Where Memory Travels, Meaning Follows
Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary has always understood that Jewish memory does not recognize borders. Our community in Los Angeles is shaped by generations of stories, traditions, and family ties that stretch far beyond any one place, and for many families, that enduring connection includes Israel. Whether through faith, heritage, or lived experience, Israel remains a living part of how people locate themselves in time. Every so often, a story arrives that quietly reminds us just how strong and how surprising those connections can be.
That reminder came to Hillside in the form of an email from Tel Aviv, sharing the discovery of a small brass keychain bearing Hillside’s name and address. Found in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood sometime in the 1960s, the keychain had been kept for decades by Yaakov Israel, who sensed it was meaningful even though he could not read what was written on it. As Noam Yasky, Yaakov’s son in law, explained, the story resurfaced during an ordinary moment. “He gave me his key, with the keychain on it,” Noam recalled. “And I said, ‘Wow, this is amazing. What is this?’” Yaakov told him he had found it as a child but never understood its inscription. Curious, Noam took a photo of the tiny lettering and translated it.
A Commandment Remembered at the Right Moment
What the translation revealed was immediate and unmistakable. “The first thing it told me was that I had to give it back,” Noam said. “Because this is the mitzvah. It’s called hashavat aveidah. To return something that does not belong to you.” Once the meaning became clear, the decision followed naturally. “The moment we understood what it was,” he explained, “Yaakov said immediately, ‘We have to return it. It’s a mitzvah. We have to do it.’” In that moment, a small object carried across decades suddenly found its moral direction.
That instinct speaks directly to one of Judaism’s most quietly powerful mitzvot, hashavat aveidah, the obligation to return a lost item. Rooted in the Torah’s command not to ignore what another person has lost, this mitzvah is about more than property. It is about attentiveness, responsibility, and refusing to look away. In this case, the object itself was small, but it carried decades of care, memory, and intention. Yaakov had safeguarded the keychain since childhood because he believed it mattered. When its meaning finally became legible, the mitzvah came full circle, restoring not just an object, but a sense of connection across time and place.
A Small Object, a Legacy of Care
As the story unfolded, another mystery emerged: what exactly was this keychain, and how did it come to exist? That question led us back into Hillside’s own history. General Manager, Rafael Ochoa, helped illuminate the answer. “The first time I came across one of these keychains was 20 years ago. I had to go back to some of my colleagues to be reeducated on what those keychains were meant for,” he shared.
The keychain turned out to be part of a Hillside service program that began in the late 1950s, an early example of going above and beyond for families. “Program started in the late 50’s. It was a way to offer a service to our families. Each keychain requests that if it is lost, to please return it to Hillside Memorial Park and Mausoleum, an outdated name now. That way, if someone lost a key, the owner could come pick it up at Hillside.” Each keychain carried a unique serial number linked to a handwritten log. “If ever there was a time that the family lost those keys, they would come back to Hillside and we could contact the corresponding family. It was a way to go above and beyond.” The program eventually ended simply because it was rarely needed. “Not many people lost their keys.” The name on the keychain reflects an earlier chapter in Hillside’s evolution, before the mortuary opened in 1980.
Together, these two threads, the mitzvah of hashavat aveidah and a long forgotten Hillside tradition of care, come together in a moment that feels both serendipitous and deeply fitting. As Rafael reflected, “The time couldn’t have been better as we’re wrapping up this calendar year. To have this particular experience has been a reminder of the beautiful evolution Hillside has been through, while always keeping our families at the center of our focus. It’s something still relevant today. Beyond everything we do to go above and beyond for our community. Whether it’s through educational partnerships or community outreach, our services extend well past cemetery and mortuary services.” In the return of this small keychain, we are reminded that values endure, kindness travels, and even after many decades, what is lost can still find its way home.
