sandy rocky dirt into the grave as waves of wind sucked some flying dirt away from each shovel load. I virtually had each of you participate in the mitzvah, the good deed, of helping to bury your friend Arielle 'Angel'  Chesed shel Emet: These good deeds of yours can not be returned by the deceased. 

Arielle earlier in the day also had Tahara with Chevra Kadisha with a female rabbi and team, ritual cleansing and purification, and was given Tachrichim, a ritual full garment shroud. Arielle looked peaceful and lovely under the lacy face covering.

http://www.jewishledger.com/2012/07/chesed-shel-emet-the-truest-act-of-kindness-reviving-judaisms-holy-society/

Off now to shul, to Chabad, where I’m saying Kaddish prayer each morning during week-long Shiva mourning rituals, which end tomorrow. Candle is burning at home. Shloshim ends 30 days after funeral.

I send you all love and gratitude. YOU have been so loving and caring.

With love

and

BlesSings for FRIENDSHIP,

JOY

"Serve G*d With Joy”

PS

Arielle’s funeral in the windy rough pathless desert was too hard for Aunt Perle so she and Kathy quickly returned to the car at La Puerta Natural Burial Grounds New Mexico where they waited for Faye and I to finish Arielle's funeral service. It began to gently rain as we left the cemetery. There was lightening on the way to funeral.

~ ~ ~

Shabbat Shalom,  Reading this weeks Parsha Matot-Massei I wish it was last week’s Parsha for when I had to decide where to bury, desert or city, my older sister, Arielle, z”l. I got the message anyway.

I find Chabad’s Parsha commentary relevant because of what I also see/feel as the "spirituality in the desert" versus city. 

Thought you might also enjoy the commentary because of where La Puerta Natural Burial Ground is located in the New Mexico desert. 

BlesSings, Joy

Krauthammer

My shiva week is now finished. 

~

Desert vs City spirituality

Why is this connection important to me?

When I davvened/prayed in the Israeli desert (couple decades ago), it was the first time that I had felt so deeply my connection to spirit while actively in prayer. It felt peculiar to me because I was in the dry desert, by dry rocks and yet it felt so moist filled with spirit. I later realized that the desert was where Moses and his sister Miriam were leaders of the Israelites on their Exodus, their journey from slavery to freedom, and they died in the desert. My Chabad rabbi this morning again reminded me after I said “Kaddish” about where our ancestors are buried. I continue to say Kaddish all this week of Shiva.

(Like Miriam HaNeviah, I too am a timbrel player, leading communities in prayer.)

Rabbi Simcha Daniel Burstyn, called this “a lesson from the garden.”

Arielle’s new garden where her Neshama/soul hovers over her released Guf/body (now free from Mitzrayim/narrow places and from pain), is nurtured by The Compassionate One in the desert. I am grateful. When a child, Arielle artistically painted her garden at home. I clearly see the painting she made with the pretty roses and white fence.

At Arielle’s funeral, when we finished prayers and shoveling dry dirt to cover the beautiful kosher hand-made wood (with Mogen Dovid) coffin enclosing our Tachrichim/shroud enveloped beloved sister who had passed over the day before, my younger sister Faye and I, along with Aunt Perle and friend Kathy -- departed from Arielle bat Yosef v’Leba’s, z”l, new place of eternal rest in deep ground at La Puerta Natural Burial Ground, Valencia County, New Mexico, a ‘green' cemetery within surrounding mountains south of Albuquerque -- and moist rain began to fall into the grave.

A lesson from the desert.

May Arielle’s soul be protected Tachat Kanfei HaShechinah / under the wings of Divine Feminine Presence.

.ת.נ.צ.ב.ה

Tehay Nishmatah Tzrurah B'tzror HaChaim 

May her soul be bound in bonds of Eternal life.

http://my-grandma-ethel.blogspot.com/2012/02/mama-in-decatur-art-by-arielle.html

========

Post from years ago

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/06/two-sisters-day-6-yesod-sh-bchesed.html

PSALMS OF MY SOUL
ספירת העומר

Yesod sh b'Chesed

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 6

Two Sisters Bonding in Love

- Joy Krauthammer

My sister and I spoke at length tonight during the Kabbalistic Sephirot Ha Omer energies of Yesod sh b'Chesed, and I feel we bonded more deeply, while we spoke about our interests both from when we were children and now as adults, finding similarities. Quiet and active Meditation was one topic, and portals and painting with our souls, another, as well as the very ocassional TV we watch which includes the same program. (No TV violence for us.) My sister encouraged me, joyous for me with successes I've experienced this week. 

I am grateful that she, too, is going forward with her creativity. This bonding bears love, support, and appreciation for each other. We counted the Omer. We live in separate cities and rarely see each other. We experience Chesed toward each other, unless times are emotionally difficult. Bonding tonight in Chesed is healing for me, for the times between us that have not been easy.

My sister, like me, grew up without a Jewish education, although we experienced Seders in our secular home. I am so grateful that my older sister went to two Seders. It must have been strange being at a totally Russian-led Seder, where Haggadahs are not even used, but the leader does it all himself in Russian. I'm grateful the Russians again invited my sister, and that she went.

~ ~ ~ 

A poem I, Joy, wrote that was published with my illustrative photo on cover of 

The DERONDA REVIEW

A journal of poetry and thought

Vol. IV No. 1-Fall-Winter 2010-11

This is a poem about my older sister, Arielle, a year after her husband died, and after she received a new apartment home with Jewish support services, to give her a new life. Amayn.

BUILDING A POEM

Could 'building' be 

one brick at a time 

as progress is

one step at a time?

Baby steps for success

sometimes are essential.

A foundation, an intention 

each new step.

Go further, go new

go deeper, go higher.

My sister's health improves 

she takes

one step at a time.

Don't look back.

I remind my sister 

G*D is with you.

She reminds me

"ABC Always be careful 

always be conscious."

Alphabet is

the building

of a poem.

My sister builds a new life. 

She is a poem.

-  Joy Krauthammer ©