The Timeless Impact of Grandparents in Our Lives

August 26, 2024 | Jewish Traditions and Values

By: Rachel Pototsky & Evan Reisberg

 Grandparents hold such a special place in our hearts. They’re the ones who pass down love, wisdom and the traditions that make us who we are today. With Grandparents Day being on Sunday, September 8, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible impact they’ve had on our lives.

In the Jewish community, we often talk about the concept of “from generation to generation,” and it couldn’t be more true when we think about how our grandparents have shared their customs, values and stories with us. It’s all about keeping our Jewish history and traditions alive, and our grandparents are at the heart of that.

Our Senior Associate of Family Experiences, Rachel Pototsky, and her husband Evan Reisberg were and are extremely close with their own grandparents, who had a profound influence on their lives. They also love spending time with their children’s grandparents. Here they share their sentiments about what their grandparents mean to them.

Rachel:

I was fortunate to grow up with all four of my grandparents nearby and very active in my life. From riding the bus to their house after school, carpooling me and my little brother around, and Sunday night dinners, I spent countless time with my grandparents. Spending so much time together taught me the importance of family, cherishing our time together, and honoring our past.

Unfortunately, all my grandparents have now passed, and I miss them terribly. A tradition in Ashkenazi Judaism is to name babies after deceased relatives. Both of our children were named after all 4 of my grandparents. When I look at them, I see the love of my grandparents shining brightly in their faces.

Evan:

There are few early memories without my grandparents present. Whether it was gathering and preparing for holidays, proudly showcasing all I learned at Jewish day school, or building custom gaming computers, their influence on me has been profound.

My grandparents’ impact is evident in my daily life. I wouldn’t be in design leadership within a product organization without my grandmother’s influence. Her dedication to teaching me about computers at a very early age shaped my interests and career trajectory. Through their example, I learned not just to treat others as I would want to be treated, but to treat them even better.

While I am fortunate to still have one grandparent with us, I feel the impact of all of them in my life every day.