Yamim Noraim
For me, there are only two obstacles when pickingHigh Holy Day Ground Zero. Only Content. Only Context.
For me, there are only two obstacles when pickingHigh Holy Day Ground Zero. Only Content. Only Context.
The story of a princess who did not live happilyever after had a familiar subtext. Somewhere in the midst of watchingthe same bashed-in Mercedes Benz again and again, a song played in myhead. It was the song that I had chosen for the first dance at myfirst wedding with my first husband: \”Someone to Watch Over Me.\”Don\’t tell Gloria Steinem.
Who is your spiritual hero? Asked this at a recent conference, Irecalled a story from the Talmud.
At first glance, the round challahs of the High Holidays mightseem to be no more than the ritualized version of a GeneralMills-like strategy. How could a bread that is braided 11 months ofthe year suddenly taste different the month it is made round? Eggsare eggs, flour is flour, yeast is yeast, etc., right? But, somehow,the challahs of the High Holidays — domed crowns of golden dough,studded with raisins, sitting atop a holiday table like a princess\’pillow — do taste different.
It\’s been 20 years since I last saw my cousin Mel. If weever had a personal conversation, I don\’t recall it. We keep in touchvia our parents, rumor substituting for facts in our extended familylife. Mel\’s father, Ben, died a few years ago; I never even sent himcondolences.
A professor in seminary once asked us to find themost important section in all the Torah. We offered Creation, theShma, the Exodus, the revelation at Mount Sinai. No, he argued, it\’ski teze l\’milchama (Deuteronomy 21): \”When you go out to war against yourenemies, and the Lord God delivers them into your power and you takesome of them captive, and you see among the captives a beautifulwoman, and you desire her, and would have her. You shall first bringher into your house, and she shall cut her hair and her nails, anddiscard her captive\’s garb. She shall spend a month\’s time in yourhouse, mourning her father and mother…and then you may come to her,and marry her, and she shall be your wife. And if not, you mustrelease her.\”
First, please understand that it has nothing to dowith health. The laws of kashrut — the food restrictions imposedupon Jews by the Bible and the Talmud — were not intended to keep ushealthy.
\”So, tell me, what are you looking for in awoman?\” I ask.
\”Someone kind and gentle, intelligent, educated,cultured, witty, fun, a professional, independent, but interested intraditional things, Jewish, haimish, warm, family-oriented…andthin, tall, attractive, blond, well-dressed.\” He continues, but Irealize already that I know him. He\’s my 3-year old. The open mouthof the infant: \”I want, I want, I want.\”
I know what he wants: a Playboy playmate who willadore him, cook like his mother but make no demands on hissoul.
He isn\’t alone. He belongs to a whole culture ofchildishness.
Love answering children\’s questions. I\’ll visit a classroom and face an eager chorus of \”DidGod create dinosaurs?\” and \”Where do people go when they die?\” Then,at the end, there\’s always one wise guy, who smirks and asks, \”What\’sthe meaning of life?\” I love that kid. I admire his chutzpah, and Ilove the question.