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My maternal grandmother was raised in a rabbinic family that settled in Chicago. 

By contrast with her own childhood, my grandmother raised my mother in a liberal manner. Still, I recall my mother telling me how she baked challah with my great-grandmother, a memory that my mother held dear.

On my father's side, his grandparents escaped Russia for Canada, and from there settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They also chose to raise their children with greater freedom than they had known growing up. For them, Congregation Ahavas Israel was a spiritual home and I have fond memories of being there with my parents.

My mother and father were good natured and loving, intelligent and honest, talented and hardworking. They wanted only to raise their own family in peace, and in turn to give their children even more benefit and opportunity than they had known. 

I miss them more than I can say.