Thursday, April 7, 2016
Mr. Walfish encouraged many students in so many ways. He encouraged us to be proper and thoughtful, yet to stand up for yourself in an appropriate way when the situation called for it. He encouraged hard work, and many of my accomplishments today are due to him. One of my personal interests he instilled in me was poetry. I began to write poems for the Jewish holidays and other events and would always leave a copy on his desk. I would like to share one of Mr. Walfish's favorite poems (written by Linda Ellis). He referred to it often and it was an interesting approach on how to live your life.
His guidance did not leave his students when they left school, and it will not leave us now that he is no longer with us. Needless to say, Mr. Walfish's dash will have lasting effects many years after 2016.
Thank you for all that you have done for me. Thank you for all that you have done for all your students!
BDE/RIP Mr. Walfish.
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life's actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?
