I first saw this Rosh Hashanah video on Tamar’s blog and it’s too good not to share. It’s already been viewed almost 900,000 times on YouTube so you may have seen it—it’s amazing how these things spread. It mocks both sides equally but is actually very tame.
The video is actually an advertisement for Birthright Israel, the group that provides free 10-day trips to Israel for young people around the world. This program started in 2000 and as of this summer over 160,000 people from 52 countries have participated. I know a bunch of kids who’ve gone and they’ve loved it. I suspiciously wondered if the goal of such a program was to try to convince young Jews to emigrate to Israel but from what I hear there’s no hard sell in that regard. The participants travel all over the country, meet Israeli students and families, and attend workshops on topics such as “What does it mean to be Jewish in the modern world?” I think it’s a great idea and I’m only sorry about the age restrictions (you have to be between 18 and 26). Is there any way I can convince the Israeli government to let a 49-year-old who still dresses like he’s 18 to join the next group?
I wish all my Jewish friends and readers a very happy and
healthy 5769. There is a tradition that whatever you do during Rosh Hashanah reflects on how the rest of your year will go. God, I hope not, since I've been feeling pretty anxious lately about the future and the general state of the world. I so enjoyed the services at our synagogue Monday
night and yesterday. I’ve always been moved by the beautiful voice
of our cantor, Fran Chalin, but she retired earlier this year so I was worried that I wouldn't feel as connected to the prayers.
But our shul brought in the most incredible young cantor from Berlin, a guy
named Juval Porat, who, believe it or not, is the first ordained cantor in
Germany since before World War II! And Fran returned to lead the amazing choir
at Beth Chayim Chadishim so there was an abundance of musical riches, not to
mention the inspiring wisdom of our beloved rabbi Lisa Edwards. When I saw
Juval off the bimah, he looked so young he bore no resemblance to the imposing
cantors of my youth. But every time he raised his voice in prayer, I was
transfixed. His voice was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes over
and over again. I found it soul-stirring and eerily reminiscent, as if I was
having some past-life or ancestral memories of time spent in the synagogues of
Europe before they were destroyed.
It’s amazing to me how music can have such a powerful effect on the emotions of people listening to it, especially when they’re part of a group. I’ve seen people crying at Wilco concerts many times. Apart from yesterday, the last time I remember being that emotional from a single person’s voice was when I heard Fran’s haunting recitation of the Kol Nidre prayer last year during her final Yom Kippur services with our synagogue. Like Juval, she seemed to be channeling something from a much Higher Place—it was not of this world. Before that, I remember bursting into tears in a Broadway theatre listening to Idina Menzel hit those final notes in the song “Defying Gravity” just before the Act I curtain in the musical “Wicked.” I realize that admission makes me sound gayer than the actual gay members of our LGBT synagogue. What can I say? I ran into our rabbi last week at a Whole Foods and had to admit to her that several months ago we planned a trip to the east coast next week without checking our Hebrew calendar so on the night of the solemn Kol Nidre observance we will be in the first row of the St. James Theatre in New York listening to Patti LuPone belt out “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” Ah well, I shrugged to cover up my embarrassment, a Broadway theatre IS like a house of worship to me, and Patti LuPone holds the same ability when she sings as Fran and Juval to channel from a Higher Place. I would never have admitted any of this to the terrifying rabbis of my childhood but a few days later I got an email from Lisa asking if she could mention my comparison of a synagogue to a Broadway theatre in her Yom Kippur speech.
During our Rosh Hashanah services, they showed a beautiful video highlighting the 36 same-sex marriages that have occurred in our synagogue since the California Supreme Court ruling. Many of these couples have been together for 10, 20, or even 30 years and it was incredibly moving to see them participate in these legal ceremonies after so many years of struggle to have their relationships and families accepted by society. I only wish that video were on YouTube and could be watched by every single supporter of the hateful and fear-based Proposition 8.
Shana tovah umetukah. Ketiva ve-chatima tovah.
Happy New Year, Danny. May You Be Inscribed In The Book Of Life. (from a woefully ignorant Midwestern Methodist).
Pegs.
Posted by: Peggy Larson | October 01, 2008 at 02:42 PM
L'Shana Tovah Danny, to you, your family, and Sue's. I'm finally back in Chicago now. Take that, Thomas Wolfe.
Posted by: Larry | October 01, 2008 at 05:11 PM
A happy, healthy New Year to you and your family, Danny!
Posted by: Neil | October 01, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Happy New Year, Danny! And Happy Broadway! I cry for almost all music these days.
Amitiés,
Posted by: La Framéricaine | October 01, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Hi Danny,
I am a big fan of your blog!
I went on the Birthright Israel trip 3 years ago and loved it. I had absolutely no desire to go to Israel, and felt very disconnected from the Jewish community here in Boston (even after graduating from Brandeis). But I figured "Hey - free vacation!"
It was that, but it was so much more. While there, it was amazing to look around and realize that everyone from the taxi driver to the cop to the pizza guy to the prime minister are all Jewish. It's like being in the twilight zone! There was a bit of a hard sell from the organizers to "make aliyah", ie: pick up and move to Israel, but it was kind of an enticing offer. They would say "Just show up at the airport - we'll take care of you. We'll set you up with a home and help you find a job". In these scary economic times, that doesn't sound so bad... Plus, what a beautiful country!
It did concern me a bit that they were all (ALL) such strong Bush supporters, but it makes a twisted bit of sense - they have historically received more money and more lip service from the Republican party. Not to mention the fact that if I were a country the size of New Jersey surrounded by a continent of people who wanted me wiped off the map, I'm not sure I wouldn't choose the guys handing out AK-47's, rather than the guys who wanted to help us "talk it out".
But hopefully that will change. It's a new year, and anything can happen. This year I pray for peace in Israel and at home.
L'shana tova!
-Rachel
Posted by: Rachel M | October 02, 2008 at 05:51 AM
Birthright is a great program. I didn't know they sponsored that video!
Happy new year to you and your family.
Posted by: therapydoc | October 02, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Happy New Year. Your Rabbi sounds amazing. I'm glad you found her.
Posted by: churlita | October 02, 2008 at 08:45 AM
L'Shana Tova! And I've never been to Israel, but whenever I visit relatives in Florida they want to know when I'm moving there.
Posted by: Melinda | October 02, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Thanks so much for the link, Danny!
Shana Tova!
Posted by: tamarika | October 02, 2008 at 01:10 PM
A Very Happy New Year to you and Kendall, Danny...Have a safe trip to New York and give Patti a hug for me!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | October 03, 2008 at 10:20 PM