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The excitement around Grossinger’s was the idea that you could be in a glamorous hotel adorned with photos of famous guests such as Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Onassis, President John F. Kennedy, and Joan Rivers while dining on flanken with a side of chopped liver and another side of kishka. The beautiful resort was the ideal world where you were able to ski, golf, and swim without compromising your religious practices. While eating lox and bagels at the Sunday breakfast extravaganza you were assured that the mashgiach was watching the food preparations in the massive kitchen.

There is probably an Uncle Chaim in just about every Jewish family, especially in Ashkenazi families. He could be pictured in so many different assortments of characters and physical images: short, tall, fat, smart, funny, assertive, aggressive, and loving. This week, my article is solely devoted to my own Uncle Chaim Roth z”l, who was niftar this past Thursday, 14 Av.

The Concord Hotel was Grossingers’ more glamorous younger sister. It was designed by the renowned architect Morris Lapidus, primarily known for his Neo-baroque “Miami Modern” hotels such as Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau and Eden Roc. His work has since come to define that era’s (‘50s and ‘60s) resort-style hotel. Nestled in Kiamesha Lake, New York, the Concord was the largest resort in the region. The resort encompassed over 2,000 acres with approximately 1,500 guest rooms and a 3,000-seat dining room. It was more lavish in decor and activities than any other Catskills hotel during that time.

A few days ago I went on my first visit to The Cloisters at The Metropolitan Museum of Art where I met my Mama Donna, also known as Donna Schneier. We wanted to view the Jewish jewelry collection that was on loan to The Metropolitan Museum for a brief time. Considering that Donna Schneier has her own 250-piece collection of art jewelry housed at The Met, I couldn’t have asked for a more qualified tour guide. We were greeted by the museum’s jewelry head curator, Barbara Drake Boehm, who enthusiastically described the beauty and importance of the hidden treasures. “The Colmar Treasure, a medieval Jewish legacy” is tragically and ironically in its viewing arena.

Hallmark hasn’t approached the market of the Jewish Valentine’s Day of Tu B’Av as of yet. No hearts and xoxo cards or even a Hallmark channel Saturday night movie about the day of love that follows a fast day, in that peculiar order. Did you even attempt to bring home a dozen long-stem red roses with a box of chocolates? Okay, you are forgiven for this go around, but for next year, let’s explore this day of “amore” a little bit more.

Elul has begun its path of t’shuvah (repentance), but it’s really a path to perfection. A month to reshape, remold, and reassess yourself in order to present your optimum state to Hashem at the head of the year, Rosh HaShanah. Would it not be helpful if there were mentors to guide you on your trip, female examples of the embodiment of what you wish to achieve?