Today marks the 114th birthday on both the English calendar of April 30 and on the Hebrew calendar of Iyar 13 of my beloved father Esir ben Avraham Benyamin z” l, whose death on the 4th day of Chanukah has left a void in my life since 1997.

What is also poignant is that for those observing the counting period of the Omer and the noting of the distinct 49 days representing the 49 steps of character refinement, the symbolic reference for today is called Day 7 of Week 4: Malchus of Netzach or as Rabbi Simon Jacobson of the Meaningful Life Center summarizes, it is a day for expression of dignity when faced with hardships, as well as for carrying out the exercise to “Fight for a dignified cause.” These attributes of dignity and fighting for a dignified cause were ones exemplified by my father during his lifetime and conveyed to his children in the most loving and enduring manner.

Cause of Marriage Education

The Hebrew date of Iyar 13 also marks another milestone event connected with my beloved father and that is anniversary of the First International Conference on........

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