The Tree

December 2024 Literature Leisure

Fonda Dubb

With bending bough the branches swayed to the rhythm of the wind

While falling leaves fell to its music

How green and restful it is to sit under the shade of the tree

While distant memories from yore come back to me

Some to bring love and joy, while others stir up unkind emotions

The tree evokes a spell on me

What is it I wonder that makes my tree so special to me?

The peace of sitting under its shady branches it brings to me?

The leaves swirling on the grass?

Or perhaps it's just me feeling the healing of the tree?

No matter what it instills in me

I love to sit, smile or weep under my tree

To unburden thoughts so dear to me

A place where time stands still

The body quiet and at ease

I love to sit under my tree

To lift my head up to the sun invigorating my soul

I thought

How precious is my tree to me

I say a prayer while head up high

To thank the creator of my tree

Which brings me warmth and love

While I sit here under my tree where time goes by as if it was yesterday

Where time waits patiently for me

With outstretched arms I place my arms across my chest

To feel the beating of my heart

And realize the miracles of thee and me

I walk away with lightness and love

From what my little tree has so generously given to me.

About the author

Fonda Dubb

Fonda was born in Pietersburg, South Africa. After finishing school, she studied ballet at the University of Cape Town Ballet School. During this period, she worked as a fashion model for leading fashion houses. Fondas husband, Mark Dubb, from Port Elizabeth, was an architect, volunteered to "Nachal" in 1956 and completed his Israeli Army training as a paratrooper.

Fonda and Mark made Aliyah to Israel in March, 1988. They have 3 children, all in Israel. After attending the Hebrew Ulpan in Raanana for one month, Fonda was asked to take over a ballet studio for 6 months. Not having the language, it was a nightmare, not being able to discipline and communicate with the children and the parents.

A friend had heard about her love of catering and asked her to do a small function for 50 people in Israel. It was a success, and the next day she was approached to do a function for 250 people. That was how Fonda started catering professionally. In 1989, she opened "Fonda Catering", subsequently working for 15 years as a caterer for the South African Embassy. In addition, she did general catering: bar mitzvahs, weddings, etc.

Her husband Mark, an architect, as well as right-hand man in the catering business, died very suddenly in 1999, at the age of 65. Fonda decided to close her business and moved to Eilat 8 years ago. In Eilat, Fonda started doing voluntary work for WIZO – giving demonstrations and organizing group birthday parties, escorting the blind club on their "tyulim" and helping them whenever needed. She teaches English to children of Ethiopian olim through the medium of cooking, and visits the sick at a convalescent center. One of her projects is selling Ethiopian craftwork for ESRA. She also writes articles for ESRA and TelFed Magazines.

Looking back on her busy life – only part of which is written here – Fonda feels very grateful for the gifts and blessings received.

Fonda received numerous awards from ESRA, including:

In 2002 for founding the Widows/Widowers group
In 2004 for being an English tutor
In 2018 for all her volunteering in ESRA over 30 years – catering for numerous ESRA events; for setting up ESRA in Eilat when she moved to live there and ensuring that it be active and for selling ESRA Ethiopian embroidered goods on the Eilat beachfront.

In 2012 Fonda received the prestigious" Woman of the Year" Award from the Mayor Meir Itzhak Ha'Levi for her volunteering in Eilat.

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