Doing a mitzvah

In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word mitzvah refers to a commandment commanded by God to be performed as a religious duty.

The term mitzvah has also come to express an individual act of human kindness in keeping with the law, as in Leviticus 19:18; "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Basically, it's the difference between doing something you have to, and doing something because you want to.

The lovely members of JewishGen.org* were interested in David's story and my desire to keep it alive, so they came up with several promising angles. So far two great-nephews have replied -- including one who did not know about the circumstances of his great-uncle's death!

(As my brother said, in another generation this story might have been forgotten.)

Additionally, they have both promised to talk to David's only surviving nephew.

Marking a grave with stones was customary in ancient times before the adoption of gravestones. Small stones are placed with the left hand by people who visit Jewish graves as an act of remembrance or respect. The practice is also a way of participating in the mitzvah of burial.

Please consider this blog to be my small stone in David's memory.

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*I am hugely indebted to the members of Jewishgen.org who helped me figure out David's family's descendants and helped me find two of David's great-nephews.