Cantor’s Column – June 2017
Living Legacy
Cantor Ilan Davidson
Traditionally, Jews do not take flowers to a funeral, ostensibly because cut flowers will soon whither and die.
Wilting flowers remind a family that life is finite, the last thing for which they need a reminder. We can look at the negative, or we can turn it around to a very positive statement. When a loved one dies, we make donations or start something that will create a living legacy to them. We want to focus on the eternity of their presence on earth, beyond the physical.
A year ago, as our dear friend, Glenn Lawrence was being laid to rest, I had an idea. I approached his wife Andrea with this concept, as we were driving to his golf club for a day of play and memorial. I expressed to Andrea how much I knew that Glenn loved playing golf. I’m sure that in his Olam HaBa—the World to Come, the fairways are straight and wide, and his drives are long, straight, and true. I suggested that we create a living legacy to Glenn, that would memorialize his love of the game for players who might otherwise not have the opportunity to play. We announced at the end of Glenn’s memorial, the formation of the Kindred SPIRITS Glenn Lawrence Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting three of his great passions: Kindred SPIRITS, Temple Beth El, and the L.A. Junior Golf Foundation.
In our inaugural year last summer, we presented the largest check LA Junior Golf has ever received from a single event, gave a check to Temple Beth El, and provided much-needed operational funds for Kindred SPIRITS. All in all, we had a hugely successful first year, and year two is just around the corner: Monday, August 14 at Candlewood Country Club in Whittier (Glenn’s Club). We will continue to celebrate Glenn’s legacy with 18 holes, good food, and wonderful friends.
Now, I know that some of you are thinking, “but I don’t play golf.” Don’t let that stop you. The dinner, silent auction, and entertainment portion is open to all. Please join our main sponsor Supervisor Janice Hahn and myself to support this cause and elevate Glenn’s memory, helping these underprivileged kids and our community at the same time.
Here are the ways you can help:
- Purchase ball-drop tickets to win $1,000
(an elaborately fun raffle, where your numbers are written on golf balls that will be dropped from a helicopter).
- Reserve for lunch, golf, and dinner
- Reserve to come to the dinner only
- Donate something for our silent auction
- Combine any or all of these
Zeiker Tzadik Liv-rakhah – the memory of this righteous and generous human being, Glenn Lawrence, is an enduring blessing, as we follow his light to help others. We look forward to a huge celebration on August 14.