The Foreign Service Journal, December 2004

Kaddish I may not be defying the memory of the (admittedly self- inflicted) humiliation I assumed as a troubled child in an indifferent world of pathetic valetudinarians, that mori- bund world of rote and routine. Or perhaps it is that (as a stoical adult and not an angry child) I repeat the Kaddish time and again to confirm the hard truth: that ‘God is high above all words of solace.’” Jack concludes that, “Perhaps the first and simplest, the least rational and pretentious, is closest to the essence of my personality: I say Kaddish out of love of language, of the music of language, and of the language of faith.” Jack’s words, written 10 years ago, quoted a say- ing by Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav: “This entire world is a very narrow bridge. The thing is not to be afraid.” Jack summed up in his clos- ing sentence, “Saying Kaddish for those I loved will, I hope, help me to cross that narrow bridge without too much fear.” I treasured Jack’s friendship, and feel in my heart that his final crossing was not only calm but fearless as well. Eddie Deerfield FSO, retired Chairman Emeritus, Foreign Service Retirees Association of Florida Palm Harbor, Fla. Bring Back the Senior Seminar Many thanks to the Journal for publishing “A Tribute to the Senior Seminar” by Bill Stedman in the July-August 2004 issue (Speaking Out). As someone who considers his year in the 11th Seminar (1968- 1969) to be one of the most reward- ing of my Foreign Service career, I second the commendation. Let me underline one particular dimension that was especially important for someone like me who had spent D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 9 L E T T E R S