San Diego, California

Focus on Home of Peace Cemetery:  The headstone here finds itself in the middle of a web of relationships: to world history, to languages, to family, and to the arts.  Both made aliyah in the 1930s; they were part of the return migration of the exiles to their 'promised land.' In two languages are they honored: English and Hebrew, the former indicative of loyalty to the U.S. and the latter indicative of loyalty to Judaism. Each was loved by children and grandchildren. Note, especially, the very possessive our.  Both were recognized as talented artists, but Benjamin's monochrome takes center stage as a bridge between husband and wife. Do you know why the bouquet of roses fits so well? Shoshana, in Hebrew, means 'rose.' By coincidence, as well, the historic Jewish neighborhood in San Diego was Roseville, founded by Louis Rose. [2013]