My Origin Story — Hendersonville

“Oh what a night. Late [summer] back in ‘6[6]. What a very special time for me.“

I am the hero of my story. Every hero has an origin tale. My Origin Story began 25 miles south of Asheville, in a small town called Hendersonville, several years before I was born.

Dad was a townie, home from college for the summer. Mom was a summer camp counselor at Blue Star Camp. She wanted to meet ‘a nice Jewish boy.’ He was a 21 year old home from college. He took her to Jump Off Rock for a romantic escape. That sneaky devil…

Long before I was born, Alan and Marlyn began my story. Tonight, I began my Shabbat at Jump Off Rock. As the sun set on the Great Smokies, I found my peace. I attended Shabbat services at the same synagogue where my grandparents did 60 years ago.

This Shabbat, I rose to honor them in Yahrtzeit, the annual remembrance of their deaths; probably the first time in 30 years their names were recited at Agudas Israel in Hendersonville.

I am honored to remember. I am blessed on this journey. I am whole. I am the hero of this story.

What is your origin story?