Sometimes a seemingly chance event, drives one into something new. As I was preparing an e-mail of an unveiling ceremony that I had compiled for the dedication of my father's gravestone, I was frustrated about the file size being too big to send (took around 20 minutes to upload). I thought this would never happen with a webpage because they've been designed to contain pictures and text in a compact file format. Then I had the idea, why not post the unveiling ceremony on the Winer foundation website and that way, they could more quickly upload it.
However as pondered this, I sensed that I'd never really thought about having a place where my family and extended family could post material about themselves for the family's enjoyment. This idea, combined with the fact that I had been working on my father's unveiling ceremony, made it clear that not only would this make access to the ceremony easier, but it would provide a lasting tribute to my father, who I deeply loved.
With this in mind, I encourage all of my family to use this section of the website to let each other, and the world too, know more about us -- what we're like, what we like, what we love, what makes us tick.
17 May 2001
PhiladelphiaDelivered at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Cleveland Temple Memorial on June 2, 2000
David J. Winer was born on April 8, 1917 and died on May 31, 2000.
This is a time to remember David Winer. This morning I want to share some insights from a son about his father. Most are not very profound but they reveal my father as very much a real person -- a very human person. I've found that you can learn much about someone by looking at what they love and what they do. Perhaps today, you could join together with me to search beyond the surface facts about David Winer, to ponder for a few moments what they say about his deeper parts.
First, Dave was a man who loved to eat. But that's the surface. To him, eating was very much more than food. What he really loved about eating, was to eat together with his family. I remember the nightlly, or almost nightly ritual of the "midnight snack." Never mind the contradiction of his statement, coming in the form of a question, "are you ready for the midnight snack," came at around 9:30 p.m. He'd want all the family assembled for some sort of food that he'd make -- maybe popcorn or a sandwich.
Then there was Dave, the mobile chef. He'd love to cook on the road, at the side of the road, or even while the car was moving. He'd read somewhere that if you wrapped chicken in aluminum foil, placed it on the car manifold , that you'd have cooked chicken a few hours later when you arrived at your destination. Unfortunately, or fortunately for us, his inaugural experiment was a dismal failure and we ate out at a nearby restaurant.
Another image is Dave with his torch. You see my dad was an attorney, who became a builder of homes. And we all know about guys and their love of building tools. One of the tools I think he was quite proud of showing off his consummate construction skills on was the propane torch. So when we'd go for a drive, which was often a Sunday ritual, he'd bring his torch and a pot. Noontime brought a stop to eat lunch. First him and my mom would give us plates with sandwiches and chips. Yet Dave believed deeply (probably some sort of unconscious conviction) that no lunch was complete without something hot to stave off the cold, never mind if it was mid-summer and 90 degrees. I can still see him clearly: he'd be standing at the side of the road, leaning against the car with his torch propped up by a brick he'd brought along for this very purpose, holding a pot filled with baked beans under the torch, stirring it.
At some point dad discovered technological progress and the propane torch was jettisoned for a Coleman stove. Now he reasoned that complete meals could be prepared even in remote locations that defied even what the most imaginative mind could envision. To Dave, preparing food for his family was an act of love. It was how he showed his love. When he learned I was engaged to Tara, he planned a food tribute. So he brought his beloved Coleman stove to Philadelphia. He couldn't wait to take us to a small park to show his love. He kept bbringing it up until we complied with his wish. So in the center of downtown Philadelphia, he cooked a fish dinner (always fresh fish and bought moments before at the Reading Terminal Market from some Koreans who Dave commented on, saying, "these guys really know how to pick and cut fish.") amidst the background of skyscrapers.
You see, food and eating together were intricately linked in Dave's soul as a symbol of family and love. To him, this was what families should do together and for each other.
Unveiling Ceremony for David Winer - June 3, 2001
Background
There is no prescribed format for an unveiling (sometimes called “dedication”) ceremony which may, according to Jewish law, be performed by the family. The typical ceremony consists of reading selections from Psalms, prayer, personal reflections, el malay rachameem, and the kaddish.
(In the Hebrew transliteration used in this ceremony, “ch” = chet)
Service
1. Sh’ma
Sh’ma Yisrael, adonai elohenu, adonai e’chad
Ba’ruch shem k’vod mal’chu’to l’olam va’ed.
Hear O’ Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Blessed be his glorious name forever and ever
2. Read:
David Winer died on May 31, 2000 (26 Iyar 5760). He was buried at Zion Cemetery in Bedford, Ohio on June 2, 2000. He was the beloved husband of Gert. He was the father of Norton, Nina, and Robert. He was the brother of Gertrude, Lil, and Elaine. He was the father-in-law of Lauren, Dennis, and Tara. He was the grandfather of Jamie, Scott, Stephanie, Alexis, and Jennifer.
We note that David’s father, Jacob, Uncle Abel, and Aunt Anna Sulzer, are also buried here. Today we gather to remember him and to dedicate a monument in his memory.
