Harriet Needleman was my friend.   For twenty-five years we shared our lives together including our roles as wives, mothers, professional working women as well as our passionate interest in both literary pursuits and the theater..   It was not unusual for us to discuss in one single conversation subjects as diverse as planning future vacations with our husbands, the college and/or graduate school admission processes, the dearth of fine dining opportunities in Needham, the pros and cons of various day care options for working mothers interspersed with a debate as to whether Jane Austen or Emily Bronte had a more significant impact on English literature (I arguing for the Bronte sisters while Harriet being more partial to Jane Austen). read more....

Delivered by Stephen Shusterman, friend and partner since 1974

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This is one of the most difficult moments in my life. Howie asked me to read his words, and I couldn’t refuse.    So this is for the closest person to a brother I will ever have, and, therefore, for the Sister-in-law I have lost so early.

These are Howard’s words to, and about,  Harriet.  This is Howie speaking….

The Sparkle on a Sacred Path

(Reflections; a day after you have gone)

Where are you now, to help me write this piece I’m about to attempt; nothing I ever wrote went unedited by you?   I’m sure it will have dangling participles, be in the pluperfect, and not have the logical flow it should.  So, please forgive me these errors, you are not here to help me anymore. Every one of my papers or chapters of texts I’ve published over the years that have led to many of my academic successes were comprehensively reviewed and edited-gladly and enthusiastically by you.  When I saw all her arrows, rewording, question marks etc., I was often disheartened, but you sat with me, and together, we made all the corrections.  So, this is my first solo in a very long time, and my most intimate piece of the last 30 years. read more....

Well, How, you gave me the podium, and I can’t relinquish it so easily.  Many people don’t think of me in terms of poetry, but I have a favorite poem, which comes from the Reform High Holy Day prayer book.  We read it each Yom Kippur.  It helps me reflect on life and on loss, and I hope it will help you as well.  I have paraphrased a bit, and it is as follows: 

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A few years ago, Howie was confronted with the task of delivering a eulogy
and was looking for some guidance, some direction. Rabbi Elliot Schoenberg,
who was at the time the rabbi of our congregation, shared with him a classic
midrash from Kohelet Rabbah that I would like to share with you at this time.
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