עוד לא הלכתי לשם. אֶבֵל הוא תהליך קשה, גם להתאבל על בית שחרב. אז סליחה שאני חופר, ואמשיך לחפור.
שלוש קומות היו לבניין אולמן ועוד קומת מרתף, ובה הייתה המעבדה של ידיד שהאריך ימים אבל למזלו לא ראה את האסון. מתגעגע רוי היקר.
October 19 2017
Many years ago I fancied Sharona Caplan. She wisely chose otherwise and went abroad. But I struck a warm friendship with her father.
Roy Caplan, formerly professor in NIH and Harvard University Medical School, was now in Weizmann Institute. A few times he honored me by attending talks I gave at various gatherings and conferences. His comments on thermodynamics were especially illuminating and keen, really precious.
As years went by I also saw him enduring some blows. His beautiful wife passed away, and although I met her only once, I realized what a painful loss it has been for him. He then found new love, an eminent scientist with whom he has coauthored a few papers. Alas, this happiness was also short-lived and he lost her to cancer. But there were happy news as well, such as an invitation to Sharona’s wedding in Jerusalem. Later gossip had it that Roy too has found love again.
I was therefore overjoyed by the invitation to his 90th birthday. It took place today in the beautiful Beit HaYayin, not far from Roy’s stunning house on the hill in Kfar Aharon. I found him shining, surrounded by friends, distinguished scientists, and relatives with a beautiful South African accent, and fell into his arms.
Of course he gave a speech. Life, he said, was often very kind to me. He mentioned his lovely daughters, sons-in-law, beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Life, he went on, has been sometimes cruel to me. And he spoke about his three wives! Yes, fate has brutally struck again just two weeks earlier. The blessing of coming of age sometimes comes with a high cost.
And yet it was such a happy gathering, bubbling with jokes and laughs. It ended with a beautiful love song by a professional singer. The incurable romanticist then rose and danced with his daughter, while his son-in-law danced with his own daughter. I was in tears, as I am when recounting this divine moment now.
Dear Roy, thank you so much for the huge gift of knowing you. May we enjoy for many more years your inspiration, courage and cheerfulness.
יָמִים עַל יְמֵי מֶלֶךְ תּוֹסִיף שְׁנוֹתָיו כְּמוֹ דֹר וָדֹר Psalms 61 7.