3. Reading from the Psalms (said together)
Ashray - Ps. 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Mee Ya’ah’leh - Ps. 24:1-5 - Who May Ascend
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
4. Personal Sharing
5. Reading from the Psalms (said together)
Ps. 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Eh’nosh keh’cha’tzeer - Ps. 103:15-17
As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children.
6. Kaddish
Mourners (say together):
Yit’ga’dal v’yit’kadash sh’may ra’ba
B’alma deev’ra chirutay v’yamleech mal’chu’tay
b’cha’yah’chone uv-yo’may’chone uv’cha’yay d’chol bayt Yisrael b’a’ga’la u’veez’mahn ka’reev, v’eemru . Amein.
Assembled:
Y’hay sh’may raba m’vah’rach l’alam ool’al’may al’ma’ya.
Mourners:
Yeet’ba’rach v’yeesh’ta’bach v’yeet’pa’ra v’yeet’ro’mam v’yeet’na’say, v’veet’ha’dar v’yeet’ah’leh v’yeet’ha’lal sh’may d’kood’sha b’reech hu.
L’ay’lah meen kol beer’cha’ta v’sheer’a’ta, toosh’b’cha’ta v’neh’cheh’mata, dah’a’meer’an b’alma. V’imru Amein.
Y’hay sh’lama raba meen sh’maya v’chah’yeem aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru. Amein
7. El Maley Rachameem
El maley rachameem shochain bam’romeem,
Hamtzey menucha nechona tachat kanfey hash’china
B’maalote k’doshim oot’horim k’zohar
Ha’ra’kee’ah maz’hee’reem, et neesh’mat Da’veed, ben Y’cheel
Sheh’halach l’olamo ba’avoor sheh’nad’voo tzedaka
B’ad haz’kar’aht neeshmato
B’gan ayden t’hay m’nu’cha’to
La’chayn ba’al ha’rach’ameem
Yas’tee’ rayhu b’say’tehr k’nah’fav l’olameem
V’yeetz’ror beetz’ror ha’cha’yeem et neesh’ma’to
Adonai hu nacha’la’to v’yanu’ach b’shalom
Al meesh’kavo v’no’mar, Amein.
O God, exalted and full of compassion, grant perfect peace in Your sheltering presence, among the holy and pure, to the soul of Dah’veed, ben Y’cheel (David, son of Jacob), who has gone to his eternal home. Master of mercy, we beseech You. Remember all worthy and righteous deeds that he performed in the land of the living. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life. The Lord is his portion. May he rest in peace. Let us say, Amen
8. Unveiling and Dedication (remove the cloth from the stone and read from the stone’s inscription)
Loving Husband, Father, & Grandfather
David J. Winer
Da’veed ben Y’cheel
1917 -- 2000
Copyright 2001, Winer Foundation and Robert I. Winer, M.D.
However as pondered this, I sensed that I'd never really thought about having a place where my family and extended family could post material about themselves for the family's enjoyment. This idea, combined with the fact that I had been working on my father's unveiling ceremony, made it clear that not only would this make access to the ceremony easier, but it would provide a lasting tribute to my father, who I deeply loved.
With this in mind, I encourage all of my family to use this section of the website to let each other, and the world too, know more about us -- what we're like, what we like, what we love, what makes us tick.
17 May 2001
PhiladelphiaDelivered at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Cleveland Temple Memorial on June 2, 2000
David J. Winer was born on April 8, 1917 and died on May 31, 2000.
This is a time to remember David Winer. This morning I want to share some insights from a son about his father. Most are not very profound but they reveal my father as very much a real person -- a very human person. I've found that you can learn much about someone by looking at what they love and what they do. Perhaps today, you could join together with me to search beyond the surface facts about David Winer, to ponder for a few moments what they say about his deeper parts.
First, Dave was a man who loved to eat. But that's the surface. To him, eating was very much more than food. What he really loved about eating, was to eat together with his family. I remember the nightlly, or almost nightly ritual of the "midnight snack." Never mind the contradiction of his statement, coming in the form of a question, "are you ready for the midnight snack," came at around 9:30 p.m. He'd want all the family assembled for some sort of food that he'd make -- maybe popcorn or a sandwich.
Then there was Dave, the mobile chef. He'd love to cook on the road, at the side of the road, or even while the car was moving. He'd read somewhere that if you wrapped chicken in aluminum foil, placed it on the car manifold , that you'd have cooked chicken a few hours later when you arrived at your destination. Unfortunately, or fortunately for us, his inaugural experiment was a dismal failure and we ate out at a nearby restaurant.
Another image is Dave with his torch. You see my dad was an attorney, who became a builder of homes. And we all know about guys and their love of building tools. One of the tools I think he was quite proud of showing off his consummate construction skills on was the propane torch. So when we'd go for a drive, which was often a Sunday ritual, he'd bring his torch and a pot. Noontime brought a stop to eat lunch. First him and my mom would give us plates with sandwiches and chips. Yet Dave believed deeply (probably some sort of unconscious conviction) that no lunch was complete without something hot to stave off the cold, never mind if it was mid-summer and 90 degrees. I can still see him clearly: he'd be standing at the side of the road, leaning against the car with his torch propped up by a brick he'd brought along for this very purpose, holding a pot filled with baked beans under the torch, stirring it.
