Dear Paula,
It is very difficult for me to talk about you- in the past tense, here at your grave site..
Over the last seven or eight years, I have had the privilege of spending time with you at least once a month on joint trips to Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv, where meetings of the Executive of the Reform movement are usually held. You continued to attend these meetings ex-officio by virtue of being Chair of the Movement in past years.
During those trips, I got to know a wonderful woman. As someone who has filled such a wide range of roles within and on behalf of our Movement, you have been an inexhaustible spring of organizational history, invaluable experience, wisdom, knowledge, love, endless commitment, as well as an amazing, considerate, calm and deep conversationalist. You have also been a coveted confidant on a variety of issues, many of them complex.
I also got to know from our work together on the Steering Committee of the Israel Reform Action Center, where too you were Chair in the past and later "just" a member. You were a moral compass for many of us. Sharp in your thoughts and in your desire to make our country better, more moral, more pluralistic.
Only recently, a few weeks ago, when a difficult matter arose on whether the Israel Reform Movement should express an official position on a controversial public issue - I turned to three former Chairpersons of the Reform Movement, you among them of course, to hear views on the issue. As is customary in these crazy days, we held the consultation on Zoom. And despite the difficult period you were going through, you were, as usual, razor sharp; analyzing the issue and giving excellent and concise advice - which I adopted. Unfortunately, this was the last time I got to "see" you.
On our joint trips to Tel Aviv and back, I also got to know another side of Paula: mother, grandmother and wife, caring and very loving. You were so proud of the successes of Joey and Kobe, were concerned about Don and you had a special place in your heart for each and every one of your seven grandchildren. And you always inquired about my welfare and that of my family, not out of good manners but out of genuine and sincere concern.
Yesterday when I heard the bitter news about your passing from Dalia, I wrote to some friends and partners who also valued and loved you . One of them, Prof. Ronen Be’eri, of the Department of Cardiology at Hadassah Hospital, is a member of our Movement's Executive and currently serves as Chair of IRAC. He wrote to me as follows:
“Very sad news. Paula was, to me, a role model for contemporary Jewish leadership - always leading with a clear and sharp gaze, with a presence and statement that did not wane even when she felt unwell. She was in my ward at the beginning of her last hospitalization and impressed everyone with the nobility and courage with which she faced the illness that finally defeated her.”
I apologize for speaking at length, but I also want to share the words Anat Hoffman, Chair of IRAC, wrote to me yesterday - as follows:
"We are all in mourning today at the Israel Reform Action Center. Paula headed our steering committee, her smart and capable hands navigating the rudders, engine, brakes and especially the compass. Paula helped develp IRAC’s programming, values and budget.
She was caring and approachable at all times. And it is no wonder that at the time she lived on Banai (“builder”) Street in Beit HaKerem neighborhood.
In recent years, when she moved to HaShahar (“dawn”) Street, she was involved in the future of IRAC, long-term forecasts and organizational development for the future.
Paula immigrated to Israel from the northern axis. A town called Duluth in Minnesota. (I understand that the Jewish community there is called "the Frozen Chosen").
When I once asked Paula if she was already "Israeli"? She replied: "probably not, because if you call ‘winter’ here that little drizzle that is falling upon us now, I'm still from Minnesota - where in winter you recognize your car outside because of the antenna peeking through the snow."”
And Anat added: “I want to reply to Paula and say: ‘Paula you are completely Israeli. You brought a great gift to Israel. A deep commitment to equality, pluralism and tolerance. You are a rare and wonderful import. Thank you’."
Dearest Paula - our heart aches today. I will miss you. Our Movement will miss you. We will all miss you ... very much.