Chanukah Guilt by Ilene Schneider

Author:Ilene Schneider [Schneider, Ilene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Tuesday Evening, December 3

Fifth Chanukah Candle

I finally headed for home where there was a full mail box, a hungry cat, a smelly litter box, empty bird feeders and wilted plants. I was able to take care of everything but the bird feeders, since it was dark out already. But I would make sure to fill them the next day—I had heard the “s” word on the weather report for Thursday, and the birds really needed the feeders when it snowed.

While I was home, I pulled out the list of “facts” and added the supposition that Phillips had been given ephedrine by his wife, even though he had a heart condition. I wasn’t sure how, or even if, it was relevant, but I added it anyway.

I made myself a veggie burger with cheese—the closest to a cheeseburger I had eaten since I started keeping Kosher in rabbinical school—while reading through the paper. Then I headed back to Mishkan Or to meet with the Silbermans.

Thelma was a beautiful woman—small boned, with a delicate peaches-and-cream complexion. Even dressed in casual clothes, she looked elegant. She hadn’t yet started her latest round of chemo—it was scheduled for after their renewal of vows—and her hair had grown back a silvery white which she wore in a flattering pageboy. You’d never know to look at her just how ill she was. She also had a fantastic attitude and was always upbeat and optimistic.

Ted was tall and distinguished looking with a full head of thick white hair and a well-trimmed goatee and moustache. He walked with a silver-tipped cane, necessary after his leg had been broken in an automobile accident several years earlier. The injury made it difficult for him to stand for any period of time to conduct autopsies, which was why he had decided to teach instead. From what I heard, he was a master teacher.

We discussed the upcoming ceremony. They had scheduled it for the middle of December, despite the possibility of bad weather, before Thelma started chemo again. Thelma may have been cheerful on the outside, but she was still a realist. And, as a physician, Ted knew exactly what was happening and what the prognosis was.

“Thanks for helping us with the ceremony,” Thelma said, getting up from her chair. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“So am I,” I said. “Before you leave, Ted, I have a favor to ask.”

“Certainly, Rabbi. Do you need me to translate something for you?” It was a running joke with us, ever since I mistranslated a Greek word during a Saturday morning discussion.

I laughed. “In a way. But it’s not Greek. I need you to ‘translate’ an autopsy and forensics report for me.”

He was surprised. “I’m intrigued. Tell me more.”

I gave him a synopsis of the situation. “Of course, I’d be happy to look it over. And, no,” he stopped me before I could ask, “I don’t need a consultation fee. Since you won’t take any recompense for the recommitment ceremony, I’ll consider this a barter situation.”

“Thank you so much.

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