At some point dad discovered technological progress and the propane torch was jettisoned for a Coleman stove. Now he reasoned that complete meals could be prepared even in remote locations that defied even what the most imaginative mind could envision. To Dave, preparing food for his family was an act of love. It was how he showed his love. When he learned I was engaged to Tara, he planned a food tribute. So he brought his beloved Coleman stove to Philadelphia. He couldn't wait to take us to a small park to show his love. He kept bbringing it up until we complied with his wish. So in the center of downtown Philadelphia, he cooked a fish dinner (always fresh fish and bought moments before at the Reading Terminal Market from some Koreans who Dave commented on, saying, "these guys really know how to pick and cut fish.") amidst the background of skyscrapers.
You see, food and eating together were intricately linked in Dave's soul as a symbol of family and love. To him, this was what families should do together and for each other.
Unveiling Ceremony for David Winer - June 3, 2001
Background
There is no prescribed format for an unveiling (sometimes called “dedication”) ceremony which may, according to Jewish law, be performed by the family. The typical ceremony consists of reading selections from Psalms, prayer, personal reflections, el malay rachameem, and the kaddish.
(In the Hebrew transliteration used in this ceremony, “ch” = chet)
Service
1. Sh’ma
Sh’ma Yisrael, adonai elohenu, adonai e’chad
Ba’ruch shem k’vod mal’chu’to l’olam va’ed.
Hear O’ Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Blessed be his glorious name forever and ever
2. Read:
David Winer died on May 31, 2000 (26 Iyar 5760). He was buried at Zion Cemetery in Bedford, Ohio on June 2, 2000. He was the beloved husband of Gert. He was the father of Norton, Nina, and Robert. He was the brother of Gertrude, Lil, and Elaine. He was the father-in-law of Lauren, Dennis, and Tara. He was the grandfather of Jamie, Scott, Stephanie, Alexis, and Jennifer.
We note that David’s father, Jacob, Uncle Abel, and Aunt Anna Sulzer, are also buried here. Today we gather to remember him and to dedicate a monument in his memory.
3. Reading from the Psalms (said together)
Ashray - Ps. 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Mee Ya’ah’leh - Ps. 24:1-5 - Who May Ascend
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
4. Personal Sharing
5. Reading from the Psalms (said together)
Ps. 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Eh’nosh keh’cha’tzeer - Ps. 103:15-17
As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children.
6. Kaddish
Mourners (say together):
Yit’ga’dal v’yit’kadash sh’may ra’ba
B’alma deev’ra chirutay v’yamleech mal’chu’tay
b’cha’yah’chone uv-yo’may’chone uv’cha’yay d’chol bayt Yisrael b’a’ga’la u’veez’mahn ka’reev, v’eemru . Amein.
Assembled:
Y’hay sh’may raba m’vah’rach l’alam ool’al’may al’ma’ya.
Mourners:
Yeet’ba’rach v’yeesh’ta’bach v’yeet’pa’ra v’yeet’ro’mam v’yeet’na’say, v’veet’ha’dar v’yeet’ah’leh v’yeet’ha’lal sh’may d’kood’sha b’reech hu.
L’ay’lah meen kol beer’cha’ta v’sheer’a’ta, toosh’b’cha’ta v’neh’cheh’mata, dah’a’meer’an b’alma. V’imru Amein.
Y’hay sh’lama raba meen sh’maya v’chah’yeem aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru. Amein
7. El Maley Rachameem
El maley rachameem shochain bam’romeem,
Hamtzey menucha nechona tachat kanfey hash’china
B’maalote k’doshim oot’horim k’zohar
Ha’ra’kee’ah maz’hee’reem, et neesh’mat Da’veed, ben Y’cheel
Sheh’halach l’olamo ba’avoor sheh’nad’voo tzedaka
B’ad haz’kar’aht neeshmato
B’gan ayden t’hay m’nu’cha’to
La’chayn ba’al ha’rach’ameem
Yas’tee’ rayhu b’say’tehr k’nah’fav l’olameem
V’yeetz’ror beetz’ror ha’cha’yeem et neesh’ma’to
Adonai hu nacha’la’to v’yanu’ach b’shalom
Al meesh’kavo v’no’mar, Amein.
O God, exalted and full of compassion, grant perfect peace in Your sheltering presence, among the holy and pure, to the soul of Dah’veed, ben Y’cheel (David, son of Jacob), who has gone to his eternal home. Master of mercy, we beseech You. Remember all worthy and righteous deeds that he performed in the land of the living. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life. The Lord is his portion. May he rest in peace. Let us say, Amen
8. Unveiling and Dedication (remove the cloth from the stone and read from the stone’s inscription)
Loving Husband, Father, & Grandfather
David J. Winer
Da’veed ben Y’cheel
1917 -- 2000
Copyright 2001, Winer Foundation and Robert I. Winer, M.D.