(Editor’s Note: Friends and relatives gathered at Temple Emanu-El on Saturday evening, October 16, in memory of Jewish educator Marty Wertlieb, who died Sept. 18. Speakers included Rabbis Yael Ridberg of Congregation Dor Hadash and Martin S. Lawson of Temple Emanu-El; Wertlieb’s husband, David, and daughters Jessica and Lise, and Aaron Borovoy, a congregant whom she taught in the B’nai Mitzvah Class of 1996 who went on to become the temple’s president. Music was provided at the memorial service by classical guitarist Eric Ray and cantorial soloist Myrna Cohen, who sang “Kaddish d’Rabbanan” by Debbie Friedman. Contributions may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society and/or to the Agency for Jewish Education. The following tribute by Dora Klinova was written prior to Saturday evening’s service.)
SAN DIEGO–Marty Wertlieb, a remarkable woman, full of love and light, left us. Why do the best leave so early?
As was remarked upon at a memorial service on Saturday evening, Oct. 16, Marty dedicated many years of her life to Judaism and Jewish education; during those years she was affiliated with three different Jewish communities here in San Diego.
She was the principal of the Temple Emanu-El Torah/Hebrew Schools from 1981-2004. She loved her work at Temple Emanu-El—helping the kids and their parents be comfortable with being and becoming Jewish as they learned and prepared for their bar and bat mitzvot.
Marty absolutely loved working with adults to prepare for adult b’nai mitzvah experiences. As the lay teacher for these adults, she guided approximately ten different groups sharing her sense of what it means to be Jewish.
Marty also was the lay teacher for the “Pathways to Judaism” program in San Diego County from 1998-2004. That program, run through the Agency for Jewish Education, reached out to interfaith couples and families who were seeking a place within a Jewish community. Marty was the layperson who taught the adults. Many of the rabbis in San Diego County rotated through the program, each teaching some aspect of understanding Judaism. As a result, what became Marty’s favorite role, as she always said, was to “deconstruct” what the rabbis had taught, once they left the room.
She was Interim Principal of the Gesher School at Congregation Dor Hadash for 1-1/2 years. She enjoyed the connections she forged with Congregation Dor Hadash; a connection to yet another wonderful Jewish community here in San Diego, discovering another approach to being part of a Jewish community.
Marty worked with the education directors there (Barbara Carr and then Betsy Schneider), to help make Gesher School be the best possible bridge to Jewish learning for the school’s kids. She also enjoyed and was dedicated to getting out the Dor Hadash bulletin, HaKesher, produced each month despite her illness.
Through these commitments Marty was able to gain a real and very personal understanding of what it means to be a Jew—she always said “I’m Jewish because of the Torah.” It was the bottom line for Marty, and her life passion.
Our darling Marty, you were a deep well of kindness and wisdom. You had so much inside to give to people. Your own education was enormous. You knew many languages. It was a pleasure to converse with you. I feel blessed that you were in my life. You were an angel to your family and to many people you had touched in your life. You were my angel. You volunteered to edit my book written in a language barely known to me, English. You added to my stories a delicate fragrance, and made them shiny and bright.
You didn’t die, our wonderful Marty. No way! It is already proven scientifically that there is no death. It is only transformation from physical to nonphysical existence. Our soul is immortal. Your ill body was your painful prison, your shackles. Finally you are free. You are in the Astral World now or whatever it is named. How does it look? We are curious. We all will be there; it is only a matter of time, and it is not a secret for you, Marty, that here, on the Earth, time runs like crazy.
But we are still here. You are watching us from your new perspective. Your power is unlimited now, and your power is needed. I am sure that now you will be a mighty guardian Angel to your loved ones, to all of us. We all need your support and guidance.
You will not edit my next book, but I know that you will invisibly put in my mind the most exact and precise thoughts and they will become the best words in my writing.
Who said that you are not here anymore? Nonsense. You are still with us and will be forever.
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Klinova is the author of A Melody From An Immigrant’s Soul.