This past Shavuot, my son and his friends were sitting around the table, and the discussion turned to their families and the struggles that their parents were facing. They played a game to see which family had more issues. Of course the discussion included being gay in the modern orthodox world, the so-called shidduch crisis, the rapidly growing divorce rate, the economy....you name it.
Then one of his friends told the group that his parents were sitting in a hospital in Los Angeles with his younger brother who was dying of cancer. The friends sat back and declared him the winner.
His brother, Gilad Schwartz, succumbed to his illness. Yesterday, my son and his friends attended his funeral in Baltimore.
Recently, I have been in an email discussion with someone who was having a difficult time dealing with his parents. The parents were having a hard time struggling with the fact that this accomplished young man is gay. I suggested that his parents read the blog that Gilad wrote from his hospital bed.
It is www.onlythegoodieyoung.wordpress.com
May The Almighty comfort Gilad Schwartz's family among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Saul David
1 comment:
Thank you for your post. Gilad was my son. I just wanted you to know that Gilad thankfully spent little time in the hospital (in Baltimore not LA) and he lived, blogged and died at home. He was a charming, intelligent, funny young man and we will miss him forever.
M/Gilad's mom
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