This piece is more sentimental than I am comfortable being but — it’s 150 years since the founding of the institution where I was educated. I came in from the outside. The night before my interview I sang in a country saloon in Phoenix, I flew the redeye in my performance clothes and showed up at the Seminary wearing black velvet, little orange devils. I was given a new life and I took advantage of that. My teachers were exceedingly kind to me and saw something I myself might not have seen. Also flawed. And they warned me I might meet obstacles once I left. They knew the field. Much of what I connected with is gone, but there are remnants. I always felt the place had Reach and I am loyal to antecedents. They took me in. Sent down a rope for a new life, I had the sense to grab hold of it.
What to See When You Visit the Hebrew Union College Cincinnati Ohio the oldest Seminary of the Jewish Religion in the New World At 150 years Go to the main building where the classrooms are/were. In the hallway were photographs, the teachers who taught in those classrooms the ones who have passed a gallery of dead souls. Spend a time looking at them. Now find the chapel -- there are two doors that open into it on the main floor in the center of the building. Stand in front of the Ark fifteen feet tall. Inside is the Torah the Ark came from the town of Posen 1720 Hebrew Union College had it in a museum where students were drawn to pray around it. My teacher designed the synagogue around that Ark he had it set against the western wall of the chapel. Stand in front of it become a Jew for twenty minutes. If you are a Black man throwing bags at the airport become a Jew if you are a Polish Catholic become a Jew maybe you're a gypsy flamenco cantaor become a Jew. You're Greek you just married a man from Istanbul become a Jew you are Hindu you are standing in front of the Ark wearing a sari chanting holy poems to your beloved become a Jew. You're a Peruvian Indian with a flat hat on your head become a Jew. It's hard to be a Jew. If you're a Jew become a Czech waiter singing in a bistro writing poetry if you’re a Jew become a Hungarian dairy farmer a Mexican smuggler of fine art a Muslim spice merchant if you're a Jew become a Black woman with earphones dancing. Become each other. For twenty minutes, stand in front of the Ark a brand plucked from the burning all of you become Jews all Jews become someone else. Overflow yourselves into each other let your pouring souls fill all that is missing within. Now return to your skin in front of the Ark bow from the waist slowly before you go. Say the holiest prayer you know and leave quietly you may exit by either door. Say goodbye to my teachers whose pictures are in the hallway say it out loud their student who wrote this piece does not forget them. j/sg
Really great jimmy. Thanks