Remembering Rosh Hashanah in Chicago in the 50’s…by Robert M. Katzman
By Robert M. Katzman © August 17, 2017
Remembering when Rosh Hashanah in the 50’s
Emptied out the South Side of Chicago
Creating a sea of frozen steel
On the northbound Chicago Highways
Racing the setting sun
To celebrate the
Jewish New Year
In September or October
*******************
With extended family
Including the living immigrants
Our “Boat People”
From Eastern Europe
Skokie, Northbrook,
Highland Park & Glencoe
Tolerantly received their poorer relations
From south of Madison Street
Always a dark drama
************************
Being with the relatives I liked
–a few–
To the relatives who disapproved of me
–many–
Except the food was astounding
And worth the pain
Of the awkward social gathering
**********************
For the longest time
I was the youngest
Watching the older layers of family
Die off
Year by year
Now, I’m the oldest
**************************
How is that possible?
I see the ghosts of the dead:
My Grandparents,
My Father, my Mother,
My Aunts, my Uncles,
My cousins,
And damn-it,
My older sister
***********************
But fortunately
I can’t hear them
No, the food is not the same
But my grown children and their families
Are very loving people
Nice to me and to each other
And all the cousins seem equal
Screaming, laughing
Tearing around the house
**************************
Our Jewishness in America
Has made it through
To the 5th generation!
With the hot blood of
Fifteen different nations
Racing through their veins
***************************
None of my unfriendly relatives
Would have expected
Such a cultural accomplishment
From me
But then
They expected nothing of note
From me, as it was
************************
I am less lonely now
Without all of them
Than I was when they were
All crowded into rooms
Too small to hold them.
Be careful whom you judge
They may very well
Have the last word.
***********************
L’Shanah Tovah,
Happy New Year to all
Especially to my wife, Joy,
Her ashes scattered
Upon Masada in Israel’s
Southern Negev Desert
Who was kinder
To everyone
Than they were
Initially, to her
The (Oh my God!!)
Former Lutheran.
*************************
I miss you
My evaporated love
Dust in Israel
More than you
Could possibly imagine
Except now
As part of the Universe
Maybe you can
*********************************
You may also want to read:
An Older Man’s Perspective on Yom Kippur
https://www.differentslants.com/?p=5548
Yom Kippur, Oslo Norway and The Man of Mystery: https://www.differentslants.com/?p=5255
1964: A Runaway’s Renaissance and a Jewish Boy’s revenge:
Publishing News!
Bob Katzman’s two new true Chicago books are now for sale, from him!
Vol. One: A Savage Heart and Vol. Two: Fighting Words
Gritty, violent, friendship, classic American entrepreneurship love, death, heartbreak and the real dirt about surviving in a completely corrupt major city under the Chicago Machine. More history and about one man’s life than a person may imagine.
Please visit my new website: http://www.dontgoquietlypress.com
If a person doesn’t want to use PayPaI, I also have a PO Box & I ship anywhere in America.
Send me a money order with your return and contact info.
I will get your books to you within ten days.
Here’s complete information on how to buy my books:
Vol 1: A Savage Heart and Vol. 2: Fighting Words
My books weigh almost 2 pounds each, with about 525 pages each and there are a total together of 79 stories and story/poems.
Robert M. Katzman
Don’t Go Quietly Press
PO Box 44287
Racine, Wis. 53404-9998 (262)752-3333, 8AM–7PM
Books cost $29.95 each, plus shipping
For: (1)$3.95; (2)$5.95; (3)$7.95; (4)$8.95 (5)$9.95;(6) $10.95
(7) $11.95; (8) $12.95; (9)$13.95 (10)$15.95 (15)$19.95
I am also for hire if anyone wants me to read my work and answer questions in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. Schools should call me for quantity discounts for 30 or more books. Also: businesses, bookstores, private organizations or churches and so on.
My Fighting Words Publishing Co. four original books, published between 2004 and 2007 are now out-of-print. I still have some left and will periodically offer them for sale on my new website.