HESPED - delivered by Batsheva Marcus at the service at Drisha, November 12th 1996

Maidi, when I think about you, the picture I have in my mind (the picture I will probably always have of you) is of you sitting on the porch of your apartment in Yerushalayim, legs up on the bars, white tee shirt with rolled up sleeves, a cup of coffee in your hand -always with a cup of coffee in your hand- (Over how many cappuccinos have we discussed the meaning of life, love and the future?) I see you with your head back smiling at the Yerushalayim sun. You felt so alive there, so at home, so connected to the Jewish people . If you had one really true love in your life it was Yerushalayim and Israel wasn't it?... I'm glad your getting to go back there now Maidi, and without the pain.

And always a book in your hand Maidi, always a book.- you were the only one I know who could read tosofot, Carol Gilligan and Anne Tyler without missing a beat ...and now who will we all turn to when we need books? You read them for us, you abridged them for us, you reviewed them for us, you lent them to us--you were my book source just like you were the source for so many things.

And when I close my eyes, Maidi, I hear your laugh. Maidi, your laugh could have lifted angels. Your laugh was golden, warming and lighting anyone it touched. I think we'll miss your laugh the most. It was like a gift you gave to everyone even when things were most bleak, even when you were in the most amount of pain. You were always ready to laugh...even at your own expense. Do you remember our conversation Maidi when we talked about someone's "deepness" , We talked like that about his "deepness" and her "deepness" for about 10 minutes until one of us realized the word we meant was depth... and you laughed and laughed. Not bad for so many advanced degrees, you said. Whoever said I was articulate you said. But you were! And Your brilliance was so human. You were one of those rare individuals who was able to put you genius into language that we all could understand--that never made us feel inadequate-that knew how to explain the most complex issue to the beginning student, to this dense friend.

And Maidi, your lists...you were the master of lists. You made lists and list of lists. You were the most organized person I ever met. And what did you use your lists for--you had lists of people you had to check in on, people you had to visit, people you had to take care of. Presents to buy-- and more people to take care of. You were always taking care of someone. The post- it in your diary for tomorrow said buy yehoshua a channuka present You were an amazing aunt. You had catalogued the names and birthdays of all your friends kids so you shouldn't ever forget one. You never once, in all the years I've know you forgot anyone's birthday. you were my only friend who always sent two card--a funny one and a sentimental one- but that was you wasn't it. Always able to bridge the gap between loving someone with a funny face and loving someone in a deeply emotional way.

Do you remember the conversation we had Maidi, just a few weeks ago--about how amazing it is that the young women who learn at Drisha, and in Israel, just take it for granted that the texts are open to them- that it is their right to learn gemarah, that top level learning is just theirs for the taking. Do you remember how you said you felt bad that they took it for granted when you struggled for it so? Well Maidi, hear this again: They are only able to take it for granted because you made it happen in this world! It is because of you, Maidi Katz, that young girls grow up wanting to be talmidot chachamim. It is because of you Maidi Katz that the doors to women have been opening. Most people don't make a contribution like that in 70 years of living. You did it in 34. Maidi, I know that you dreamt of being the first women to get a doctorate in mishpat ivri--you never had the chance--but the world of Jewish women's learning will never be the same anyway.

Maidi, I just want to go on and on telling the whole world who you really are- of all of the hundreds of good, caring things you did for so many. But Maidi, the truth is that no matter what I, or anyone else, ever says about you we'll never capture, the complex, brilliant, beautiful, kind, tortured, loving, laughing essence of who you are. But all of us in this room felt it at one time or another and the world feels a little out of sink and a little less bright today, because you're gone,

Maidi, you probably wouldn't have approved of my ending with a quote from eishet chayil--come on Bat Sheva you would have said, can't you think of something more original. But Maidi only one quote has been running through my head all last night and this morning. Rabot Banot, asu chayil veat alit al kulan kulana. Many women have done heroic deeds in their life. But you Maidi, in this short life, have surpassed them all.

Bat Sheva