February 28th, 2010

A Symbol’s Deeper Meaning

We are on a road trip and we have stopped at a gas station to fill up the car, use the restrooms and get some drinks.

Harry handles the gas and refreshments. Emma and I go into the soiled restroom that is better than nothing at all. It reeks of urine and the floor is sticky. Every time we take a step, the floor holds onto the soles of our shoes for just a second too long.

After covering the seat with layers of tissue paper, I hold Emma above the toilet seat hoping she won’t splash herself or me. That’s when she says it.

“What’s that?”

I don’t want to turn to look at what she sees until she is finished.
“Just a sec, Em. When you’re all finished I’ll have a look.”

The task is completed but her question remains.

“What’s that Mama?” she asks again.
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By Gloria Saltzman

April 17th, 2009

Oy Vey! Matzoh in the White House

There is a Jewish holiday called Purim that was celebrated just last month. It’s the story of a Jewish Queen, Esther, who with the help of her beloved uncle Mordechai saved the Jews from being slaughtered at the hands of the evil Haman who had a position of power in the government of King Ahashverus, Esther’s new husband. Esther was ordered to marry him after his first wife Vashti refused to dance naked for his friends. Traditional interpretations say that he beheaded her, but the more modern story is that she left him to go to med school. The story ends by Esther throwing a party for her husband and after making sure he’s had a few drinks tells him of Haman’s awful plans. The King is quite smitten with his beautiful Jewish wife and the story ends well for the Jews. Haman is killed and Mordechai is given a role in the government! 

Anyone who is familiar with the plight of the Jews knows that this story is a fantasy. The end tells of the possibility of what could happen if things went well and good won out over evil. Recently something occurred in our own American government that gives hope that fantasy does sometimes become reality.

There was a Seder in the White House!  A Seder is the ritual meal that commemorates the Jewish festival of Passover; the retelling of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt and slavery. This was the first time that an American president and his family took part in a Jewish ceremony in the home of our leader. As the story appeared in the papers and various on line sites, rumors of a Jewish cousin appeared! Michelle Obama has a cousin who converted to Judaism and became a rabbi! This is so exciting that every sentence might have to end with an exclamation point!

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