That man is a mensch,

who lives each day to its fullest;

who loves deeply and gives generously,

earning the admiration of all;

who fills the world with laughter and love, befriending every person;

who continually seeks knowledge and wisdom,

making mitzvot and the lifting up of others and the community

the centerpiece of his days;

whose soul brightens the world and

who breathes his last breath in peace —

knowing he left the best of who he was

inside all whom he touched.

Poem by Rabbi Judy Schindler. Image adapted from image by Cross-Keys Media.