Thank you to ZBT for sponsoring this dinner. It has been incredible to see you grow in your relationship with Chabad and to lead the effort in making this place what it has become. And thank you to the Prescott family for also sponsoring. I am blessed to call you my family. You are unbelievable people.
Jon Frid was a proud Jew. A really proud Jew. Having been lucky enough to live with him for two years in college, I recall him using Yiddish words around the apartment and speaking about Saychul. Some of my most fun times with him were on Friday afternoons where we would blast a techno version of a great Hebrew song: Anachnu maaminim v’ maaminim. “We are the believers, children of believers, and we have none else to rely on but our father, our father in heaven.” The song was simple and made sense: as Jews, we look to G-d.
I remember his natural and intense connection with Judaism. He always encouraged others in their own personal growth. He loved Israel and his visits there, and he was proud of the pictures of him holding a Torah at the Wall.
What really stuck about Jon was his heart. He had an absolute heart of gold. At his funeral his brother remarked that Jonathan would do anything for anyone. He cared more about us than about himself. I can’t tell you how many small and big things he did for others and for me; Chesed, kindness, for the sake of kindness, goes a long way. People loved him for it.
But when we look at his name, it makes sense. His Hebrew name, Nachum, means comfort or one who comforts. It makes complete sense because he had a joyful, caring and full heart. Many times we use trite clichés like these, in an effort to say something coherent during dark times, but for Jon Frid, it was absolutely true. He was the consummate comforter for so many other people.
In Judaism, we pray to G-d in the good and the bad. And on Shabbos, we are commanded to be happy. Jon would be so glad to see everyone rejoicing here tonight, singing and laughing. ZBT Shabbat would have made him proud. It is uplifting. I hope you are very proud of yourselves for coming here tonight.
Good Shabbos, and thank you for thinking of him and his family.
marilyn wrote...