Zlata's memory, starting with a poem and then memory

I walk through the valley of life,
I wonder where am I? What am I doing? Where am I going?

I walk through the valley of life,
I see colors,
I see green, gray, black, white, ...

I walk through the valley of life,
I see justice, virtue, fairness, impartiality, goodness, honor, decorum, ...
I see bias, partiality, prejudice, foul play, crime, ...

I walk through the valley of life,
I feel joy, happiness, trill, courage, bliss, ...
I feel agony, pain, disappointment, fear, ...

I walk through the valley of life,
I hear cry of sadness, laughter of joy and delight,
I hear whispers and unsaid.

I walk through the valley of life,
I smell power, corruption, pretension, emptiness, ...
I smell fresh breeze of kindness and forgiveness.

I walk through the valley of life,
I see hunger, thirst, waste, ...
I see beauty and beast.

I walk through the valley of life,
I taste sweet, bitterness, sour, ...
I see babies, old, young.

I traverse down and up, down and up, up or down? ...
I wonder is this valley of life or just a dream?

I met Zlata 31 years ago in NY when I came to US from Iran.  I was among the first group of kids that were brought over to Chabad Lubavitch just on the verge of the Islamic revolution.  I do not even know where to begin; Zlata and her sister were so kind and attentive to us.  They knew we had left our parents and loved ones behind.  She and her sister and her family were so open and inviting to us, trying to fill the big hole and gap that we were all feeling.  I remember our short trip we had with Zlata and her sister Mira to Washington DC, a full bus of teen girls from Iran led by them.  Ironically, we stayed in MJBHA's Jim overnight and went back to NY after visiting the Smithsonian's.  It is funny how life and destiny plays out.  I left NY to Boston in pursue of college, and then to DC 9 years later in pursue of establishing my family.  I lost touch with Zlata.  Then out of blue, about 15 years ago, I bumped to her in Montgomery Mall during Chanukah celebration that she and Rabbi Geisinsky were conducting.  I was so happy to have come to be in her presence again.  Later on, my two kids attended MJBHA and still my daughter attending.  Zlata always have been so kind and giving to all of us.  She helped me with both of my kids Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.  How lucky and fortunate I have been that not only myself, but also my kids had to come to have known her.  It was a legacy that was passed to my kids.  I met Zlata when I was a teen and my kids had a chance to have known her early in their childhood and their teens.  I am so indebted to her and her family.   Zlata we will miss you, I know that we will meet again.

Tamar Katz