On Tuesday afternoon we were blessed to welcome a beautiful soul to the world, our baby daughter Rivka. Thank you so much for your joyful messages of congratulations, mazel tovs and best wishes. Her birth was especially joyous for me since she is the first child to be named for a special woman in my life, my maternal grandmother Mrs. Rivka Karp, who passed away two months ago, several days before Pesach. Bubby Karp, as we grandkids knew her, lived down the block from us for as long as I can remember and was a fixture of my childhood and adolescence. Always caring and doting yet respectful of our space and individuality, Bubby always prepared us our favorite lunch on Sundays and sent us treats for snacks on school days. Although she surely made a memorable impression on us through her delicious cooking and baking, it was her refined and dignified demeanor that made being in her presence a warm and comfortable experience. She was socially in tune and intuitively understood what others needed. She was proud of all her children and grandchildren for the way they were and knew how to make all of us feel special and appreciated. Her namesake Rivka, the matriarch of our nation, was born to a family of thieves and con artists in a depraved and immoral society. Despite all these challenges she was exceptionally refined and excelled in caring for others. This characteristic is what made her a fitting match for Yitzchok and when a complete stranger asked her for a drink of water near the well, this seemingly simple act of kindness set in motion her becoming an integral part of shaping history. My Bubby was born in Voronezh, a small town in southwestern Russia to a well to-do family but needed to flee from the advancing Nazis when she was twelve years old. They endured much suffering in the war years and her sister died of typhus during this terrible ordeal. She experienced so much chaos and suffering as a teenager, but like Rivka, our matriarch, this did not affect her refined character and empathy for others. She married my grandfather in Paris after the war, and in the 1950s immigrated to Montreal, Canada where they raised their six children. My grandfather, Rabbi Avrohom Karp, taught Talmud to younger students and to adults as well, and his dedicated Torah study at all hours of the day was the most precious thing to her. I have so many memories of her and a wealth of life lessons her behavior taught me. She never preached, but her silence spoke volumes. As I cradle precious little Rivka in my arms I pray to have the strength and wisdom to impart to her the refined and elevated character my Bubby embodied and that she will grow to be a source of pride to us all. One of the Mitzvot associated with Rivka, our matriarch, is the Mitzvah of lighting the Shabbat candles. Today, as I light the Shabbat candles before sunset I will add another candle in honor of our new little Rivka and I invite all Jewish women in El Paso to join me at 7:51pm (for El Paso) in this beautiful Mitzvah, bringing more and more divine light to our world. Good Shabbos, Shainy Greenberg
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