I was the kind of friend who helped her plan her daughter’s first birthday party with joy and care. I was the friend who answered the phone when she was hurting, who remained on the line until she found steadiness again, and who ensured she never faced her sadness in isolation. I was the friend who upheld boundaries, integrity, even when others did not. I was the friend who loved her daughter as if she were part of my own family. I was the the friend who showed up for lunches, dinners, and everyday moments that made us feel like family. I was the friend who helped her secure an attorney and physically went to the office when she could not get out of bed. I was the friend who never used her for social gain, attention, or personal advantage. I was the friend who helped her uncover the truth about her husband’s actions-his infidelity, his financial misconduct, and the painful realities she deserved to know.
These things matter because they reflect the truth of who I was in her life. I was a devoted Jewish sister, and any narrative that claims otherwise is untrue. I showed up when others did not. I acted with loyalty, compassion, and integrity.
I speak this into the universe because women deserve to be better sisters to one another. We deserve honesty, reciprocity, and care. We deserve to honor the friendships that shape us and to hold ourselves accountable for the way we show up in each other’s lives.
I was a great Jewish sister, standing firmly above the lies that were spoken.
Jennifer Nicole Nelson, Principal Designer
& Karen Lenhert