A Torah Fund Message 

My mom, Barbara Abramson, passed away March 21, 2022. As I was preparing for the funeral, I decided I wanted to wear one of her Torah Fund pins as she had been a proud sisterhood president and always supported Torah Fund (as evidenced by the many pins she and I owned). I read the inserts for each pin that accompanied them as I wrote her eulogy, and I found that some of the themes truly struck me as I reflected on my mom and her life. This is a condensed version of my eulogy for her. 

Kol Isha—A Woman’s Voice

Mom always made her voice heard. Whether it was at a raucous synagogue meeting, expressing that she did not want to become a naval base wife, or just at home, Mom had a strong voice. 

Mom even expressed herself in Spanish. The students in her basic skills math class often spoke in Spanish to each other to keep the teachers from understanding them. One day Mom looked at the class and said definitively, “Aqui no hablo espanol, por favor. Aqui hablo ingles.” “Here we do not speak Spanish, here we speak English.” The room was silenced and word spread not to speak Spanish in this classroom because she understood. But that was the only Spanish she knew! No one ever spoke Spanish in her class again. 

V’Shinantam L’vanecha—Teach Them to Your Children (1998–1999) 

Mom was a teacher through and through, and her legacy is felt throughout Brooklyn and New Jersey. The things she taught us are innumerable: Helping others, supporting struggling students, focus on family, respect for everyone, and how to cook. Making mandelbread, hamantashen, latkes, and cinnamon matza balls connects me to Mom all the time. 

Tikvah—Hope (2004–2005) 

Parents are often heard saying, “I hope you have a child just like you. ” It’s often meant that the child was rotten and this was a curse. Mom never meant it that way. She always told me I never had to send one of those cards apologizing for terrible behavior as a kid or teenager. She was proud of all her children and hoped we would continue proudly with our own legacy. 

L’Dor V’dor—Generation to Generation (1991–1992) 

Mom adored her grandchildren more than anything—except maybe our Dad! She loved visiting with them and would show up with a bow on her head as though she was the best gift she could bring them. She was proud of every accomplishment and couldn’t wait to tell people what was going on with each one. She proudly wore her necklace of shoes, each one representing one grandchild, keeping them close to her heart. 

As I wear Torah Fund pins, I connect myself to Mom and all the women who have impacted my life. 

“Jodi’s message is a wonderful outgrowth of the Seaboard region May 4 retreat. During the event, Jodi told Torah Fund region vice president Ellen Weiss about her precious and meaningful Torah Fund pin collection and this article was born. Thank you to Jodi and Ellen for making this guest column come together in a matter of hours.” —Barbara Finkel, Seaboard region president 

Chadashot thanks Jodi Eligberg for sharing this lovely article, her mother, and her love of Torah Fund with us!