My great-grandfather set an early example that I will always hold near in my heart.

Many people who know me well, understand that I have a lot of family members to keep up with. My parents, who got divorced when I was four years old, would bring me to extended family gatherings, always including me from a young age. 

Some of my earliest vivid memories took place in my great-grandparents’ house in downtown Los Angeles. My great-grandfather, Abe Sommer, would always welcome my mom and me, along with my grandpa and aunt, for meals together around the time of Hanukkah. 

I say around that time primarily because we did not celebrate all eight nights as per tradition. We had our own tradition, spending time together over a meal and exchanging presents and conversation.

My great-grandfather, a Jewish man, was dealt quite a harsh hand in life as he grew up during the time of World War II. After breaking through many unspeakable obstacles, he came to America where he used mechanical skills he had obtained from time spent in the military to open up his own auto shop in Beverly Hills, California. 

The name Asom Electric was a known one-stop shop, well before the time of the Internet.

It always enlightened me that during a time with minimal marketing strategies, people would find out about his shop by word of mouth, where he gained their trust with honest work. While I never got the chance to see it in my life, many Los Angeles natives did.

While there is not much visible evidence on the internet of the great connections he made, my family will always remember how kind-hearted and humble he was with others. Though he had been mistreated and separated from his family from a young age, he loved us all with everything he had. 

I will always admire his ability to care and provide beyond all. His respect and love for humanity encouraged me from a young age to make as many friends as possible and never judge a book by its cover.

He made way for his family despite every thinkable obstacle, reminding me a hard race is always worth finishing.

He was always outgoing and respectful to his guests, even at an old age. I remember he would sit down and talk with my mom and grandpa for hours. While I never technically grew up practicing Jewish faith, I will always remember the day he had me help him roll Matzo Balls for a family meal.

I never understood what he meant at the time, but this was his way of showing me that one day, I too would get to provide for a family, my family. He taught me that kindness is not a form of weakness, but an incredible and beautiful strength.