A name amongst many, a phone unanswered. For whatever reason, over the years, we were not able to get in touch with this individual. We never had a chance to meet them, and they did not meet us.
But when we were made aware that this person had passed away recently, we had to be there for the very last time.
Through patches of rain on an otherwise sunny day, exactly ten cars turned up at the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha's Lyndhurst Cemetery this afternoon. A minyan was formed, and our un-met friend was given a Jewish funeral and an appropriate send-off.
Those assembled did not meet her during her life on earth. But they did meet her as she crossed over to the eternal life.
May her soul be bound up in eternal life, and may her dear soul rest in peace.
Much gratitude is extended to the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha for facilitating today's Jewish funeral, and for all the volunteers that came out today to form a minyan so that the Kaddish could be said.