THE UNIVERSITY CLUB WELCOMES NOTABLE GUEST SPEAKERS
answered many questions about
Unitarian Universalists. They believe
that no one religion has a monopoly
on the truth; one’s own truth
is unprovable, as is that of others.
Consequently, we should respect
the beliefs of others as well as their
right to hold those beliefs. Unitarian
Universalists embrace everyone’s
religion and practices, including
atheists and agnostics. Unitarian
Universalism has no doctrinal
requirements; therefore, it is a most
liberal religion, and congregations
are found all over the world.
When questioned as to whether
Unitarian Universalists believe in the
Bible, Reverend Brooks answered,
“Belief in the Bible is not required.
The Bible is a collection of profound
insights from the men who wrote it,
but also reflects biases and cultural
ideas from the times in which it was
written and edited.” That answer
satisfied many in the audience.
She continued, “The symbol of
Unitarian Universalism is a chalice
and a flame, which refers to WWII
heroes who helped Jews escape the
Nazis. The reason we have a Sunday
service is to get people to take time
out to think of what’s worthy in life
and to acknowledge each other.”
The Reverend gave us much to
think about. Comments and opinions
spilled out the doors and into
the arcade where people could be
heard discussing the issues long
after the lecture had ended.
Visit the Unitarian Universalist
congregation and you will leave
uplifted and delighted.
Author Amy Silverstein
Oh, You’ve Gotta Have Heart and Heart and Heart…
BY IRENE FRANK
The United Nations has declared
the third Thursday in
November as Philosopher’s
Day, a day in which we remember
people whose intellect and words
shaped the minds of men through
the ages. Socrates was credited
as being one of the founders of
Western philosophy. His words
have been quoted since 350 B.C.:
“Wisdom comes to each us us
when we realize how little we
know about life, ourselves and the
world around us.” “By all means,
marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll
become happy; if you get a bad
one, you’ll become a philosopher.”
Many years later, another great
philosopher, my Dad, Albert
Gransowitter, was asked how he
maintained his even disposition no
matter what was happening around
him. He looked outside at the terrible
weather and answered, “If it
rains, I let it!” My children often
use this line. Mahatma Ghandi was
quoted, “Where there is love, there
is life.” And this is the theme of our
lecturer, Amy Silverstein, and her
latest book entitled, “My Glory was
Author Amy Silverstein
I Had Such Friends.” Amy explained
the title was taken from a line in a
Yeats poem: “Think where a man’s
glory begins and ends and say my
glory was I had such friends.”
Amy is the daughter-in-law of
club member Barbara Schwartz’s
child, and the book is an unusual
love story about nine friends who
were determined to keep the dying
author alive.
Ms. Silverstein’s story begins at
age 25 when out of the blue, she
suffered heart failure. She was lucky
to get the heart of a 15-year-old girl
which pumped well enough for 25
years. At age 50, she needed another
transplant but this time, the situation
was much more complicated
and the outcome was bleak.
Her doctor suggested she go to
Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles,
where she was told she had two
weeks to live if a new heart did
not present itself. Nine of her New
York friends took turns, according
to a spreadsheet they created, to
fly to Los Angeles, remain day and
night by her bedside and see to her
physical and emotional needs. They
stroked her back, rubbed her feet
and relived the fun they had together
over the years. Twenty-five years ago
they were girlfriends, but now they
were women sharing life’s most difficult
episode. During the last 25 years,
Amy had had 1,000 doctor’s visits,
100 infections and 98 heart biopsies.
The transformative power of
friendship and the love of her husband
and family pulled her through
a most difficult recuperation. She
says that at 25 she was frightened
and angry. Today she is just grateful.
She treasurers and protects the
heart of another 15-year-old girl as
if she’s the mother and the heart is
the daughter.
Amy says with pride that she
hasn’t had a pat of butter or a hamburger
in 26 years. I shuddered at
the thought of this deprivation! She
runs three miles a day now, has finished
law school and has authored
two books about her experiences,
and “My Glory…” is being made
into a TV movie starring Jennifer
Garner as Silverstein.
Something to think about on
Philosopher’s Day: Do you have
a personal philosophy that could
see you through tough times? The
University Club applauds this
courageous, beautiful and talented
woman.
Reverend Jennifer Brooks
Tackling a Timely Issue
BY IRENE FRANK
The Reverend Jennifer Brooks
of the Unitarian Universalist
Congregation at Shelter Rock
joined the curious and interested
members of the University Club
on December 11. The topic of discussion
was most appropriate for
this holiday season: “What do the
world’s religions have in common?”
Here are some of her insights.
Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism,
Hinduism and Islam provide a sense
of community promoting cohesion
and identity as well as a way for rituals
and traditions to be passed down
from generation to generation. The
three Abrahamic traditions, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam, have more
in common than in contention; all
three believe in one God, family values,
charity and respect for others.
Of course, Fundamentalists in all
religious draw on what they want
to believe, creating fractures where
there should be connectivity. Heroes
in all faiths encounter miracles.
The Eastern religions originated
in the Indian subcontinent
and include Hinduism, Jainism,
Buddhism and Sikhism, are linked
by a belief in karma and reincarnation.
Prayers refer to various gods
and goddesses.
Reverend Books had us break
up into small groups to share with
each other the practices of our
own religions. She is a graduate of
the Harvard Divinity School and
Rev. Brooks talks to University
Club members/Photo by Dawn
Steinberg
32 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ January 2020