Grandpa's Gifts By: Louis Sam Shamie

I really got to bond with my grandpa the summer I learned how to drive. He and I would drive to the office together, where I spent a great deal of time working with and learning from him. That’s when I got to really see grandpa in action. He was always full throttle in life, similar to how he drove, gas or break, but absolutely no coasting.

Maimonides taught us that there are eight levels of charity we can do for another.

The greatest level is to support a fellow Jew by endowing him with a gift or loan, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand so that he will not need to be dependent upon others .

Grandpa helped countless number of people in this exact way. From stock boys in the warehouse to Jewish immigrants coming to America, he was always there to teach, advise and give.

When the family talks about grandpa, there is always another story about how he helped a person who needed a step up and how he helped them along their journey.

But, I think what really sets grandpa apart from most people, was his understanding that in order to be successful in life your never going to be able to do it alone. You need to surround yourself with the right people who share the same values and have the same medot. He was humble about his journey and always attributed his accomplishments to all the people who contributed along the way.

Grandpa had a lot of successes and a lot of failures in life.

He once told me a story of a man who was throwing a rock at a wall trying to break it down. When the man was approached and told that was he was trying to do was impossible he replied look at the wall look at all the marks I have made. Grandpa used his failures to make himself better and to learn from those mistakes. He was always confident and determined to provide for his family and his community. His accomplishments are numerous and wide in range but there is no greater accomplishment than how he and Grandma raised their 3 children.

Each one of them is so different from the others. What was so special about grandpa, was that he was able to identify each of their strengths and build upon them to make them who they are today.

Dad, he taught you how to use your brain. how to ask the right questions. How to use your knowledge to help others and always delve into all the details. Your thirst for knowledge and passion has driven you and guided you to who you are today.

Uncle Joey, he taught you how to use your heart to connect with people on an emotional level. You forge bonds with people like no one else can. Grandpa had a big heart and was able to connect with people much like you do today.

Auntie Celia, he taught you how to have courage. To seek adventure and never be afraid from something different. To never take no for an answer to fight for what you believe is right. Grandpa was always up for adventure much like you always are.

Yes, grandpa was a real wizard. Nothing made him prouder than to watch his kids grow and thrive in their lives.

Next to Grandpa is Grandma, his true partner in life. Grandma He loved you more then anything in the world and he knew that nothing he accomplished in his life could have been done without you. Whenever we had a meal at their house, Grandpa would stand up, get everyone quiet, and do three cheers for Grandma.

Someone in the office told me that Grandpa once said that he prayed that he would go before Grandma because he wouldn’t be able to live without her.

Grandma, you were his rock, his soul mate and true partner in life. We are all here together because of you.

I want to give a special thanks to David and Patty for being there for Grandma and Grandpa. You always made sure that both grandma and grandpa were comfortable and taken care of.

There’s a saying if you want to go somewhere fast go alone but if you want to go somewhere far go together. We all have an opportunity to learn A special lesson from grandpa. Surround yourself with good people work together with them, rely on them, build people up, teach them, advise and comfort them and you will lead a better more fulfilling life.