As has happened in the past in support of the Abbey, one thousand dollars has been donated for each year of a special person’s life. A thousand dollars was donated by Yoko Ono for each year of John Lennon’s life in in 1992, and most recently, a thousand dollars was donated for each year of the life of a special needs student who attended the Life Experience School a few years ago by her loving parents.

How perfect it would be if 8 people gave one thousand dollars to the Abbey for each year of Bobby Kennedy’s life. When the 1968 presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy ended on that tragic day in June in LA, the stirrings of the Life Experience School and Peace Abbey began in my heart and in my actions. For nearly 40 years, RFK’s unfinished contribution to peace has been the driving force of my life.
As Bobby would say at the end of his stump speeches, “Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not?” There are few places that dream things that never were over such a long period of time, and make them a reality, as this organization. With your help, we will have more time to shape dreams into reality. Thanks for your continued support.

Lewis

I have met Israeli and Palestinian warriors who work together for peace.

I have met the couple who were the subject of the movie, Hotel Rwanda.

I have played with a little Iraqi girl and her father who were here to have her arm repaired after she was shot by an American soldier, while my soldier son was in Iraq.

I have learned about the work of so many wonderful people who work for a vision of the human family living in dignity and peace with the rest of the planet.

I have heard wonderful music, poetry and learned new skills in non violent communication.

I have been welcomed and encouraged to set up a seminar, a fundraiser or a documentary for issues I care about.

I have munched vegan food with people who give their lives in joyful service to others.

I have come to meditate, to meet greyhounds, to wash hands in communion with the young people from the Life Experience School.

I have pulled the heavy stone memorial to Unknown Civilians Killed in Wars, and listened to the stories of courageous people from around the world.

When you need a healing dose of hope and courage to continue whatever you do for change, drop in. This place needs to continue to thrive and surprise us all.

Magical Strings had its annual concert at the Peace Abbey and once again touched our hearts with the wonderful music. We all want to send our prayers to Pam Boulding who is recovering from pnuemonia and look forward to seeing them next year.

My mother, a Holocaust survivor who passed away recently, looked to Esther when she needed courage. Aidla asked me many times: “How did Esther get to be a person with such dignity and the ability to speak for herself so that people look up to her?” My answer was always: Esther got her voice at the Life Experience School, where she was treated with utmost respect as a valuable person with something to say.” I remember when she first came to the school and Lewis Randa handed her a microphone at a Courage of Conscience award ceremony, saying: “Esther would you like to say a few words about being a student at the Life Experience School?” We held our breath and then witnessed the first of Esther’s many eloquent, straight from the heart public talks. All she needed was the faith that Lewis gave her to launch her vocation as a peacemaker and inspirational speaker who has repeatedly moved people to tears with her loving words.

Here, as an example, are excerpts from 2 talks that Esther has given. I hope that everyone who reads these words here will feel free to use them as they wish to inspire people to donate whatever they can to the Life Experience School and Peace Abbey, so that the sacred work of these extraordinary places will continue.

From a talk given as part of Newton Public Schools Understanding Our Differences program:
Hi Everyone. My name is Esther. I am here to talk to you about being a person with special needs. I was born with special needs. There is no name for what I have. I am just normal Esther.

Here are some of my challenges: I have low muscle tone throughout my body. I need braces on my legs because it’s hard for me to walk. Sometimes I use a wheelchair for long distances or when I’m in pain or very tired. I get tired easily. I have broken many bones in my life such as arms, wrist, legs, and collar bones. I have a knee brace to help my knee stay in place. I have had scoliosis and, in 2002 I had two major operations on my back and now my back is straight. I still have pain in my knee and sometimes my kneecap pops out. I also sometimes have pain in my back or neck or feet. Getting around is harder for me than for other people but I try to do my best.

In spite of my physical problems, I can play basketball, go bowling, swim, and I love to dance. I was on two special needs basketball teams for almost 8 years and I scored a lot of baskets for my teams. I was on a Special Olympics Bowling team and won a gold medal for bowling the most points. I swim every summer at Camp Arrowhead, a day camp for special needs kids in Natick. And when it comes to dancing, I am terrific. I am usually the last one to leave the dance floor.

I have other special needs too. I have problems knowing when my body is cold or hot. Writing with a pen is hard for me because of my low muscle tone. Reading and math are very difficult for me too. Some people use the word mental retardation but I don’t like that term because it’s offensive to people with challenges in learning. Despite my challenges in learning, I have many accomplishments. I do read books and my favorite author is Nicholas Sparks, who wrote A Walk to Remember, my favorite book and movie. I have written part of a book called “The Life Experiences that Make Everything Worthwhile”, which I dedicated to a friend of mine, Lewis Randa, Director of the Life Experience School and the Peace Abbey. I do math on a calculator. I wrote a Bat Mitzvah speech and read it at my Bat Mitzvah and also read in Hebrew from the Torah. In addition to this, I got confirmed and graduated from Sunday school, Hebrew School and High School at Temple Israel in Boston. I was a teacher’s aide for three years at a Sunday school kindergarten class at the temple. I really enjoyed my work there.

