Under a warm early-summer sky on June 22, a special ceremony was held in Temple Judea’s Lipsey Gardens to honor the memory of Ava Gottlieb, who was the young granddaughter of Temple Judea President Douglas Weigler and his wife, Rena.
Ava’s Living Garden was dedicated to the celebration of the daughter, good friend and active student. Ava, a vivacious fifth-grader, succumbed to cancer at a much-too-early age.
She leaves her loving parents, Dara and Brandon Gottlieb and little sister, Carly.
In addition to the Temple congregation, many members of her family were present to dedicate Ava’s Living Garden.
Ava’s parents spoke lovingly of their daughter and the joy and pleasure she brought to them. All spoke admiringly about her zest for life, how she affected their lives and how she continues to be a source of inspiration to all who knew her.
Rabbi Todd Chizner spoke about the role of Ava’s Living Garden to nurture hearts and minds.
As Lauren Resnikoff, Education Director of Temple Judea explained, the Garden will be sanctified in Ava’s memory as the students of Temple Judea will use this “living garden” throughout the school year.
They will use it to plant vegetables to be donated to those in need, as a place to explore spirituality and prayer, and as a place for families to come together to celebrate Jewish holidays.
A plaque will be placed near a weeping cherry tree to dedicate this space as Ava’s Living Garden.
As a testimonial to Ava’s life, these words, written by Stacey Needleman, were spoken by Erik Groothuis, outgoing President of Temple Judea: “May her memory be for a blessing for her family and friends and a reminder to all of us of the fragility of life and yet the permanence of loving memories”.
