We have gathered here today in great grief and sorrow at the bier bearing the coffin of a woman who, as is written in the quotations of our pious ancestors and patriarchs, “grew old and was full of days” and who achieved something in her life which, in comparison to her, few are privileged to achieve and which goes far beyond the age which the psalmist grants man. And yet we see here real grief and sadness and also great sympathy. All this makes us aware of the painful separation from a woman who lived a very long life. And not only here but also in the hearts of those who live on another distant continent, the emptiness experienced now makes the love everyone feels for Julia Eisendrath even more apparent. This is no surprise.

Some weep for they have lost a dear mother, a faithful relative; others mourn the loss of an old friend and benefactress. Here the words of the wise preacher are confirmed: If someone lived many years and experienced happiness, after the person’s death we only think of the emptiness left behind. If I direct my thoughts to what I have been told, if only briefly, this is now fully confirmed and if I look back at this rich life, then our dear deceased herself puts the words that I speak here into my mouth: “I feel that the days can speak and the number of years announce wise things as Job once said. A life that is rich in itself speaks for itself”.

Living to an old age is a precious crown because it speaks of God’s goodness. Old age is a jewel because it is a sign of God’s preference and reward acquired on the path of virtue. That is why a Holy Commandment tells us to honour and respect our elders, to stand up for the elderly and show respect to old people.

But even more, every grey head is a crown that does not show the signs of its age but uses it to for clarification of feelings, for enrichment of experience and for even more sublimation of the heart as we may rightly say of our dearly beloved deceased. If man’s highest task on earth is to live so that he can die with a feeling that is worthy of a devout person, if his most noble endeavour is expressed in the words, to leave this world ready and prepared, then she had in her long and noble life the privilege of awaiting her last day calmly and in good spirits so that we can say: “She was able to await her last day smiling, prepared and graced with perseverance”. May she depart this world in the knowledge that she has fulfilled beyond all measure the threefold holy duty of a woman: being wife and mother, person and Jewess. It happened that she was robbed of the best support in her life through the death of her faithful husband to whom she was a faithful wife so that she had to combine the tasks and duties of a mother with those of a father by having to give twice the amount of love for the life and the well-being of her family in a home governed by respect. The singer’s words are true of her: “She runs her house with care and does not eat the bread of idleness. She moves her hands eagerly and strongly”.

She was allowed to enjoy the fruit and the crops of her sacrifice so that she as the organiser and planner of her house was able to depart this life with the words: “My endeavours were not in vain and I did not waste my strength”. Sorrowful and sad tears will be shed, here and far away from here, by many descendants, children and children’s children, who have been able to experience the fruit of her love. She has already received the reward of motherly love in this life. She had the great love of her family up to the very last day of her life. Her children carried this love with them over the coasts of the seas and over the borders of countries and treasure it in other parts of the world. She was surrounded by the loving care of those who had the privilege of staying with our dear departed to the very last day. These are the duties and that is the reward of a mother.
And what did she endeavour to do as a person? If we look at the word of the psalmist, because and when it is acquired on the path of virtue, age is a crowning jewel. Friends, let us hold on to these words.

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