What do the Jews do on Christmas?
That was a question asked of European survivors at Klezcamp. The gist was....stay under the radar.
Today Roz and I went to serve food for the residents of Rosenbaum house. Rosenbaum house provides housing and meals for people visiting relatives at Ruby Hospital from out of town, needing a place to stay.Hilda Rosenbaum donated and still supports the facility. She had her share of illness in her family.Tree of Life jews usually take this over on Easter and Christmas, so christian families can celebrate with their families.
When we showed up to serve lunch there was a hymnal sitting on an old out of tune piano in the dining room. So I sat down and started sight reading hymns. Right away I got into the four square comfort of the hymns. Like blues, there is very little unpredictability in hymns. They are so just right. Then I found the Christmas section and one and then another woman got up to sing with me. One woman had a very attractive voice with a slight pleasant quaver....kind of like Dolly Parton light. The other was a low alto who sang perfect harmony on every note. We did about six songs. This was definitely a moment I will always remember and treasure. I could feel the human voices surrounding me, with the piano keeping things anchored. Religious music for the pure joy. It just happened, good will, music across religious and class boundaries, and likely sustenance for the families spending Christmas visiting their seriously ill close ones.
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