And in June 2008, I graduated from Cardinal Cushing School in Hanover. Guess who gave the commencement speech? It was me! The Patriot Ledger reported my speech with a picture of me getting an award for participation in my school and for my spirit in encouraging and being sensitive to others.

I like giving talks in public because it’s one of my strengths and I feel like I can open up to people and really get people’s attention and it makes me feel good inside. I never get nervous when I talk in public because I have had a lot of practice and it’s nice to know that there are people who really listen to me. And I really like connecting to people.

Which brings me to what I think is really important in life. As I said when I was 12 years old, “the secret of life is love people.”

I have many people in my life that I love and who are important to me. My family, which includes my grandma, my mom, my dad, and my sister Anna and my dog Kylee and cat Peaches. And all the people who have helped me with learning and with my physical needs. I have many friends from different schools and friendship is very very important to me.

There are other things I love besides people: music and singing. I sang at the Community Music Center in Boston for a lot of years. I like listening to music of all kinds and watching all the contestants on American Idol. And of course of the things I love, up at the top are the Red Sox!!

Being a person with special needs is not always easy because of my limitations and weaknesses. It makes me sad sometimes because I’m not as strong as other people and that’s tough. But in other ways, I am very loving, I have a good sense of humor, I love to watch movies …and I love God. I sometimes have dreams about God as a woman or a man. In my dreams, God tells me everything is alright, your parents are good people, and they love you a lot. God helps me find peace in myself.

People with special needs have a lot to offer. They have very strong intuition. They are very smart in their own ways. And they offer themselves as a guide to love.
Thank you for listening to me.

The following is an excerpt from a keynote Esther gave at a Jewish Family & Children’s Service fundraiser in 2009. Keep in mind as you read, that this talk raised more money for JF&CS than expected!

Hi My name is Esther. Thank you for coming tonight.
I started living at Avalon at Chestnut Hill, which is a residence of the JF&CS special needs program, in April, 2008. I have worked in the Chai Works day program since then. I feel very lucky to be there.

When I wake up in the morning I really look forward to going to work at Hebrew Senior Life Center because I will see all my friends and supervisors and because I really enjoy the work. I have worked with elderly people in nursing homes before and I hope to do it forever. I love being with elderly people and hearing their stories. I love sitting with them and being good company. When I work there, I feel that I am doing something important by helping out with residents who are lonely and in need. Just because I have special mental and physical needs doesn’t mean that I can’t give back to the community. It makes me feel good and happy to be doing this work.

In addition to my work I also love all the things I get to do with my friends, including Best Buddies, Magic Friend to Friend, going out to the movies and restaurants. Eating out is definitely one of my favorite things and we do it almost every Sunday with my Avalon house staff and roommates. I’m really lucky to live at Avalon because I have loving roommates and the staff is wonderful. Lily, Renee and Betty take good care of me. Lily always has a warm smile for me and is a great listener. Renee, my residence Case Manager, has a warm heart. And Betty has a good sense of humor.

After I have been with my parents for a weekend I like going back to Avalon because I look forward to seeing my roommates and they look forward to seeing me. The house is a happy place.

I decided I wanted to live in a group home when I was 14 years old. It has been difficult becoming this independent but I did it, with much help. I am very grateful that so many people have helped me.

Which brings me to what I think is really important in life. As I said when I was 12 years old, “The secret of life is love people.” I have many people in my life that I love—family and friends, and all the people who have helped me to get where I am today.

I hope that you see what a difference it makes to give back to people—and how good it feels to give money to a good cause.

Thank you very much for your support. I hope you have a good dinner.

When Emily the Cow and the Peace Abbey came together in 1995, together they created the moo heard ‘round the world promoting kindness that passes the species barrier. The magnificent statue and memorial will carry that message to future generations, and there is, I believe, nothing else like it on the planet.

With appreciation, affection, and hopes for the future of the Peace Abbey.

Oh, and all the wonderful books – you will find the right words that mirror your thoughts and give you guidance. Here is one of my favorites that hangs at the Peace Abbey on what looks like it came from the inside of a Buddhist fortune cookie. “Three things cannot be long hidden – the sun, the moon, and the truth.” Gautama Buddha
The Peace Abbey is that truth!

With love, Nancy