WHO AM I?
BY: SLOVIE JUNGREIS WOLFF
When Suri asked me to write a piece titled ‘Who am I?’ I was confused. “What are you looking for?” I asked. “You mean who am I? Me? Or under the mask, who are we all?”
Suri’s response: “I’m purposely being vague”.
Aha. So that did not really help.
But Suri did get me thinking. And though I have had a full day of teaching, writing, and giving time to my family, really, the question remains. Who am I amongst all the roles I play throughout the day? I’ve been known as author, teacher, lecturer, someone’s daughter/wife/mother/friend throughout life. But who am I???
I must simply know my name and then I know who I am. I was given the name of my bubby, the Rebbetzin Slova Chanah, HY”D. My Zayda’s mother was last seen walking into the gas chambers of Auschwitz together with her husband, and their youngest grandchild in their hands. Whenever I would visit my Zayda the moment he would see me, his face would light up. Zayda would smile, say my name and then his eyes glistened with tears.
I realize now that Zayda was crying for both all that he lost and the joy of seeing life again. Bittersweet. Tragedy and suffering coupled together with the incredible blessing of family.
And so I understood that I have a mission in this world. To never forget. To remember. To live for those who could not. To live with a sense of purpose and mission. To make my today better than my yesterday. To touch hearts. To be a blessing. Whether within the circle of my family or within the circle of life.
Because here is a truth: if I know where I’ve come from I know where I am going.
I was born upon the ashes of the holocaust. I am that soul who lives with the whispers of my bubby in my ear; guiding me, watching over me and creating footsteps for me to live by.
I will always try to live the legacy I was given.
Who am I?
I am the spark that lives on in us all.