Remembering Rosh Hashanah 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: