![\"Rona](\"https:\/\/drsavta.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/DG3A3926.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
For the occasion, I wrote a poem with poor rhyme and worse meter to quickly summarize the last 50 years.<\/p>\n
Here it is!!<\/p>\n
In the summer of 1961,<\/p>\n
They went to camp Ramah to have some fun.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He as a counselor, she as a camper,<\/p>\n
At times they spoke but then had to scamper.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Camp life included classes, sports, and plays,<\/p>\n
But at summer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s end they went separate ways.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Occasional letters, clever and witty,<\/p>\n
Went between Philadelphia and New York City.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One day 4 years later while eating bagels and lox,<\/p>\n
She saw news blurb saying he was at Fort Knox.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That prompted letters in a constant flurry,<\/p>\n
From September until February.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Actually, they continued into July,<\/p>\n
But that didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t rhyme, just you try.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Because they weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t living side-by-side,<\/p>\n
Rona became a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153mail order bride.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thus on 3 July 66 in Army dress blues,<\/p>\n
With Rabbi and chuppah and various Jews.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The wedding took place, Philadelphia the venue,<\/p>\n
Rubber chicken the mainstay of the menu.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Concomitently without any kibbitzen,<\/p>\n
That was the day Rona became a rebbitzin.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After a honeymoon in Manhattan,<\/p>\n
They went to Fort Knox, home to tankers like Patton.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Studying philosophy that year, Rona became \u00e2\u20ac\u0153well rounded.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
For a reason that provided joy unbounded.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In May 67 fears became heightened,<\/p>\n
The threats against Israel had us all frightened.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Israel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s victory filled all with elation,<\/p>\n
And added to the anticipation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And 2 months later Benjy was born,<\/p>\n
On 2 August at 5:10 in the morn.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Less than 4 weeks later began the roam,<\/p>\n
To Columbia, South Carolina, their new home.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
House of Peace was the synagogue\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name,<\/p>\n
As the new young rabbi, Aaron achieved fame.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The people in town had a southern mentality,<\/p>\n
and racially there was no equality.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But a year later, showing their parents merzi,<\/p>\n
They moved closer to them, Somerset, New Jersey.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Near to parents, not far from the ocean\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s water,<\/p>\n
The highlight of their time there was the birth of Rachel, a daughter.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In 70 they moved to Pittsburgh, all of the famuel,<\/p>\n
And shortly thereafter welcomed new baby Samuel.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At his brit someone asked \u00e2\u20ac\u0153next year will there be another?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
So 16 months later along came Akiva, his brother.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
By this time civilian life was getting smarmy,<\/p>\n
So Aaron decided to head back to the Army.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They filled up their cars, rather than amble,<\/p>\n
And moved right along to Kentucky\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Fort Campbell.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It turned out to be a momentous decision,<\/p>\n
As Aaron joined the 101st<\/sup> Airborne Division.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Life on the post for the kids was full of glee,<\/p>\n And they played at the swamp and at the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mother Nature\u00e2\u20ac\u009d tree.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From where hundreds of copters flew over in harmony,<\/p>\n From Campbell the family moved next to Garmony.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They landed in Germany with their pans and their pots,<\/p>\n And taught the children \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wir vohnen in Wiesbaden auf dem flugplatz.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Life there was good, they never were sorry,<\/p>\n As Akiva went to preschool with Timmy, Tumu, and Jabari.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One day in July the kids called a vote,<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We want a little sister on whom we can dote.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The vacation in England all would remember,<\/p>\n Back in Germany there was good news in September.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With walks to Luley\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s they were all in cahoots,<\/p>\n And they befriended the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153geezer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d who let them pick fruits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In springtime near Pesach when trees start to blossom,<\/p>\n Baby girl Leah was born- how awesome!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next summer with 2 month old Leah they flew,<\/p>\n To spend 4 weeks in a place where all spoke Hebrew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dressed alike the 4 big ones wearing bandanas,<\/p>\n On bus trips sat on strangers and were fed bananas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2 summers in Israel, for children used to roam,<\/p>\n Convinced them that someday, this would be their home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3 \u00c2\u00bd years in Germany came to an end,<\/p>\n To Fort Monmouth New Jersey their path did wend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In a big Ford station wagon that sure was a beaut,<\/p>\n The gate guards on the post would smile seeing the children salute.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Attending a day school, but not in the groove,<\/p>\n 6 months later, it was time to move.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fort Benning Georgia was the next abode,<\/p>\n In the beautiful house on Sigerfoos Road.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (Yes, Sigerfoos, not a joke it could be-<\/p>\n But he was not friend or confidante of Robert E. Lee).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Ben entered high school, instead of dealing with Santa,<\/p>\n He went to Yeshiva High School in Atlanta.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile they raised children, led the Jewish congregation,<\/p>\n And Aaron served soldiers of all kinds for their nation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n During three years of this place the children were fond,<\/p>\n With forays to the minimarket and to the pond.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The football field near their house for the boys was a dream,<\/p>\n As they made their fortune selling cokes and ice cream.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But being stuck down in Georgia for them was exhaustin’,<\/p>\n So they were thrilled when Aaron was sent to study at Harvard in Boston.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No matter from where in Boston the children were hailing,<\/p>\n On the Charles River they were offered lessons in sailing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For that year in Boston all of them were learning,<\/p>\n While Aaron from the Army a salary was earning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the end of that year the Michelson aliya got started,<\/p>\n As Benjy for Hebrew University departed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was time to get on again with their roam-a<\/p>\n And they set out for their new home in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aaron taught ethics at the artillery school,<\/p>\n Rona opened her family therapy office, how cool!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Over the next 3 years, Rachel went to Israel- at 16,<\/p>\n And Sam and Akiva left the scene.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They studied at a yeshiva in Texas, in Dallas,<\/p>\n And lived in a home that was not a palace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Later off to St. Louis the two boys went,<\/p>\n While in a 5 bedroom mansion the last 3 \u00c2\u00a0lived content.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Time in Lawton Oklahoma had lots of fun in it,<\/p>\n Concerts, and shows and traffic\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rush minute.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After being rural of civilization they needed a fix,<\/p>\n So were happy to receive orders to Fort Dix.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Their home was happy, full of jokes,<\/p>\n And only an hour and a half ride from the folks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rona studied at Penn, Aaron paid the bills,<\/p>\n In summer Akiva worked at Great Adventure a park for thrills.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben and Rachel were in Israel, Aaron worked as a clergyman,<\/p>\n Rona & Leah visited Israel, Sam was in St. Petersburg or Kyrgystan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Visiting Israel a lot whet their desires,<\/p>\n On Tower Airlines they became frequent fliers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Akiva and Sam made aliya,<\/p>\n Leaving Leah at home with ma and pa.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 93 for sukkot they traveled to Israel in anticipation,<\/p>\n And met Hadas, the first of the next generation<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two months later came Tzvi, bright and curious,<\/p>\n After that came more and more, fast and furious.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 95 when Leah came to study at Bar Ilan,<\/p>\n Rona arrived in Israel too, a hanger-on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For 4 years Rona & Aaron commuted across the Atlantic,<\/p>\n The frequent reunions were very romantic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When they bought a home in Modiin,<\/p>\n Aaron\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s father agreed to come too, sight-unseen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The rest of the story\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s full of nachas embarrassing,<\/p>\n So for you dear people no more harassing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you know they travel far and wide,<\/p>\n For 50 years, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been quite a ride.<\/p>\n **************************************************************************<\/p>\n Now here is \u00c2\u00a0the whole family minus three grandsons- Matan, Yonatan, and Shlomo. Fortunately, Yonatan joined us later in the evening.<\/p>\n