Tonight I went to a special session at University Heights city hall to honor a firefighter, Paul Nees, who was seriously injured while rescuing neighbors of ours from a fire that destroyed much of their home one Friday evening in July. The Orthodox community was encouraged by our Rabbis and community leaders to reach out to Mr. Nees with messages, cards or gifts to express our appreciation for his heroism.
Be it known: I’m not a weepy woman. But I was in tears tonight.
Mr. Nees spoke, as did the family he rescued. A local rabbi who was instrumental in the card campaign spoke too and a special edition American Greetings card was presented. The vice-mayor, an Orthodox woman who lives across the street from me, led the evening, and a young boy, inspired by his Rabbi to distribute cards, presented the basket of cards to the firefighter.
On this, possibly the busiest week in the Jewish calendar short of pre-Passover, the room was full of Orthodox Jews of all stripes, lay people and clergy, adults, teens, and kids, as well as other citizens of University Heights.
I’m proud to be a part of it.
Thank you, Mr. Nees and your entire department.
Be it known: I’m not a weepy woman. But I was in tears tonight.
Mr. Nees spoke, as did the family he rescued. A local rabbi who was instrumental in the card campaign spoke too and a special edition American Greetings card was presented. The vice-mayor, an Orthodox woman who lives across the street from me, led the evening, and a young boy, inspired by his Rabbi to distribute cards, presented the basket of cards to the firefighter.
On this, possibly the busiest week in the Jewish calendar short of pre-Passover, the room was full of Orthodox Jews of all stripes, lay people and clergy, adults, teens, and kids, as well as other citizens of University Heights.
I’m proud to be a part of it.
Thank you, Mr. Nees and your entire department.
That is very inspiring, and also a great response by the community.
Wow, that is awesome. Firefighters the world over are a special group and even though I am partial, and we are not the only ones, so are Jews. I hope Mr. Nees has a refuah shlemah from his injuries bekarov!
So beautiful. Thank you for sharing Ruchi.