It’s always a sad event when a person passes away. But when there’s nobody left to pay their last respects and say goodbye, it’s especially tragic.
In late January, 85-year-old Eddie Ford, a child survivor of the Holocaust, died in Toronto, Ontario, after battling cancer. The man had just one family member left in the world: a nephew living in the U.S. It was looking as if there would be nobody to bury the fallen hero – until strangers came through in an amazing way.
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Seven months before his death, Eddie met Rabbi Zale Newman at Sunnybrook Hospital, where they became friends. Newman kept Eddie company during his cancer treatments. The two sang together and bonded over their shared Jewish faith.
“Every Friday, we sang a prayer and ate special food and lit the special candles for the Sabbath,” Newman recalled, adding “It was his last request that he have a proper Jewish burial.”
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After Eddie died, Newman was worried he’d be the only person at his funeral. He knew the man deserved a proper send-off, especially considering everything he’d been through in his life. So on Jan. 30, he put out a call for help on Facebook, asking anyone who could to come to Eddie’s funeral the next day.
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Though Newman was hoping to recruit at least 10 people, only a few responded to confirm they’d be there. You can imagine his absolute surprise and delight, then, when he got to the cemetery and saw the parking lot overflowing with cars. Hundreds of people had shown up to bid farewell to Eddie in a touching gesture that proved he wasn’t alone.
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“On that freezing cold day. People gave up three hours of their time to give a sendoff to a lonely, sweet individual and how touching and beautiful and sweet that is,” Newman said. The rabbi shared something even more incredible to happen that day: a man came to the funeral and identified himself as Eddie’s long lost brother!
While Eddie may not be here anymore, it must have comforted Newman so much to imagine him looking down and seeing so many gathered there for him. Rest in peace, Eddie.
Learn more about the strangers’ wonderful act of kindness for Eddie below, and share to honor the brave Holocaust survivor’s life.
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