For a few years the wonderful photographer Matthew Septimus and I
collaborated on visual prayer poems for On Being. You can see them
here https://onbeing.org/author/esther-cohen/ (We continue our work together.
Even today)
For all the nights of Passover, we photographed and wrote. Knowing
how unexpected life can be, and how holidays interpretations take infinite forms.
Here’s a description of one from a few years ago. We were with friends.
The Baal Shem Tov, holy man
with a sense of humor (wouldn’t you
like to hear those jokes) said a special meal
should happen. Right now. Another rabbi
Shalom Dov Ber added another
four cups of wine. So we met for dinner
in a restaurant. And although that might not be
what the Baal Shem Tov had in mind,
we celebrated each other in a Somali restaurant,
then went to an old Harlem
jazz club called Paris Blues. Woman at the door,
beautiful Dominican named Esther sat with us a while.
Once married to an Israeli who died
(married again. An African husband now) she hugged us
goodbye. Chag Pesach Sameyach she said.And then:
Next Year in a place where everyone sings.
So can it be understood that there was still no in-person sort-of-seder at a Druze or any other restaurant this year? Chag Sameach from Tel Aviv, where we did a trans-Atlantic Zoom mini-seder last night. And yes, with four cups of (Chianti) wine, though my grandson used Vermouth, and my daughter grape juice. Which type of wine did Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber recommend?
Today I read your poem aloud to the ukulele players attending our first outdoor jam since Covid took away our opportunity to play and sing together. The poem, and in particular the final line, felt like a blessing, and seemed perfect for this gathering of community. Thank you for sharing your poetry!