by Jon Moskin
I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I have no pains, no aches, no frenzy. I can just do my thing. And that’s a good feeling. – Irene Zahler, 99.
Spend a few moments with Irene Zahler and you will learn something. It might be about her artwork, a book she read, or tales about growing up in New York. Perhaps it’ll be about or how to connect with strangers. But most likely, it will be about how to live. At 99, it is a subject upon which she has unparalleled expertise.
And her favorite Yiddish phrase: Ikh bin zeyer gliklekh, encapsulates her philosophy: “I’ve been lucky.”
Ikh bin zeyer gliklekh is not just a phrase that describes her outlook on life, it’s one that she joyfully imparts to her growing cadre of students at the Frank Residences on the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living.
That’s right, she’s still teaching. Actually, she just started. Here’s how it unfolded.
One of those people was a fellow resident, Thor, a retired college professor who heard she spoke Yiddish. And that’s all it took. He became her first student, enchanted by the first words she taught him: Ikh vil. English translation: I want. She taught him more, from articulation to pronunciation. And indeed, he wanted more. Word spread, and one student became many.
“This was completely unexpected. I wasn’t formally trained as a teacher,” Irene said. “But I can see the joy in their faces when they learn a new word or phrase. And I love doing it. It just seems to come naturally to me.”
Her acclimation to the campus might not have come as naturally. Yet, according to Gayle, despite living her entire life outside of California, she found a home here. “People here extended themselves. The community and the staff. And my mom extended herself as well.” Gayle said. “It was a brave move, and I’m proud of her for making it.” With that attitude and level of commitment, it’s no surprise that the Frank Residences became more than just a home, they became, well, haimish.
There’s yet another not-so-secret secret to Irene’s success. “I have a theme in life. And the theme that I live by is accept. Things happen in life, for good and for bad,” Irene said. “So, it’s important to accept what is in front of you. Accept your life. Because you’ll be so much happier that way.”
She is also accepting new students. But don’t sign up unless you’re looking for a joyful, learning experience. That would be a shande. And if you don’t know what that means, you’ve come to the right place.