The Bat Mitzvah sits next to me fingering her new gold bracelet It was her grandmothers, who she’s missing today more than usual, I’d imagine I watch her connecting to a lost loved one through a tangible item, left behind for her, and I find myself missing my grandfather not yet gone a year I don’t have a gold chain to finger but I turn inward for a moment and find his fingerprints all over my heart I can taste his butter-tarts and feel the last hug I gave him I can see his pride shining in his eyes My throat tightens but the Bat Mitzvah and I keep singing and though she doesn’t know it for a moment we are no longer rabbi and student but just two bereaved granddaughters missing the people we loved -EKG’15