Giffords’ Houston rabbi shares insight on congresswoman’s progress

Giffords’ Houston rabbi shares insight on congresswoman’s progress

by Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
khou.com
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:47 PM
Updated today at 1:22 AM

HOUSTON -- For Gabrielle Giffords, home is now in Houston, which is more than a thousand miles from Tucson, but faith is never far, it’s always in her heart, said a Houston rabbi.

Lyon, who is a longtime friend of the Jewish congresswoman’s Rabbi Stephanie Aaron, in Tucson, meets with Giffords about three days a week at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research in the Texas Medical Center.

“Gabby likes to reach out and hold my hand and she listens carefully and smiles easily. Prayer for her is meaningful,” said Lyon. “Gabby is a sweet, spirited person who doesn’t give up and truly wants to make a difference. Currently, it’s to make a difference in her own life, but ultimately to continue making a difference in the lives of others in which she was elected to serve.”

“A little wristband that many people like to wear for a lot of different causes. It’s an orange wristband and it says in English letters, but it’s a Hebrew phrase. It says ‘Gam Zeh Ya’avor,’ and it means ‘this too shall pass.’ And it means not only will all of this pass, but there are joyful moments that pass into less joyful moments, but even those less joyful moments will pass into more joyful times in the future,” said the rabbi.